Van Conversion

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Just out of interest, has anyone ever had their van converted to put a row of seats and a couple of windows in the back?

[Jonathan Ford]

A mate of mine once converted his van by putting a mattress in the back, but that's a story for another day...

[mike8863]

from what i know, a friend of mine did it,or tried at least. You may fall foul at the MOT if the seat frame and seat belt anchors are not bolted to the chassis. And as for windows, they either look too small or too big to me on conversions. Get an old vw t5 aa van, might be yellow but does the job...!!!

[Cj_The_Dj]

I have well the guy i got it from did. in transits they have holes ready for them.

[DJ Davy]

Pick up seats from a transit or LDV ... they have seat belts and stalks on board, so it is just 4 or 6 bolts through the floor. Underneath the van make up a plate using flatbar to prevent the seat getting ripped out. That is sufficient for an MOT. Hope that helps!

[discodean]

what kind of van is it, i have a 05 kangoo van with a rear seat conversion in it, its a fantastic little van (im a cheat, it was factory built) only problem is the wife keeps on getting me to run the kids around more.

[DJ James Lake]

I did it with my old Movano, pretty easy to do the seats but get a professional to fit the windows.

I second the LDV seats but be prepared to pay about £100 a set for them.

[rob1963]

Just out of interest, has anyone ever had their van converted to put a row of seats and a couple of windows in the back?

Doesn't that defeat the whole point of having a van in the first place?

:shrug:

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Doesn't that defeat the whole point of having a van in the first place?

:shrug:

No.

It means that if need be I could take more than 2 passengers. The rest of the time it would be used as a van.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Surprisingly, you don't have to have seatbelts fitted to a van (N1) up to 3.5t either!

"Currently. there is no legal requirement to fit safety belts to after market auxiliary seating in N1, N2 or N3 vehicles. However if belts are included, either lap & diagonal belts or lap belts, they must comply with ECE 14 & ECE 16 regulations"

[rob1963]

Sorry if I'm missing something, but two negatives occur to me.

Firstly the seats will reduce the amount of space available for carrying gear, and more importantly having windows in the back would mean people could look in & see the gear, which is a big security issue.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Sorry if I'm missing something, but two negatives occur to me.

Firstly the seats will reduce the amount of space available for carrying gear, and more importantly having windows in the back would mean people could look in & see the gear, which is a big security issue.

Yes, you are missing the point ...

The van is a LWB and there is masses of room, even for my biggest show. Not only that, but I know IanLimelight a former mod on here, had his done and could remove them quite easily. Having the windows tinted black will sort any kind of security issue out and I don't leave gear in it anyway.

[rob1963]

Yes, you are missing the point ...

The van is a LWB and there is masses of room, even for my biggest show. Not only that, but I know IanLimelight a former mod on here, had his done and could remove them quite easily. Having the windows tinted black will sort any kind of security issue out and I don't leave gear in it anyway.

Fair enough, then, and apologies for missing the point.

Funnily enough, all my previous vans had rear windows, but now I have one with solid rear doors, I'd never have anything else...despite the lack of a rear view. The reason for this is security.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I didn't say the windows were going in the rear doors and I wouldn't be able to see out of them anyway as I have a steel bulkhead. That helps with security quite a lot I find.

[DJMaxG]

Just out of interest, has anyone ever had their van converted to put a row of seats and a couple of windows in the back?

Not Personally, but I'm guessing you're interested in doing it :)


Surprisingly, you don't have to have seatbelts fitted to a van (N1) up to 3.5t either!

Even Better :beer1:


which is a big security issue.
I wouldn't leave anything unattended in a car or van from personal discretion.

I think if I was going to have the conversion Darren, I'd rather go with a crew van, so the loadspace is totally seperate. This will be much more comfortable for passengers, and will look smarter.

A Mechanic I know has a rather smart looking Trafic LWB Crew Van, and when I asked why they bought it, it's apparently to take the family out in, which was quite surprising considering it is a work vehicle.

I wouldn't just bolt a load of seats down, it may look messy :o

[ppentertainments]

Why not get a large people carrier ?

[Mayhem 1]

I have a Chrysler Voyager remove all the rear seats and it is huge.

Then when using it for normal day to day trips I can put in 1 or 2 single seats and also the option of the bench seat so it is a really good vehicle.

The best thing about it is the trip home after a wedding or some adult event the comfort is second to non!!!

It would be my choice for anyone looking for a vehicle that is needed for two uses.

