Yes, I know this has supposedly been done to death already, but while I found lots of generally correct opinion, I did not find any reference to the relevant documents.
The current policy statement on seat removal is available on the TMR web site in a section labelled "Instructions". Scroll down to Light vehicles and look for the link labelled: L 5.0: Permanent and temporary removal of seats from light motor vehicles (14 July 2005).
Keen observers will note that it is not under the modifications section, and I did not find it without help from the knowledgeable chap who answered the phone.
The key contents are:
and, for the 150 series...
The key word being "permanent" is actually defined as
According to the person I spoke to, replacing the seats by drawers for a specific trip (of a defined time) would be temporary.
The other thing to be aware of is that if you do claim your seat removal is temporary and compliant then you should print out that information sheet (3 pages) and carry it with the vehicle.
In my case I decided that I was not interested in making any effort to make it seem temporary, so I went for a modification plate (LK1). The engineer ("Approved Person") listed 3 requirements:
To remove the seat belts, I was able to pop out the plastic surround at the top of the rear pillar, unbolt the belt from the floor, and feed the buckle and attachment bracket back through the slot in the plastic. I could then feed these bits down the inside of the pillar and tied the end bracket to the top runner. I taped a bit of cloth around the metal parts to reduce the likelihood of rubbing. While I do not intend to ever reinstall the belts, I thought it better not to burn any bridges that did not need it.
My insurance company were not at all fussed about the changes - "just lets us know when you change the registration so we can update our records".
And the hardest part of all this seemed to be finding a flat surface big enough for the plate, since it has to be drilled and pop-riveted in place using all 4 corner holes.
The current policy statement on seat removal is available on the TMR web site in a section labelled "Instructions". Scroll down to Light vehicles and look for the link labelled: L 5.0: Permanent and temporary removal of seats from light motor vehicles (14 July 2005).
Keen observers will note that it is not under the modifications section, and I did not find it without help from the knowledgeable chap who answered the phone.
The key contents are:
For vehicles fitted with quick release seating attachments as original equipment, temporary removal of the seats is acceptable. A Modification Plate does not need to be fitted. This is commonly the case for four wheel drives and people movers.
For vehicles fitted with bolt in seating structures, no approval by an Approved Person is necessary for the temporary removal of seats, provided the category of the vehicle does not change as a result of the seating reduction.
For the purposes of this policy, "permanent" means the seats are removed for an indefinite period or not expected to be refitted.
At the time of a Safety Certificate inspection, the vehicle must be returned to the manufacturer's original seating configuration or have a Modification Plate fitted for the seating configuration as presented.
In my case I decided that I was not interested in making any effort to make it seem temporary, so I went for a modification plate (LK1). The engineer ("Approved Person") listed 3 requirements:
- All bolt holes from the seat must be sealed - I could show the false floor used the existing bolt holes.
- The seat belts must be "removed" - see below
- Any seat belt warning system must be deactivated - since there was no warning system, this was easy.
To remove the seat belts, I was able to pop out the plastic surround at the top of the rear pillar, unbolt the belt from the floor, and feed the buckle and attachment bracket back through the slot in the plastic. I could then feed these bits down the inside of the pillar and tied the end bracket to the top runner. I taped a bit of cloth around the metal parts to reduce the likelihood of rubbing. While I do not intend to ever reinstall the belts, I thought it better not to burn any bridges that did not need it.
My insurance company were not at all fussed about the changes - "just lets us know when you change the registration so we can update our records".
And the hardest part of all this seemed to be finding a flat surface big enough for the plate, since it has to be drilled and pop-riveted in place using all 4 corner holes.
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