front passenger seat

[donkey too]

As all Bongo owners know the front passenger seat cannot be swivelled. So I have turned mine round and bolted it down facing the rear.
Can anyone tell me if this will have any effect on the MOT?
The seat can always be unbolted and turned again but would rather not have the hassle just for one day to pass the test.
The seat slides to rear and back folds so that there is clear view all round the cab and obviously a passenger cannot ride in it in that position.
Any one knowledge of MOT's here???

 

[Lee]

Have a word with Paul at the weekend, he's at Brandon, I'm sure he can help.
My feeling is that it won't pass because of the seat belt fixing.
Lee

 

[Alf]

Bongo Front seat

Could you explain how a passenger could fasten the seat belt For its MOT the seat belt must be able to be worn. Do you carry any passengers in the seat without a belt.

Alf

As all Bongo owners know the front passenger seat cannot be swivelled. So I have turned mine round and bolted it down facing the rear.
Can anyone tell me if this will have any effect on the MOT?
The seat can always be unbolted and turned again but would rather not have the hassle just for one day to pass the test.
The seat slides to rear and back folds so that there is clear view all round the cab and obviously a passenger cannot ride in it in that position.
Any one knowledge of MOT's here???

 

[Tezza33]

You can have side facing seats or rear facing seats in the back but a 'specified front passenger seat' has to have a seat belt that works,
The “specified front passenger seat” requiring a seat belt is the seat which is:
· foremost in the vehicle and
· furthest from the drivers seat
Unless there is a fixed partition separating the passenger seat from a space in front of it which is alongside the driver’s seat, e.g. certain types of taxis, buses etc.
Why don't you ask at the MOT station, they will happily give you advice but in my day it would have failed

 

[donkey too]

Thanks everyone. MOT station said They (THINK) it would pass OK without the seat in. I have doubts. I have seen vehicles pass without a seat in but they must have working belts. The belt on mine is fixed to the door post on one side and the seat on the other so yes the belt wouldn't work.
No one rides in the seat as it is folded when driving to ensure clear all round view from the drivers seat.
I will just have to turn it round when MOT comes along.
Did think of taking the belt out altogether and registering at DVLA as a one seater instead of two. As the seat is only used when parked Think I shall ring them about it
Thanks everyone.
Anyone else at Brandon at the week end? Be good to have a mini meet up.

 

[sak]

If it is folded flat is it not a table ?

 

[Alf]

Front seats

I would think if you removed the front seat altogether then you don't need the seat belt. Simples

Alf

 

[Tezza33]

I would think if you removed the front seat altogether then you don't need the seat belt. Simples

Alf

If it doesn't have a seat fitted you would have to remove the seat belt, if you are going to remove the seat though you might as well just turn it around

 

[donkey too]

I will see what DVL say about it. But am still looking for an alterntive. I am sure that there was a jig on this forim some time ago for turning the seat.

 

[Rodeo]

There are you tube vids on how to diy make seat swivels.Ive made them in the distant past to fit into my customised vans, but I hear that they arent legal unless tested and approved? Quite rightly really , due to stresses and strains on them in the event of an accident.

 

[Tezza33]

As long as it doesn't rock and locks in the straight ahead position an MOT tester will not check it, I made my own swivels for a few of my early vans and they are still going through MOT's, I would think you could adapt this though
View attachment 22822

 

[trevskoda]

whether you fit a aproved swival or not fh construction and use regs require a pull test of 12 tons,this is done by removing windscreen and fixing a webing to seat for the pull untill distruction maybe,cant see anyone doing this but insurance legal team my find this claus and not pay out.but today my van pased mot with my home made seat box with belted seats fitted plus home made rear bumper and towing bracket,with no euro or bs stamp on it,think it depends on hows testing .

 

[Tezza33]

whether you fit a aproved swival or not fh construction and use regs require a pull test of 12 tons,this is done by removing windscreen and fixing a webing to seat for the pull untill distruction maybe,cant see anyone doing this but insurance legal team my find this claus and not pay out.but today my van pased mot with my home made seat box with belted seats fitted plus home made rear bumper and towing bracket,with no euro or bs stamp on it,think it depends on hows testing .

It depends on the age of the vehicle as well

 

[Rodeo]

So an mot tester passes it.You have an accident.Ins co check the seat swivel(s) , they arent kite marked/approved or whatever they require.You cant use the excuse that the vehicle has an mot, so swivels must be legal? I reckon the ins co would be wriggling like a maggot on a hook!
Ive built swivels out of much stronger materials than the ones that can be bought, but I havent got type approval or whatever, so they arent legal in my mind.

 

[Tezza33]

So an mot tester passes it.You have an accident.Ins co check the seat swivel(s) , they arent kite marked/approved or whatever they require.You cant use the excuse that the vehicle has an mot, so swivels must be legal? I reckon the ins co would be wriggling like a maggot on a hook!
Ive built swivels out of much stronger materials than the ones that can be bought, but I havent got type approval or whatever, so they arent legal in my mind.

You don't need type approval for modifications to single vehicles and unless the seat swivel was a cause or partial cause of an accident Insurance Companies cannot wriggle out of it, that is what the ombudsman is for

 

[Rodeo]

I read an article a while back about swivels (and similar stuff).I tspoke about the legality of the swivels in the event of an accident.Whatever anyone elses view I personally would only use approved ones.There is SVA .single vehicle type approval, which they may or may not come under.