[sxboy]

I have done this on my toyota hi-ace. Bought some old transit minibus seats from a boot sale for £25, bought some lap belts from Halfords £18 the pair. To get the belts on the seat frames I got some large square washers fro B&Q and had them welded on the sides by a friend who is a welder.
Used the same washers for the underneath so the bolts have something solid as the floor on this and most vans I guess does give a bit.
The van has been through 5 mot's without a problem.
And as a bonus i can go trhough the dartford tunnel for the cost of a car as it is now classed by them as a passenger vehicle.
Do check with your insurance company though as this may increase it, did'nt on mine but worth checking.

Daren

[DJ Jules]

I have a Chrysler Voyager remove all the rear seats and it is huge.

Then when using it for normal day to day trips I can put in 1 or 2 single seats and also the option of the bench seat so it is a really good vehicle.


Agreed, I've got one of these - but the seats weigh ton and a half (something to do with the cast iron bases) - it might just be me, but really you need two people to get that damn bench seat out of the back!! The load space is something like 4' wide by 6'6" long by over 4' high though which is more than a Vauxhall Astra van or VW Caddy (but not quite as much as a Transit Connect which has the height advantage).

The weight of the seats is the killer tho - our second car is a Renault Scenic and I take all of the rear seats out and use that in preference to the Voyager because they only weigh about 10Kg a piece, vs about 25-35kg a unit in the Voyager!

I had a Renault Kangoo people carrier a while back, but even with the seats up/out it had a smaller loading space than the Scenic (about 4'x5'x4' and drove like a dog (38mpg from a 1.9 diesel - even the petrol Scenic does more than that???) It also cost me over £2,000 in repairs over a 9month period because the gearbox, clutch, driveshafts, front suspension and cooling systems all failed! I've been told that the newer dTi models are a lot better though. I don't think I'll risk it :)

Julian

[Mayhem 1]

Hiya Jules,

Yes mate the seats do weigh a ton!!!

But you must aggree that it is a pukka vehicle to drive home in after a gig

[Excalibur]

Darren, I think I may have the answer to your problem. If you buy a large trailer, and car to pull it, you can have plenty of seats, ample carrying capacity, security from prying eyes, and a nice vehicle when you detach the trailer. Simples. :approve:

[discodean]

found the perfect van for you.........ok if you have a spare 25k. we can all dream. bling bling.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Why do I get people offering other solutions?

I have had a people carrier and a trailer and don't want to change back...

I don't want a crew bus either.

I am looking at the possibility just for occasional use.

[discodean]

just though is a nice looking piece of kit and would share:sorry:

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

just though is a nice looking piece of kit and would share:sorry:

S'OK, that wasn't aimed at you or anyone in particular. :)

[DeckstarDeluxe]

Darren I take it you have looked into all the things you would have to do to register the fact the van has more seats than before? DVLA, Insurance etc..?

Its annoying thing about the vito is theres only one passenger seat. Still its got me out of giving people lifts loads of times :D

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Darren I take it you have looked into all the things you would have to do to register the fact the van has more seats than before? DVLA, Insurance etc..?


Indeed I have.

[Excalibur]

Why do I get people offering other solutions?

I have had a people carrier and a trailer and don't want to change back...

I don't want a crew bus either.

I am looking at the possibility just for occasional use.

Darren, we know you've had a trailer, and gone over to a van, you told us. ;) That's exactly why some of us recommended it. :p :D :D It's :Censored: difficult being serious too much, you know I can only do it for short periods. and I usually need a long run up. :D

Short serious period: Actualy, I'd have thought a crewbus ( seats down the sides) might have been what you wanted, as the seats wouldn't have interfered too much with the loadspace. I was going to suggest that seriously.


I was also going to say " If you buy a :Censored: van then why start :Censored: well messing about with the :Censored: thing and altering it's raison d'etre? :confused: But I decided not to. ;)

[DeckstarDeluxe]

Darren, we know you've had a trailer, and gone over to a van, you told us. ;) That's exactly why some of us recommended it. :p :D :D It's :Censored: difficult being serious too much, you know I can only do it for short periods. and I usually need a long run up. :D

Short serious period: Actualy, I'd have thought a crewbus ( seats down the sides) might have been what you wanted, as the seats wouldn't have interfered too much with the loadspace. I was going to suggest that seriously.


I was also going to say " If you buy a :Censored: van then why start :Censored: well messing about with the :Censored: thing and altering it's raison d'etre? :confused: But I decided not to. ;)

Or just strap the kids to the roof rack ;)

[DJMaxG]

I am looking at the possibility just for occasional use

How Occasional do you want it?

- Once a week
- Once a year


If the seats are not provided by the Manafacture (Nissan), then the chances are they won't be quick release, so you'll be carrying a lot of weight around and reduced room for equipment (regardless if it's required or not).

