Converting an adapted conversion

[Grey Fox]

Hi there,
I need some advice on converting an adapeted(for wheel chair use, lowered floor etc). Initially I'd like to refit the rear seats or put in a bench seat.
Has anyone any ideas how I might acheive this?

[ffrenchie]

How far forward does the lowered floor extend ? I would probably bolt in a thickish plywood sheet floor to fasten a seat base to.

[cancunia]

Watch out for insurance costs if you do go ahead.

[Gryffindor]

I sold an MAV because a mech mate advised me that the work (to remove a wheelchair ramp and restore back seats) would cost a bomb (the ramp cut a hole into most of the floorpan) - but as I got the docs out to sell it, I noticed that it was on the V5 as the 7-seat MPV it was manufactured as, not the MAV it was supplied new as by one of the big vehicle adapters.

I don't know whether that was an oversight or is normal practice, but firstly I wished I'd noticed that when I bought it - might have made the insurance a lot cheaper - and secondly I realised that it might have been worth unmodifying after all, all things considered, especially if it could be done without chopping out the ramp but just losing it under a 'false' floor (= useful storage space!) as ffrenchie suggests.

Check your V5 as a starting point. If your car is down as an MPV and you can properly restore the OEM back seats, you might be okay. A DIY bench seat though might be a nightmare in terms of compliance with safety regulations.

Then it probably comes down to whether the car's value (including its sentimental value if any) justifies the conversion cost.

Lastly as cancunia says, you will need to think carefully how you deal with your insurers, especially if you already have insured it as an MAV. That will probably be the killer if nothing else is.

It often strikes me that this is one area which is never mentioned on all those car-modding TV programs.

[brodfather11]

I'm converting one (B9) at the moment to a day camper. False floor 18mm ply with space at the rear for storing the air compressor, table leg etc. Removed half the folding ramp ,may remove half of the remainder yet but the bottom is needed for the catch for the tailgate and works as a step into the rear. It has the rear o/s jump/passenger seat still in but easily removed.

On mine the lowered floor is to the front of the rear seat position but could be built up with a plywood frame easily.  
It came to me as a three seater and would be simple to fit another rear single n/s seat and seat belt.
It is registered as a diesel car, MPV, with cheaper road tax £165 and insurance approx £200.


       

[Grey Fox]

I'm converting one (B9) at the moment to a day camper. False floor 18mm ply with space at the rear for storing the air compressor, table leg etc. Removed half the folding ramp ,may remove half of the remainder yet but the bottom is needed for the catch for the tailgate and works as a step into the rear. It has the rear o/s jump/passenger seat still in but easily removed.

On mine the lowered floor is to the front of the rear seat position but could be built up with a plywood frame easily.  
It came to me as a three seater and would be simple to fit another rear single n/s seat and seat belt.
It is registered as a diesel car, MPV, with cheaper road tax £165 and insurance approx £200.

This is just the info I needed, thanks. unfortunately I couldn't open the attachments mentioned.
Sounds as though it is the same conversion as mine but was registered for tax as zero(disabled) I have changed it to Private car/light goods vehicle but annual road tax is £270.
Thanks again it's out to B and Q for plywood then.

[Grey Fox]

This is just the info I needed, thanks. unfortunately I couldn't open the attachments mentioned.
Sounds as though it is the same conversion as mine but was registered for tax as zero(disabled) I have changed it to Private car/light goods vehicle but annual road tax is £270.
Thanks again it's out to B and Q for plywood then

[cancunia]

I've 'converted' a B9 wheelchair access into a day camper. It had 3 seats when I bought it, in the back there was the original single seat. I removed the ramp & used a sheet of 12mm ply to cover the angled lowered floor, there was enough room there to put a space saver spare wheel and some other items. I built a bed frame & storage space on top of the ply base, but all of it came out with ease & no other mods were made to the body, so I simply told my insurance company that I'd taken out the rear seat and put a bed in for camping.
My comment above re insurance, was about restoring the original seating, or making a bench seat for passengers while driving. There was a post on here a short while ago about adding rear seats to a van, the insurance costs for the converted van were very high, even though the van had been inspected & approved.

[Grey Fox]

Thanks for your help the impression I get from you and others is a false floor for want of a better term of plywood and build a frame for a bench. It will not be used for sitting on while driving and will not entail any alterations to the body of the vehicle etc.
Sounds good to me, Thanks, Keith

[brodfather11]

Redid the attatchments, they work now