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Is it illegal to remove the back seats?
Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 6:40 pm
by flylux
Is it illegal to remove the back seats of my dual cab ute to fit more stuff in?
Someone mentioned to me the other day that it might be, so I had a trawl around on the rta website and found nothing.
BTW, I'm in NSW.
Brad
Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 6:51 pm
by Tiny
it is not illeagle, however you are required to get it re engineered as an x seater ie if you have a bench seat it would be engineered as a 3 seater and that shows on the rego. if you are removing them permanently then get in engineered, does not cost much, if you just wnat to remove them to move some stuff around for a week or two then leave it
Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 6:55 pm
by ISUZUROVER
Bogged from Exploroz:
>Subject
>Vehicle Registration
>
>Message
>Dear Sir Madam, Could you please clarify when the third row of
seats are
>removed from a 4wd , either temporially for a weekend or short trip
, or when
>they are permanently removed to allow fitment of a cargo barrier and
a set of
>cargo drawers , what is required for registration ?
Graeme,
Theoretically, each time the seating capacity changes, the RTA needs to
be notified.
The issue is really only going to concern Police Officers who may
intercept the vehicle, for whatever reason, and check the registration
details.
Some of the seats in this type of vehicle are made, by the manufacturer,
so they can be 'unclipped' and removed for extra capacity when
travelling.
If the above circumstance does occur, the best idea would be to explain
to the officer why the seat was removed and it's only temporary.
Otherwise, each time you remove and replace the seat, the vehicle should
be inspected by a "Blue Slip" inspection station to verify the correct
installation and record the seating capacity change.
If you have any other enquiries, don't hesitate to reply or contact
Technical Enquiries on 1300 137 302.
Regards
Colin Lambert
Technical Enquiries Officer
Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 7:08 pm
by BowTieGQ
I had read on some official paper work about this as I too have removed the 2nd and 3rd rows. Not sure what states it was for though. But it did state that the seats can be removed at any time as long as the seating capacity is not changed. And it explained this by stating that the seat belts must remain in place and that the mounting for the removed seats must not be removed or altered. Those things are what determines the seating capacity and not the amount of actual seats. The seats need to be able to be refitted as per factory.
Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 7:13 pm
by Tiny
i tend to think the 3rd row seats are less of a problem unless a cargo barrier and \ or a permanent drawer system has been installed, the back row of seats in a dual cab ute if it in a permanent type situation I would want it engineered to be safe, but as I said, in the case of a tempory measure to move house or something for the extra space I dont see to much a problem
Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 7:26 pm
by Jeeps
It's not illegal to remove them for temporary use, except if you need tools to remove them. Wranglers have a quick release pin so no tools are required therefore it's legal... for wranglers
Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 7:31 pm
by alien
my zuk is rego'd as a 2 seater now, since i removed the back seats before i engineered it and during engineering it was noted the back seats were removed... its a simple process to make it a 4 seater again though, rock up with the back seats fitted and get it added back onto the rego - theyll just check it looks factory and isnt going to come undone and you're set (except for the 'nominal' fee theyll charge for the inspection).
Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 8:15 pm
by flylux
Sweet, thanks for the help guys. I think I'll get it made official as I use it with the rear seat out all the time. I've got a platform bolted in there, with the fridge bolted to that.
Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 8:22 pm
by chimpboy
When I looked it up in Vic, it appeared to me that engineering was only required to increase seating, not to reduce it.
Of course it's hard to find any info that seems hard enough to rely on.
Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 8:23 pm
by hiluxmad
Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 9:45 pm
by brad-chevlux
the only thing you need to keep in mind is, IF you have the seating capacity reduced and it's reg reflects this change. You can not put the seat back in and use them (with out notifying the correct people) . you could be done for over loading the car.
Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 10:36 am
by TRobbo
A mate of mine had his falcon defected by the local friendly law enforcement officers because the back seat was out.
Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 10:49 am
by Badass Bundy
flylux wrote:Sweet, thanks for the help guys. I think I'll get it made official as I use it with the rear seat out all the time. I've got a platform bolted in there, with the fridge bolted to that.
Yeah thats what Ive done to the Bundy. Ive made a wooden platform, raised by about 25cm so I can put gear under (recovery gear, etc). Then Ive put a rubber non slip matt over it to fit with a fridge on it. Will be getting a fridge slide bolted on it soon.
Pro - More room
Con - Less passengers
Good luck with it
Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 1:50 pm
by chimpboy
flylux wrote:Sweet, thanks for the help guys. I think I'll get it made official as I use it with the rear seat out all the time. I've got a platform bolted in there, with the fridge bolted to that.
I gotta tell you, I wouldn't do that. It will be a pita to try to change it back later. Hassle vs hassle, I would much prefer the small chance of getting in trouble for the absent seat than trying to sort out adding the seat back in for sale purposes later.
Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 1:52 pm
by chimpboy
TRobbo wrote:A mate of mine had his falcon defected by the local friendly law enforcement officers because the back seat was out.
I am pretty sure that is not a defect.
VicRoads wrote:Removing seats
The requirements for removing seats will vary depending on:
* the original number of seating positions
* the new number of seating positions
* which seats are removed
* when the vehicle was manufactured
An Approval Certificate is
not required if:
* the number of original seating positions was less than 10
* 10 or more seating positions have been reduced to 2 - 3 seats in the front row only
* 10 or more seating positions have been reduced to 4 - 9 seats in a vehicle manufactured before 1970
* more than 12 seating positions have been reduced to 10-12 seats in a vehicle manufactured before 1986
* the number of seating positions does not reduce to below 13
If the modification is not listed above an Approval Certificate is required.
Am I reading it wrong?
Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 2:41 pm
by TRobbo
chimpboy wrote:TRobbo wrote:A mate of mine had his falcon defected by the local friendly law enforcement officers because the back seat was out.
I am pretty sure that is not a defect.
maybe, maybe not. But the copper decided to give him one anyway. Perhaps it was just their way of dealing with him cause they couldn't get him for anything else. he doesn't always know when to be quiet.
Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 4:47 pm
by Dirty
Last time I looked into this it came down to if anything was modified.
If temporary removal (just unbolting) then it was legal in all states.
If anything was required to be cut or modified to remove the seats, or they where replaced with another structure then you need to get it engineered.
- David.
Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 8:31 pm
by flylux
My sister knows a guy who does blueslips. I think I'll ask him sometime. If its got the platform bolted in and the fridge bolted down on top, its a bit hard to argue how its only temporary.
And I seem to be always getting pulled over by the cops. They followed me one friday arvo from where I was parked near a bottleshop, waited til I got a km down the road and pulled me over for a "random" breathtest! Had my work trailer and bright yellow shirt on, must have thought I was a good target!
