Comments on: Seats and Seatbelts in a Van

By: johnbrett

johnbrett — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 20:22:16 +0000

Yes- that’s possible. You will need a lap seatbelt as well, and new anchorage points on the floor. John

By: Rob

Rob — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 08:55:11 +0000

Hi there, probably a silly question but is it posible to stick a little seat in between the driver and passenger seats in a Toyota Estima 2002 model making it a 9 seater?…many thanks

By: johnbrett

johnbrett — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 20:36:47 +0000

Your new seat needs to be LVV Certified enen though it is on factory holes. It cannot be certified as rear-facing unless you can make it strong enough to prevent passengers going forward in a collision- that usually means a cross-beam beam of about 65mm square section or similar. Best plan is to talk to a LVV Certifire before you start the job.

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 09:28:17 +0000

Hey there, first off thanks heaps for the great information, I’ve been searching for ages for this info. I have a 1988 Toyota Liteace, I’ve put a foldable bench seat in the back currently fitted to the factory holes, If I were to turn this to face backward but still fit the same holes, would this need certed/tested? And one more, To add another of the same style bench seats at the back by drilling my own holes, would that also need cert’d? Thanks heaps

By: johnbrett

johnbrett — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 04:32:24 +0000

Best plan is to talk to a Certifier in your area. Get him to look at what you are planning before you start.
Regards John

By: debra

debra — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 23:56:10 +0000

hiya,i have a 1980 sb3 bedford ex school bus which i am converting into a house bus and are trying to figure out the requirements for my drivers and pasenger seat,tell me i have purchased 2 3 point harness safety belted seats from a new plymouth camperbus shop and the seats have been certified in aussy,are the o.k 4 me 2 use? also i want 2 put on swivel bases,can i use the bases from a lapbelted toyota estima seat? thanks for any input .Debra

By: johnbrett

johnbrett — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 20:52:32 +0000

There are a lot of Low Volume issues here- Seats, Seatbelts, Wheelchair and occupant restraints all need to be Certified, also the hoist. This applies whether the vehilce is built in New Zealand or imported. Who will be doing the conversion?
Have a look at the VANZ site for approved converters- http://www.vanz.co.nz/ Regards John

By: Erin

Erin — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 03:09:40 +0000

Hi, we have recently recieved lotteries funding to purchase a disability vehicle for my husband. Could you please advise what the rules are with regard to the hoist and belts for the wheelchair if any. We get one story from the independent assessor and a different one from the dealers. We’re getting a headache trying to figure out what we need to know in terms of certification. We require a rear loading hi top van for a single wheelchair (powered) plus 4 passenger seats for the family.

By: WP Themes

WP Themes — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 22:15:25 +0000

Good post and this post helped me alot in my college assignement. Thank you for your information.

By: johnbrett

johnbrett — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 04:06:52 +0000

Hi
You would be building what amounts to a small motor-home or caravan. As the vehicle has three seats, and no more than 3 berths, you would not need extra seats and seatbelts.
As the vehicle is pre- October 3003, you would not be required to put the extra seats or seatbelts anyway. You could carry passengers in the back legally too.
The requirements for seats and seatbelts under LVV are stringent, your wooden couches and sofa beds are not going to be suitable as seats.
Regards

John