Fitting seats to panel van - thoughts

[rodmanboyd]

I have a panel van and wanted to fit seats. I’ve spoken to some fitters up in Edinburgh (where I am), and they’ve said to me “if your van didn’t have seats from the factory, any seats you fit won’t be crash test safe”.

Is that true? I’m concerned as, yes, I can get a Kombi bench fitted with a fitting certificate but they’ve told me the insurance wouldn’t be valid in the event of an accident (and, worst case, injury of people sitting in that seat)…

I’ve found a place that can fit crash safe seats but they’re not the useful Kombi benches.

I see a lot of people selling such seats and benches - does anybody have any advice?

Thanks!

 

[Dellmassive]

Our camper was a panel van, the previous owner had a set of VW kombi seats fitted by a garage with fitting certificate.

And used that with invoice to apply to the DVLA for a change of V5 to van with windows and 5seats.

The new v5 was used to insurance as such. A converted van with seats etc.

We then bought the van and fitted captain seats and replaced the kombi seats with RIB bed seats.... All declared to the insurance with no issues.

So in the UK I believe it's fine to do, but I'd call your insurance company first and ask them what your specific policy details on regards to van modification. And requirements.

FYI we use Howdens (Aplan) Thatcham branch who specialise in campervans.

 

[64 SPLIT]

Similar to Dellmassive - my last van was originally a panel van. I bought it with non-VW 'certified' seats in the back fixed into Unwin rails. All fully insured through Brentacre no issues. Swapped it all out in favour for full length rails & full-width seat/bed from a Caravelle - updated through insurance no problem. Insured with Howdens by then.

 

[jimc91]

Same here, rear seats fitted by Bognor Motors, declared to insurance company, no issues. Just make sure you use original brackets and seats

 

[DXX]

Aside from seats the Kombi has a large steel bumper bar across the rear, the panel van doesn’t.
Obviously there to protect the rear passengers.

 

[64 SPLIT]

My 5.1 had a large steel bumper bar across the back? Maybe newer vans don't as a penny pinching exercise from VW.

 

[T32Rich]

Aside from seats the Kombi has a large steel bumper bar across the rear, the panel van doesn’t.
Obviously there to protect the rear passengers.

I did try to find details regarding this, but failed miserably to find any difference on the diagrams I could see for 6.1's same year as mine. Mine is a converted Panel Van and so I would like to understand the differences if you have any detail please?

 

[Dannyb6467]

I did try to find details regarding this, but failed miserably to find any difference on the diagrams I could see for 6.1's same year as mine. Mine is a converted Panel Van and so I would like to understand the differences if you have any detail please?

My 2020 kombi had the steel bar but this is removed when a tow bar is fitted. Then...to my surprise my 2024 panel van had the same bar but this was removed for the towbar to be fitted. There doesn't seem to be any clarity to what and why these are fitted. Towbar bar fitters seem to have plenty for sale though.