Does it have to be a full size car seat?

[pagan_flame]

How odd, my new van has just that... Mk1 Transporter, has back windows which were already black tinted, I've put in some (ex-AA van!) security grilles which stung me a big 15 quid off Ebay... and it has a Transit seat in the back already, bolted down and with seat belt.

Here it is, needs some more racking and the carpetting finishing off across the bulkhead now I have the wiring sorted and the sub in... :)

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Thanks for the picture Malc - I never considered putting a seat in the other way round.

[Excalibur]

Thanks for the picture Malc - I never considered putting a seat in the other way round.

It's actually the obvious way Darren. Even better with the cheap wooden slatted ones, as you can stow stuff under them. Many many years ago I had one a lot like this.Sadly I can't find a piccy to illustrate.

Doesn't your van have a bulkhead though? Poor devils in the back will be in the black hole of Calcutta. :eek:

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Doesn't your van have a bulkhead though? Poor devils in the back will be in the black hole of Calcutta. :eek:

Yes, it does. That's why I was looking into windows too. :)

[Excalibur]

Yes, it does. That's why I was looking into windows too. :)

With the utmost reverence and repect due to one as exalted as yourself:
























By the time you've finished it'll be a minibus!:bang: :D :D :D

Have you thought about a removable grille for the bulkhead? Having windows in kinda defeats the logic of a Van. Your ideal vehicle sounds like the ones with a second row of seats, and a bulkhead behind, what is called a King Cab in the Pickups.

[Penfold42]

With the utmost reverence and repect due to one as exalted as yourself:

By the time you've finished it'll be a minibus!:bang: :D :D :D

Have you thought about a removable grille for the bulkhead? Having windows in kinda defeats the logic of a Van. Your ideal vehicle sounds like the ones with a second row of seats, and a bulkhead behind, what is called a King Cab in the Pickups.

No need to swear now. :sj:

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Have you thought about a removable grille for the bulkhead? Having windows in kinda defeats the logic of a Van.

Good point and no I hadn't thought of that. Thanks.

It's only something I'm looking into at this point anyway.

[DJMaxG]

.


Doesn't your van have a bulkhead though? Poor devils in the back will be in the black hole of Calcutta. :eek:

That is a good thing, Darren's roadies can have a bit of Privacy :D

That's a Great layout Pagan Flame, and I've noticed the Inverter.
Is that there just to power the load area light, or have you got plug sockets?

That is another thing Daz, a ceiling light for the load area may be a decent alternative to windows without loosing security, not ruining the exterior styling of your van.

You could have a standard car light, bulkhead, or fluesont etc.

[DJ James Lake]

You would have to make sure the load was very secure if your having a seat facing backwards though. If you break hard there is nothing to stop the person in the seats legs from getting crushed. At least if its front facing the seat back would stop anything hitting them.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

You would have to make sure the load was very secure if your having a seat facing backwards though. If you break hard there is nothing to stop the person in the seats legs from getting crushed. At least if its front facing the seat back would stop anything hitting them.

No-one would be in the back if I was working and fully loaded.

[Excalibur]

That's a Great layout Pagan Flame, and I've noticed the Inverter.
Is that there just to power the load area light, or have you got plug sockets?

.

The old bins aren't what they were Max, but coupled with Pagan saying he'd already got the sub fitted I'm guessing that what you've seen as an inverter, is in fact an umpteen gigawatt amplifier. ;) :D :D

[DJMaxG]

The old bins aren't what they were Max, but coupled with Pagan saying he'd already got the sub fitted I'm guessing that what you've seen as an inverter, is in fact an umpteen gigawatt amplifier. ;) :D :D

There's a light switch clearly next to it, with a 2D Fluesont ceiling light. Major giveaway don't you reckon Peter :p

Yes, it could be an amplifier, but why would you want music blasting on the way to a gig where music is going to be blasting anyway, surely you'd want Some peace and quiet.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

There's a light switch clearly next to it, with a 2D Fluesont ceiling light. Major giveaway don't you reckon Peter :p

Yes, it could be an amplifier, but why would you want music blasting on the way to a gig where music is going to be blasting anyway, surely you'd want Some peace and quiet.

You'll find out when you actually do a gig. :sj:

[DJMaxG]

You'll find out when you actually do a gig. :sj:

:lol:

[Babybob]

There's a light switch clearly next to it, with a 2D Fluesont ceiling light. Major giveaway don't you reckon Peter :p

.


Ok, enlighten us ;) what is a Fluesont light.

:confused: :confused: