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Getting a 9 seater (and converting from a 17 seater)

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Getting a 9 seater (and converting from a 17 seater)

Postby cormie » Thu Jun 14, 2018 1:13 am

Hey folks,
I'm on the lookout for a Jumbo ELWB Transit minibus to be able to use for leisure, road trips etc. I only want 9 seats so it can be driven on a B license, but I want the extra space of the Jumbo. So it'd be driver +2 up front, and 6 in the back so I'd have a LOT more space to take bikes and the likes and to have comfortable standing room etc and possibly down the line look at converting to some sort of 9 seat camper

I also saw these folding jump seats and if I could get 2 x 3 seater ones, or 3 x 2 seater if they only come in max 2 seat, that would be great too:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqxHj12MHk4

I just have a few questions:

It seems a fair few Jumbo minibuses are actually 430 transits. I assume these can't be driven on a regular B license, even if the weight is kept low?

Whats the difference between "removable" seats and regular seats? I want to be able to take seats out easy enough if I need to. I assume non removable seats are still possible to take out, just a bit more difficult?

I think I've come across the odd one with a tacho. Can I remove this easy enough? Also, why do some minibuses have them and others not? I know regular commercial vans don't need them as long as they are under 3.5t, but is there special cases where they are needed if transporting passengers as a PSV?

I'll be avoiding 2L FWD TDCI transits as I've had awful trouble with that engine before. Did they stop using these engines, and if so what year?



Any other things to highlight or any advice at all would be appreciated
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Re: Getting a 9 seater (and converting from a 17 seater)

Postby bambi mk 1 » Thu Jun 14, 2018 8:21 am

Irish laws are a whole different kettle of fish than British.Are you trying to do this in Ireland :?:
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Re: Getting a 9 seater (and converting from a 17 seater)

Postby dumper » Thu Jun 14, 2018 9:02 am

If you end up converting a van and fitting seats your self get some out of a mk8 bus as they clip into a rail you can bolt to the floor the rear most seat is removable it has two small grab handles to pull up to remove the seat the rest of the double seats are the same but do not have the grab handles but you can fit them to the seat as for the single seats they have different ways to clipping the rails and bolt to the side of the van I sold my full set to a guy on eBay he said he sometimes struggles to sell the single ones
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Past camper vans
1974 mk1 v4 with 2.0 pinto fitted
1986 mk3 2.5 di swb
1990 190 lwb 2.5 di
1998 100 lwb 2.5 di
2006 350 jumbo 135 tdci
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Re: Getting a 9 seater (and converting from a 17 seater)

Postby cormie » Thu Jun 14, 2018 11:17 am

Thanks for the replies :)

Yep, planning to use this mainly in Ireland, although may use it to travel around Europe for leisure and to live out of for a while too hahaha :D

With regards the seats, so the one with the grab handles are removable, but the rest aren't?

If I go ahead with this, I'll hopefully get the fold up ones I linked to, they would free up a lot of floor space when not in use!

Also, is the floor in minibuses generally raised above the wheel arches, so the entire floor is higher/ceiling lower, meaning less volume in total?
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Re: Getting a 9 seater (and converting from a 17 seater)

Postby bambi mk 1 » Thu Jun 14, 2018 11:49 am

You may end up with something you cant drive,tax, test, or sell :shock: Check out with the RSA first before going any further :wink: 17 seater VW bus with removable seat here going cheap if things work out with RSA :wink:
On the sixth day God created a Sprinter on the seventh he gave it away and bought a TRANSIT
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Re: Getting a 9 seater (and converting from a 17 seater)

Postby cormie » Thu Jun 14, 2018 3:47 pm

I guess the Irish equivalent is the NCTS to check for all that here. I didn't even know it was possible that you wouldn't be able to tax or test it if you did certain mods to it, essentially I guess I'm just looking to eventually have a camper with 9 seats that I can still use as a vehicle to nip around various places in too.

Have you a link to the one you're selling?
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Re: Getting a 9 seater (and converting from a 17 seater)

Postby dumper » Thu Jun 14, 2018 4:05 pm

It’s only the twins are quick release
MK 8 L4 H3 Motorsport campervan
Past camper vans
1974 mk1 v4 with 2.0 pinto fitted
1986 mk3 2.5 di swb
1990 190 lwb 2.5 di
1998 100 lwb 2.5 di
2006 350 jumbo 135 tdci
dumper
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Re: Getting a 9 seater (and converting from a 17 seater)

Postby cormie » Thu Jun 14, 2018 4:29 pm

Ok cool, have you ever seen the fold up ones I linked to in the OP being sold in the UK? They'd be awesome. If they could be 3 seater fold ups, that could double as beds, even better too :D
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Re: Getting a 9 seater (and converting from a 17 seater)

Postby dumper » Thu Jun 14, 2018 6:38 pm

No not seen any
MK 8 L4 H3 Motorsport campervan
Past camper vans
1974 mk1 v4 with 2.0 pinto fitted
1986 mk3 2.5 di swb
1990 190 lwb 2.5 di
1998 100 lwb 2.5 di
2006 350 jumbo 135 tdci
dumper
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Posts: 5428
Joined: Sun Jan 20, 2008 2:56 pm
Location: Lincolnshire

Re: Getting a 9 seater (and converting from a 17 seater)

Postby cormie » Tue Jul 17, 2018 8:47 am

I'm still on the look out for a van.

I've actually extended the search to include VW crafter minibuses now too, but they seem to be a lot more expensive than transits. Is there any reason for this? Does anyone know how they fare in comparison to transits in terms of maintenance costs etc?

It also seems most of the ones I'm looking at are over the 3.5t GVW, so I'd ideally like to downgrade it to a 3.5t. I've read this is possible and you can get new VIN plates made up and that too.

Does anyone know were there ever any Jumbo 350's with a single rear axle, that were made as mini buses and would be 3.5t GVW, or will they all be 4.3t?
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