Recreational Vans
Parents ask one question above all others: what is the safest way to mount a child seat in a camper van. Safety begins with using a certified child restraint on a certified seat with approved anchorages. In a van, not every seat or bench is intended for passenger travel, and even fewer are suitable for a child restraint. The safest choice is a forward facing or rear facing child seat secured to a tested, forward facing seating position with a three point belt or approved lower anchors and a top tether for forward facing use. Side facing benches and beds are not suitable for child restraints because they are not designed for frontal crash loading.
Know the standards that matter. In North America, child restraints are certified to FMVSS 213, lower anchors and tether hardware are covered by FMVSS 225, and seat belt anchorage requirements are outlined in FMVSS 210. In Europe, ECE R14 governs seat belt anchorages, ECE R16 covers safety belts, and child restraints are certified under ECE R44 or ECE R129. Camper van seating used for travel should be tested to appropriate occupant standards, often referred to as M1 rated seating in many markets. When in doubt, ask for documentation that the seat and its anchorage system were tested as installed.
A common error is attaching a child seat to a rock and roll bed or a side facing sofa. These are not designed for forward crash loads and can fail or allow excessive movement. Another risk is drilling anchors through thin floor panels without engineered reinforcement. Lower anchors and tether points must be secured to reinforced structure with approved hardware, and only where the seating and rails are designed to accept them. Swivel seats should be locked in the forward position when used with a child restraint, and many front passenger seats with active airbags are not safe for rear facing seats. Disabling airbags is not a do it yourself decision and should follow manufacturer guidance and local regulations.
Rear facing offers superior head and neck protection for infants and toddlers. Keep children rear facing to the limits of the seat. Once forward facing, always use a top tether in addition to the seat belt or lower anchors. The tether reduces head excursion, which is critical in vans due to the open interior space. Boosters require a lap shoulder belt, not a lap belt only, and the child must have adequate head restraint behind them.
Location matters. The optimal place is a forward facing second row seating position with either lower anchors and a tether, or a locking three point belt plus a tether. The center position can be excellent if a full shoulder belt is available and the child seat fits well, but many vans do not have center lower anchors. Always verify the presence and rating of a top tether anchor for any forward facing installation.
Understand anchor types. Lower anchors are designed to work within a defined spacing window and weight range; check both the child seat and vehicle limits. At higher child weights, the seat belt path is often required even if lower anchors are present. The top tether should be routed to a labeled anchor behind or above the seating position. Do not attach a tether to cargo tie downs or seat frame hardware unless they are labeled and certified tether anchors.
Either the seat belt or the lower anchors can secure most child seats, but not both at the same time unless the child seat manufacturer explicitly allows it. Many vans have belts with an emergency locking retractor that can be switched to an automatic locking mode by fully extending and letting it retract. If a belt does not lock, use the built in lockoff on the child seat if provided or follow the seat manufacturer’s guidance. After installation, the seat should move less than one inch at the belt path when checked with firm pressure.
A protective head restraint behind the child is essential, especially for boosters. Seats should be upright within the manufacturer’s angle limits, and rear facing seats need the proper recline to keep the airway clear. Avoid mounting a child seat on a seat base that is too narrow, too contoured, or interferes with the belt path. Never place a child restraint on a side facing seat.
Use this concise process to validate a safe install in a camper van.
Common mistakes to avoid include placing a child seat on a swivel seat while rotated, using lap only belts with boosters, or anchoring tethers to cargo points. If a seating rail system is used in the build, ensure the seat and anchors were tested together as a system, and follow the rail manufacturer’s approved locations for child restraints.
Many camper vans remove or relocate factory seats. Only use seating systems that have been tested with their bases, rails, and anchorages in the intended positions. Documentation matters. A properly engineered system pairs the seat, brackets, hardware, and floor structure so that loads travel into the vehicle shell as designed. This is the difference between a travel ready family van and a lounge that should not carry passengers while in motion.
Building a camper van for family travel means designing the floorplan around certified seating and anchorages first, then weaving in cabinets, beds, and storage. That is how we approach family builds at OZK Customs in Fayetteville Arkansas. We specify tested forward facing seating with three point belts, integrate approved lower anchors and top tethers, and position head restraints and aisle space so car seats fit without compromise. We then plan sleeping, galley, and gear zones around those safety priorities, not the other way around.
If you want a purpose built family rig, explore our recreational vans to see how we tailor platforms for travel and everyday use. For an end to end solution, our custom build van process can incorporate M1 rated seating, certified tether points, and layouts that make installing child seats simple and repeatable. Prefer to start with a platform that finances and keep the safety elements factory based where possible. Review our mainstream vans options to learn how we match vehicles to family goals.
Fayetteville Arkansas gives our clients easy travel in and out, and our handoff includes a thorough walkthrough of child seat locations and install steps so you leave confident. Tell us how many kids you travel with, their ages, and the seats you own. We will engineer the seating, anchorages, and layout to fit your life, then build the rest of the van around those anchors.
At the end of the day, the safest way to mount a child seat in a camper van is simple in principle and detailed in execution. Use certified restraints on certified forward facing seats with proper belts, lower anchors, and tethers. Keep rear facing as long as the seat allows, use tethers for all forward facing installs, avoid side facing benches, and verify less than one inch of movement at the belt path. We will help you get the structure right so every buckle, click, and tether feels natural trip after trip.
Strong next steps
Final step Ready to build a family safe camper van around your child seats. Book a consult with OZK Customs and our team will engineer crash tested seating, certified anchorages, and a layout that protects your crew while keeping travel simple. Tell us how you roll, and we will design the right solution.
Ready to build a family safe camper van around your child seats. Book a consult with OZK Customs and our team will engineer crash tested seating, certified anchorages, and a layout that protects your crew while keeping travel simple. Tell us how you roll, and we will design the right solution.
ADDRESS:
6159 E Huntsville Rd, Fayetteville, AR 72701
PHONE:
(479) 326-9200
EMAIL:
info@ozkvans.com