converting panel van to crew van info needed please.

[flatyre]

Hey folks this is my first year as a self employed gardner/landscaper. I have a 1999 berlingo which is big enough for transporting tools and equipment, and a family car. I'd like one vehicle that can do both, ie. a crew van. Problem is they're a lot more expensive than the panel van equivalent. I'm fairly mechanically minded and have restored a few classic cars and bikes as well as having worked in the commercial vehicle glazing business for a few years. I think I have enough skills to convert a panel van to a crew van but am wondering if there is much legal stuff involved. I know it would require a vosa inspection which is fine by me as this van will be carrying my wife and two year old daughter, so I want it to be safe.
Being my first year in business, I need to keep some capital for unforeseen expenses, so if I can save money building a crew van rather than buying one. At the moment a standard three seat panel van is enough, so I don't need to convert the van right away. However my wife is pregnant, so more seats will be needed later. This should give me time to gather up the relevant parts from commercial scrapyards, windows, seats etc.
I'm thinking of using a swb low roof transit or traffic as the base vehicle. Does anyone know if the bulkheads on either vehicle can be modified to fit behind the side door rather than the front seats? are there bolt holes in the floor for rear seats? Basically has anyone done anything like this and how did it work out? I know there are firms who will do the conversion for you but I doubt they would give up the information for free.

thanks in advance. John

[mph1977]

flatyre said:

Hey folks this is my first year as a self employed gardner/landscaper. I have a 1999 berlingo which is big enough for transporting tools and equipment, and a family car. I'd like one vehicle that can do both, ie. a crew van. Problem is they're a lot more expensive than the panel van equivalent. I'm fairly mechanically minded and have restored a few classic cars and bikes as well as having worked in the commercial vehicle glazing business for a few years. I think I have enough skills to convert a panel van to a crew van but am wondering if there is much legal stuff involved. I know it would require a vosa inspection which is fine by me as this van will be carrying my wife and two year old daughter, so I want it to be safe.
Being my first year in business, I need to keep some capital for unforeseen expenses, so if I can save money building a crew van rather than buying one. At the moment a standard three seat panel van is enough, so I don't need to convert the van right away. However my wife is pregnant, so more seats will be needed later. This should give me time to gather up the relevant parts from commercial scrapyards, windows, seats etc.
I'm thinking of using a swb low roof transit or traffic as the base vehicle. Does anyone know if the bulkheads on either vehicle can be modified to fit behind the side door rather than the front seats? are there bolt holes in the floor for rear seats? Basically has anyone done anything like this and how did it work out? I know there are firms who will do the conversion for you but I doubt they would give up the information for free.

thanks in advance. John

doing it may be easy

doing it safely and legally and to OEM standards however may be a different matter ...

if you persist with tryingto do this look for a van without a bulkhead as they can;t easily be moved and reused as you seem to be suggesting

[Fast Bug]

From past experience most bulkheas are pretty easy to remove and most are bolted in. However I doubt you'd be able to just move them backwrds and bolt them in again. The second row of seats need to be M2 crash tested (I think, don't quote me on that) and I doubt there would be fixings on the floor that you could just bolt them in to. The easiest thing would be to try and find a van they did a crew version of and check the floor, and I don't think they did a swb Transit crew.

Most of my experince is with Renault, and I know they don't have fixing points on the floor of standard panel van. That's not to say it cn't be done, as back in the day I had some Transit Connects made in to crew vans, but it would be far easier (and probably cheaper) to buy a crew van in the first place...

[GC8]

My first thought is that it will be easier and better to make a van out of a car than it will be to make a car out of a van.

With this in mind I be looking for the 'cheap MPV' version of a commercial van and then remove seats and add linings to protect the carpet/trim as required.

If youre using a van which has an MPV equivalent then the parts will be available and theyll meet all rewuired standards, but their ease of use will depend on whether the required mountings are available. If they arent I would revert to Plan A.

[DrDeAtH]

Double cab in van is what you are trying to achieve.

As long as the seat and seat belt fixings are present in the chassis you will be good to go. All you will need is the second row of seats from the people carrier version, the side windows for that row if required. You can make your own solid bulkhead to fit behind the seats if you can't find an original one easily.

You may or may not need to have the vehicle inspected by an engineer. Plenty of people do similar conversions with Transits.

[twing]

What's the budget? I pay about £900 for the seats (fitted, with certificate, no need for inspection) and about £100 for a window, £80 quid for ply bulkhead. All done at my place so no need to travel. Wouldn't think it's worth the grief doing it yourself.

[flatyre]

I want the van to be safe and legally registered as a crew van on the tax book. I see rear seats on the local gumtree regularly for not much money, and windows. The conversion doesn't need to look factory, just tidy and functional. Does anyone know the price for a DVLA change of vehicle classification inspection? Also do any of you van owners know what vehicles have rear seat fixing points under their floors. I would like to use a swb transit as I think they are a great van for the money as long as you keep the underside well sealed. Though I did drive a Renault traffic crew van for a while and thought it was a great machine too? What do you guys think?

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

The VAT implications can get a bit messy too (if you are VAT registered).

[Vincecj]

When I was in a similar situation, I bought an ex-RAC crew cab van.

[LouD86]

We see plenty of non factory crew vans here, I sell used commercial vehicles.

A lot of the time, if the correct seats are used, Ive seen them fitted with spreader plates under the floor to take the load. Another van to look at is a Dispatch/Expert, they seem to be very popular for the conversions.

SWB Transit is a good vehicle, and they did do a crew van version, so you may be able to find some bits in a yard somewhere. I haven't seen a flat roof, only semi high, but they may have made one

[951TSE]

Another option to consider. My local gardener has a crew cab pick-up. The load bed has a lift up (it's on gas rams) very strong cover on it. He stores the small equipment, PPE and cans of petrol under it, has various clips and attachments to hold strimmers and such like to the top and has a trailer with high mesh sides and a drop down ramp for the mowers, wheelbarrows and to take away the debris. The trailer has all his advertising panels on it, so there's nothing on the pick-up.

Then if he needs to use it socially it's unhook the trailer, put the strimmers in the garage and either lock the bed cover or empty it depending on what he's doing. When it comes time to sell it's just a standard pick-up with a tow bar.

[Yabu]

951TSE said:

Another option to consider. My local gardener has a crew cab pick-up. The load bed has a lift up (it's on gas rams) very strong cover on it. He stores the small equipment, PPE and cans of petrol under it, has various clips and attachments to hold strimmers and such like to the top and has a trailer with high mesh sides and a drop down ramp for the mowers, wheelbarrows and to take away the debris. The trailer has all his advertising panels on it, so there's nothing on the pick-up.

Then if he needs to use it socially it's unhook the trailer, put the strimmers in the garage and either lock the bed cover or empty it depending on what he's doing. When it comes time to sell it's just a standard pick-up with a tow bar.

No need for a tachometer with this set up?

[Spare tyre]

Trailer?

[twing]

Yabu said:

No need for a tachometer with this set up?

Very grey area, hire and reward means yes but also agricultural within a certain distance and a load of other BS means would prob be ok

[951TSE]

twing said:

Yabu said:

No need for a tachometer with this set up?

Very grey area, hire and reward means yes but also agricultural within a certain distance and a load of other BS means would prob be ok

Long time since I drove for a living but if my gardener needs a tacho on his setup then does the OP need one for the van conversion he's looking at?

I always through that you only needed a tacho if you were actually driving the vehicle for your job and not using it to get to a place of work where you then carry on your trade.