TheSamba.com :: View topic - Need an eye bolt for a ratchet strap mounting point

Thu Sep 24, 2020 6:06 pm

I haul my 2020 Honda Monkey in my van and have two ratchet straps to hold it in place. One is a strap wrapped around the pass shoulder belt mount and the other uses the bolt that holds the lower part of the back seat in place. My Macgyver'ed solution is a huge washer with a strap wrapped around twice to have something to hook into. It's not the most confident method, but what I really need is an eyebolt. Went to a bolt/nut store and they said that they didn't have anything with that fine of threads. Before I go down a multi hour rabbit hole, anybody out there know where I can get a 16mm eyebolt or know a better way to hook into this mounting point?

Thu Sep 24, 2020 6:23 pm

Is it the same thread as the seatbelt bolts?
Those are 7/16-20 if so.
https://www.jegs.com/i/RaceQuip/224/700050/10002/-1
https://www.gowesty.com/product/-accessories/4372/eye-bolt-kit-

Thu Sep 24, 2020 7:34 pm

Looks like that's what I need. We'll see if it will work. Thanks

Thu Sep 24, 2020 8:16 pm

If that doesn't work, I secure my fridge in my Bus by using the second, unused seat belt hole (for middle seats if installed). A bolt and similar washer go into the hole, and the bolt tightens down to secure the hook of the strap.

You could also loop that strap around itself to tighten securely around the threads of the bolt.

Thu Sep 24, 2020 8:49 pm

I've installed these in my van: https://www.gowesty.com/product/-accessories/4372/eye-bolt-kit-

Fri Sep 25, 2020 8:03 am

I've harvested many seat belt "eyes" from junk yard, as well as some trunk folding cleats. Almost free and plentiful, and the hole matches our seat belt bolts. I have purchased the gowesty eyebolts, but no longer see the need for these.

Gowesty eye bolts

Fri Sep 25, 2020 8:04 am

Any hardware that you can imagine at McMaster-Carr https://www.mcmaster.com/

Fri Sep 25, 2020 10:10 pm

Thanks for the ideas. I bought the GW eye bolts. We'll see if that's all I need. Not very many mounting points when the floor is all aluminum and I have the wall behind the front seats.

Sun Sep 27, 2020 9:22 am

Every time I need eye-bolts or attach points i don't have them.
Thanks for the reminder.

Tue Sep 29, 2020 7:12 pm

Installed these tonight. I like the fact that they were inexpensive, kind of match the existing bent metal of the seat belt, and allow me to keep the bolt cover as well.
McMaster Carr, stainless steel, part 31665T43.

They are made for a 3/8” bolt. So, you need to open the hole to fit the 7/16” bolt on the vehicle.

Wed Sep 30, 2020 11:17 am

I used old seatbelt anchors in my Eurovan when I picked up a rebuilt WBX a few years ago. I like how low profile they are.

Thu Oct 01, 2020 8:00 am

Zeitgeist 13 wrote: I used old seatbelt anchors in my Eurovan when I picked up a rebuilt WBX a few years ago. I like how low profile they are.

lovely idea, any u-pick place should have gobs of these rip for the harvesting.

Thu Oct 01, 2020 8:17 pm

jlrftype7 wrote: Installed these tonight. I like the fact that they were inexpensive, kind of match the existing bent metal of the seat belt, and allow me to keep the bolt cover as well.
McMaster Carr, stainless steel, part 31665T43.

They are made for a 3/8” bolt. So, you need to open the hole to fit the 7/16” bolt on the vehicle.

I use the same ones!

Thu Oct 01, 2020 8:21 pm

Those are rock climbing hangers, only a few dollars and very strong. I have had a few in the back of the truck forever.

Thu Oct 08, 2020 9:19 pm

Bought a 2-pack of eyebolts from Go-Westy. They worked! I guess the rear seat mounting points use the same bolt size as all the seat belt mounting points. Thanks everyone for the suggestion.

Thu Oct 08, 2020 9:35 pm

I believe all cars with restraining devices (seatbelts) use the same size fasteners. Interestingly, these are an SAE size and pitch bolt, and not metric.

Thu Oct 08, 2020 10:16 pm

Zeitgeist 13 wrote: Interestingly, these are an SAE size and pitch bolt, and not metric.

it is actually a almost same metric...14x1.25 IIRC or something like that... convenient they found a SAE/metric similarity

Fri Oct 09, 2020 4:14 am

vanis13 wrote: Zeitgeist 13 wrote: Interestingly, these are an SAE size and pitch bolt, and not metric.

it is actually a almost same metric...14x1.25 IIRC or something like that... convenient they found a SAE/metric similarity
7/16-20 is the most common size, but M12-1.75 is used in some vehicles and I swear the Japanese cars are using M11-1.25 which is virtually identical to 7/16-20.

Fri Oct 09, 2020 5:03 am

I think the logic was to use a bolt that was odd enough you couldn’t accidentally install the wrong bolt.

Fri Oct 09, 2020 7:27 am

MarkWard wrote: I think the logic was to use a bolt that was odd enough you couldn’t accidentally install the wrong bolt.
Might have been! Standard specifies 7/16 UNF, 1/2 UNF or metric equivalent.
The latter (metric) likely part of a revision at some point in time.

7/16-20, grade 8 is pretty much the smallest size that will pass some of the angle strength tests, of which the loads are far greater than any human could endure.
I’m surprised GoWesty would offer those eye bolts, strictly from a liability risk, as I doubt they would meet the angular pull-tests, even if they may not be a safety risk in the real world.

Note, there are plenty of modern (USA) vehicles with M12-1.75 seat belt bolts today, but 7/16-20 is still the overwhelming choice globally.