Mounting Fire Extinguisher
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 945
Likes: 32
From: WV
Mounting Fire Extinguisher
I track my 1993 coupe, and my next event requires a fire extinguisher. I do not have a roll bar.
I already have a bracket (not yet installed) that mounts to the seat rails, then turns 90 degrees upward so that the mounting plate sits flush with the front of the seat. This will put the fire extinguisher behind my calf, in the bend of my knee (or the passenger's if I choose that seat).
But I am considering an alternate location. Instead of mounting it to the seat front, I am thinking of mounting it onto the top of the wall / bulkhead that is immediately behind the seats. I envision the brackets that would have been bolted to the seat frame being located pointed vertically down toward the floor and being screwed into the wall. Then the larger plate that the FE mounts to would be positioned horizontally and flat against the rear storage deck (obstructing opening of the small storage hatch behind the passenger seat).
I have not stripped the carpet to see what is there to mount to. I think there is a concealed storage area behind the drivers seat that contains some important electronics. Is it possible to safely drill into the bulkhead there? Can I screw the mount to the bulkhead, or should I penetrate it completely and use a nut and bolt?
Any photos or tips would be appreciated.
I already have a bracket (not yet installed) that mounts to the seat rails, then turns 90 degrees upward so that the mounting plate sits flush with the front of the seat. This will put the fire extinguisher behind my calf, in the bend of my knee (or the passenger's if I choose that seat).
But I am considering an alternate location. Instead of mounting it to the seat front, I am thinking of mounting it onto the top of the wall / bulkhead that is immediately behind the seats. I envision the brackets that would have been bolted to the seat frame being located pointed vertically down toward the floor and being screwed into the wall. Then the larger plate that the FE mounts to would be positioned horizontally and flat against the rear storage deck (obstructing opening of the small storage hatch behind the passenger seat).
I have not stripped the carpet to see what is there to mount to. I think there is a concealed storage area behind the drivers seat that contains some important electronics. Is it possible to safely drill into the bulkhead there? Can I screw the mount to the bulkhead, or should I penetrate it completely and use a nut and bolt?
Any photos or tips would be appreciated.
Last edited by emptnest; Apr 17, 2015 at 11:54 AM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 945
Likes: 32
From: WV
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,973
Likes: 341
From: Adelaide South Australia
mine is mounted at the front of the drivers seat, our regs require that you can grab the extinguisher from your seat.
if you look closely at the pic you can see that the bracket is bent forward slightly at an angle, this is just enough that the seat wont hit if it goes all the way forward, I dont need the seat forward but the mrs drives it once in a while and she needs it all the way forward.
mine is a small 1kg unit, my legs etc never come near it.
if you look closely at the pic you can see that the bracket is bent forward slightly at an angle, this is just enough that the seat wont hit if it goes all the way forward, I dont need the seat forward but the mrs drives it once in a while and she needs it all the way forward.
mine is a small 1kg unit, my legs etc never come near it.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 21,094
Likes: 282
From: Phila., PA burbs
This is the one I intend on getting for my car.
http://www.bkauto.com/R_2110_Fire_Ex...4_p/r-2110.htm
http://www.bkauto.com/R_2110_Fire_Ex...4_p/r-2110.htm
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,179
Likes: 673
From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 346
From: Anaheim CA
Once in a while I'll catch the fire extinguisher latch with my foot when I'm getting in the car. Otherwise it's like it's not there.
A friend of mine put his on the passenger side. I told him it's not legal because he can't reach it while he buckled in to his seat. His reply: "If my car's on fire I won't be buckled in".
A friend of mine put his on the passenger side. I told him it's not legal because he can't reach it while he buckled in to his seat. His reply: "If my car's on fire I won't be buckled in".
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Once in a while I'll catch the fire extinguisher latch with my foot when I'm getting in the car. Otherwise it's like it's not there.
A friend of mine put his on the passenger side. I told him it's not legal because he can't reach it while he buckled in to his seat. His reply: "If my car's on fire I won't be buckled in".
A friend of mine put his on the passenger side. I told him it's not legal because he can't reach it while he buckled in to his seat. His reply: "If my car's on fire I won't be buckled in".
An alternate mounting method is to install a harness bar and mount the extinguisher where it would be located between the seat backs. You may even find that using a 5 or 6 point harness for track days will keep you from sliding around in the seat and take a lot of strain off your arms.
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Cruising
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Thousand Oaks CA
This. I think it's far more important to save one's self than it is to try to fight a fire while you're still belted in. Once seat belts or harness belts are loose, I think it's still easy to reach down to the front of the passenger seat and grab an extinguisher as you bail out of the car.
An alternate mounting method is to install a harness bar and mount the extinguisher where it would be located between the seat backs. You may even find that using a 5 or 6 point harness for track days will keep you from sliding around in the seat and take a lot of strain off your arms.
An alternate mounting method is to install a harness bar and mount the extinguisher where it would be located between the seat backs. You may even find that using a 5 or 6 point harness for track days will keep you from sliding around in the seat and take a lot of strain off your arms.
We manufacture a mount for the C6 that mounts to the front of the seat rails on either the driver or passenger side of the car. We make them in the USA out of aircraft grade aluminum. We are a small Mom and Pop company and are happy to help if you have any questions.
Here is a direct link to the C6 bracket and some photos.
http://speedtactics.com/vette_0512_feb.php
Speedtactics Corvette C6 fire extinguisher bracket and 1.5lb Halgaurd fire extinguisher
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 945
Likes: 32
From: WV
Went with drivers seat.
My interest in mounting on the passenger seat was based on the assumption that mounting it on the drivers seat would interfere with my legs, feet, and comfort.
But safety is the primary criteria, and my assessment is that the drivers seat position requires the shortest reach and therefore is better in that context.
Given the ease of installation, I went ahead and installed it on the driver seat for a test fit with me in the cockpit.
I found that the FE provides zero interference there and is easily within reach if I need it.
But safety is the primary criteria, and my assessment is that the drivers seat position requires the shortest reach and therefore is better in that context.
Given the ease of installation, I went ahead and installed it on the driver seat for a test fit with me in the cockpit.
I found that the FE provides zero interference there and is easily within reach if I need it.
