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Racing Harness? Never Heard of That
What’s one thing that all off-road drivers have in common? A propensity towards getting thrown around, shaken, and definitely stirred by the environment they’re driving over. Because regardless of your rig, the odds are the terrain will find ways to challenge you.
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Mind you, going off-road explicitly implies getting jolted all over the place. Sure, a suspension kit can make a wealth of a difference, and is considered the failsafe between you pulverizing your bones in between jumps, but is it really enough to fully protect you against danger?
Well, a suspension kit is definitely not enough. Although every driver is familiar with the concept of a seatbelt, racing harnesses are particularly popular with those who have professional expectations out of their hobby and plan to make it a career.
Never heard of a racing harness? It’s not surprising, and you’re not to blame! Harnesses are specialized driving equipment that isn’t really a necessity for most enthusiasts. If you’d like to find out more about them, then make sure to read on! I’ve explained their concepts in a few short paragraphs for an easy read.
Looking for seat harnesses and belts that fit your needs? Take a look here!
Seatbelt vs. Racing Harness
The first contender to our hypothetical battle is the time-tested seatbelt. We all know it, we’ve all gotten used to it, and we know that without a seatbelt, any accident we might haply be a part of could become significantly worse.
Invented in 1955, turned standard in 1958, and definitively improved upon in 1966 with the introduction of the automatic retractable lap safety, seatbelts soon came to be an expected piece of equipment for every car out there.
Almost every regular (and weekend) driver out there should be totally fine with just using seatbelts. If you’re not planning on going full-speed in areas where you might flip, total your car, and land yourself straight onto a hospital bed, then you definitely don’t need a racing harness.
This is because a seatbelt’s diagonal body and horizontal waist coverage are more than enough to keep you from flying out of your seat and into your windshield. Even if you’re part of a horrific car crash, it’s likely you’re going to come out of it in one piece.
A racing harness, however, is likely to keep you glued to your chair. Here’s to hoping you don’t have to get out, right?
What Makes a Racing Harness Special?
To explain it “as if I’m five,” your traditional seatbelt covers three major points: it starts at one of your sides, draws over your lap to keep you affixed to the chair, and also has a diagonal band to ensure your upper body remains stable as well.
One of the words commonly used when describing a racing harness is “six-point” or “eight-point.” Quite self-explanatory, isn’t it? A racing harness, therefore, is basically equal to a seatbelt except for providing more coverage.
So you can imagine that if you were to use a racing harness, you would be significantly less likely to slide out of your chair. If you’re having trouble imagining a racing harness, then you can imagine a toddler harness instead. Not quite the same, but very, very similar in some aspects.
A six-point racing harness, more often than not, is enough to keep you perfectly “tied” to your chair. If you’re especially prone to accidents, drive recklessly, or are going to embark on a difficult trail, however, you might need something more “tighter.”
In that case, then how about an eight-point racing harness? I’m sure you get the gist by this point. The eight-point harness, for example, has additional measures to ensure your pelvis doesn’t slide off the seat in case of a crash, which is not a very common occurrence in these types of scenarios.
As Always, Safety First
Regardless of whether you need a seatbelt or a racing harness, one thing is clear: your safety is extraordinarily important and should not be compromised. Make sure to do a lot of research on what type of protection you need and go for it. It’s never worth putting yourself in danger no matter how much fun you’re having.
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