anchors installed in older vehicles

Unregistered · Feb 4, 2005

I finally called a Ford dealer about getting tether achors installed in our '88 F-150. They gave me a customer service number 'who' told me to call 'obsolete parts'. To my surprise the person I spoke to was honest that I was getting 'the run around'. He said that no dealer is going to install an anchor in a vehicle that isn't made to have one due to the liablilty if an accident were to happen and the anchor not hold.
He said I might find someone else who would install some but implied it would not be 'legit' and the risk would be mine.
What experiences have those of you out there had with anchors being installed in vehicles that did not come with predrilled holes for that purpose?
I know our truck is 'really' old but also that many 'newer' ones are being bought that also have no designated anchor spots.
C.

scatterbunny · Feb 4, 2005

Good question. We are getting a 93 F-150, and planned on getting a second Husky for our dd to use in that vehicle. If we can't get a tether anchor installed, the Husky will be out.

joolsplus3 · Feb 4, 2005

Cars after 1989 have actual nuts welded (or drill dimples, at least, in some reinforced area) somewhere into the frame, even if you can't see them (usually you have to cut away carpet or headliner to get to them), but your truck just missed the cutoff. If you can find someone who will do it, and it's done as properly as it can be (usually you put a huge washer behind the metal to reinforce it, from what I've gotten in kits with heavy duty anchor parts), it is likely to add to the safety of your seat, even though the shop won't accept liability for it (My BIL has a body shop, and he won't touch tether installation...but to the best of my knowledge, no one has ever been sued for adding a top tether and a child got hurt in a crash, anyway).