What are the minimum requirements for legal extra seats in the boot?

[Plutei]

Hi all

I am wondering about the legalities regarding extra seating in the rear of my defender (1992, 110, 5 door, currently 5 seats)

I am wondering whether I can have seatbelts installed (permanently) and then build my own secure but basic benches which I put in when required, then get the whole lot certified. This is because I only require the extra seats very occasionally but would like the ability to legally transport more people over short distances.

Or, since I'm only doing very short distances and passenger comfort is optional, do I even need to build seats or could it be certified with just the "wheel arch" as the seat.

Or, does the seat need to be legit to get the engineers certificate?

Or, do I have a complete misunderstanding of the process?

Also, I am well aware of the dangers of inwards facing seats (head knocking, organ damage, spinal damage, and all the rest of it), I am only using it occasionally to ferry people in remote areas, and is just so that I can legally do what I am already doing (sticking four people in the boot)

[Lotz-A-Landies]

1. It is illegal to carry more passengers in a vehicle than that specified on the compliance plate. (Unless the vehicle has engineering certification for additional seats.)
2. All seating positions must have approved seat belts with approved seat anchorages.
3. Any more than 8 passengers leaves you potentially liable for registration as a bus with the additional expense that entails and possibly 6 monthly roadworthy inspections.
4. Additional seating fitted today needs to be forward facing or rearward facing.

[Mick_Marsh]

4. Additional seating fitted today needs to be forward facing or rearward facing.

When did that come in?
Attached is a photo of a 2012 Landcruiser, registered and legal.

[gromit]

Each State may have different rules.

You will need an engineers report, I got the dealer to install inward facing seats in the rear of my Defender, it's now registered as a 9 seater.

I think the 'omnibus' rules kick in at 12 seats but again may vary State by State.

Check out the situation with an engineer, if inward facing seats are OK then put a wanted ad in Markets. They do occasionally come up for sale, make sure you get the laps belts with the seats.....

In Victoria you need to read VSI 19

Colin

[PAT303]

When did that come in?
Attached is a photo of a 2012 Landcruiser, registered and legal.

Can't see how that can be legal,the forward facing seats rule has been in for years,also there is a ruling about seats needing their own entry/exit,the mining industry converts troopys into buses with the side door for this very reason. Pat

[Lotz-A-Landies]

When did that come in?
Attached is a photo of a 2012 Landcruiser, registered and legal.

Serves me right for believing Juddy!

VSB-5A (2003) [ame="https://infrastructure.gov.au/roads/vehicle_regulation/bulletin/files/VSB5A_Commercial_Manufacture_and_installation_of_a dditional_seats.pdf"]https://infrastructure.gov.au/roads/vehicle_regulation/bulletin/files/VSB5A_Commercial_Manufacture_and_installation_of_a dditional_seats.pdf[/ame] makes the statement "

SIDE-FACING SEATS
Although side-facing seats may be fitted, front-facing and rear-facing seats are preferred because they provide a higher level of safety.

Although as a trauma specialist, no one would ride in any of my vehicles in a side facing seat1

[Mick_Marsh]

Serves me right for believing Juddy!

VSB-5A (2003) https://infrastructure.gov.au/roads/...onal_seats.pdf makes the statement "Although as a trauma specialist, no one would ride in any of my vehicles in a side facing seat1

And because the ADRs are not retrospective, for a 1992, the previous version of this document applies.

[Mick_Marsh]

Can't see how that can be legal,the forward facing seats rule has been in for years,also there is a ruling about seats needing their own entry/exit,the mining industry converts troopys into buses with the side door for this very reason. Pat

Show me the rule.

There have been so many "A fellow who does roadworthys told me" and "I read it on a website" stories out there, I have become a healthy skeptic when it comes to rules and regulations. To be convinced, I need to see the root document. I do not completely accept hearsay.

Oh, by the way, I see many modern Landcruiser Troopys with side mounted seats out there on the road. Usually operated by a government funded organisation.

[frantic]

To the op,plutei save $500-1000 on an eng report if in Nsw.
You fit original lr rear seats as it was an option in ALL defenders to 2007 puma which went 7 fwd facing.
Go talk to land vehicle spares at silverdale. I did the same thing about 3-4 years ago to my 2002. It's now an omnibus ( anything over 8 seats)on the rego retro fitted with original defender rear seats plus belts out of another members defender. I paid them to fit the seats, and belts, which they did well with backing plates to strengthen above factory spec. They also got my rego adjusted and no need for engineer report.
This is treated the same as taking the rar seats out of a Prado98-2012 to make the boot bigger.
If your in another state? no idea as each is different, sorry.

P.s yes you can still order a series troopie landcruiser with 8 inward facing seats, total of 10. They have only been banned from hire to tourists on frazer Island , as backpackers would jam in 10 bodies and pack all their gear/ supplies on the roof giving it the stability of a drunken giraffe resulting in rolls and deaths.
http://www.toyota.com.au/landcruiser-70-series/range

[Plutei]

Ah, thought I had my location in my info. I'm in NSW. Changed now.

I knew that the year model meant that mine would be fine regardless of current regulations, but was under the impression that it had become illegal in the mean time, good that that has been cleared up.

Cheers for the extra info Frantic, I'll give them a call, sounds like a nice easy option.

Since I won't usually have them in there then the next hurdle will be whether temporary removal is legal, this website suggests that should be fine in NSW provided it is refitted for inspection. But that's a whole 'nother kettle of fish and I'll get to that when I dig further.