Fibreglass 40 series body Rego

[green88]

I have a full fibreglass body on my SWB 40 series. Has anyone ever come across dramas with registering a vehicle with an aftermarket body like this? is it something that needs compliancing? Thanks

[RUFF]

When it comes to rego and Fiberglass 40 series cruisers in Brisbane this is the guy you want to talk to- http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/profile.p ... ofile&u=25 Actually he can prob help you out with most 40 series questions.

[coolfishluke]

You have to get seat mounts and roll bar engineered and the take over pits at Qld Transport for them to sign off on and issue new body plate.

The engineer I used as recommended by Qld Transport was Richard Larson - he runs a business in Upper Kedron called Loadsafe. I used him back in 2001 and even just mentioning his name are the department got recognition as the one who did the certification.

I had a new seat frame made that was structural for the seating and seatbelts to all forward bolt that go through to body. And the bases of your roll bar must be solid to the axle so either complete new rollbar or what I did was had bases welded from chassis that bolted up under the body to the bases of the existing rollbar.

Note that new seat frame may also mean new fuel tank depending on how the frame is fabbed.


All said and done the compliance plate is just for standard codes for seating changes and the like, however without using him I remember at the time Qld Trans going on about building plans and material data etc etc so made it easy. At the end of the day I haven;t been back to trans for the final sign off as I'm worried about all the other mods. Whilst by the book, they can be very difficult. SO I figure that in the event I do ever get pulled up, all work is to their requirement and then I will go through those final steps.

Have fun

[coolfishluke]

One more thing, I had to have proof of purchase from the manufacture with a statement saying that they manufactured the body and it is built to the relevant Qld Trans standards.

[coolfishluke]

No worries glad to help.

The only 2 manufacturers of 40 series bodies in Australia I know of is a guy called Keith donalsdon at Bribie (don' t have his number anymore and hard to find) and another place at Kippa Ring. If you can take it to the Kippa Ring mob they may id it as one of their bodies, - see http://www.frp.com.au/ - and then get written statement form them for production. It will be identical to their ' 'mould' so no two manufacturers the same.

At the end of the day no-one in blue will Pic it. An as long as it has been installed 'safely' then there is no argument for them to give you a hard time. That means attention to roll bar mounts, seating frame and seatbelt bases. With the framing on mine they are all essentially part of the chassis. alos bolts for securing are all Grade 8 High tensile I think it is. Keep neat copies of paperwork onbaord that correspond to the compliance plate for seating roll bar codes and they should be happy. If its a tidy vehicle they will have no reason to hassle you and you'll get more praise from them then cristicism. At end of the day the work is for your safety!

Normally a preapplication for installation is needed at QLD Trans, then you do the install with engineer specified by them, then take back for final inspection at the pits which will also mean a 100% thorough inspection of the entire vehicle so make sure everything up to scratch. Anytime you talk to transport dept no one has an idea and you're guaranteed to get a few crap answers just to pass you off.

Remember I did all this back in 2001 so not sure of process now.

I am in France atm otherwise I'd take some pics for you. I may have some old ones about if you want me to try and email?

Rob aka username bj on rods will know the rundown too.

Good luck and let me know how you get on.