Adding passenger seats to a cargo van

[VANDAYUM]

Hey y'all.

Searched around a bit but didn't get many answers. My step son is looking to add passenger seats to the back of his cargo astro van. Other than seats, seat belts, and attaching them to the floor does the title need to be changed? Does it need some crazy expensive architect to sign off?

Thanks in advanced for the advice.

Kam

[markmitch]

It is illegal in some states. I believe it has to done according to federal safety standards to be legal. Not sure how they would ever know though since I did vehicle safety inspections in Maine years ago and they never had us look at seating in any way other than seat belts.

[SheldonYoung]

Would definitely help if Everyone knew what State you are in.
I know here in Massachusetts, one of the strictest States for Vehicle Inspections, I've never had or heard of anyone getting into trouble for doing so.

[AstroWill]

Probably depends on where you live.
I know that different standards applied at different times, how would they know when the seats were installed?
Lots, virtually all conversion vans start out as cargo vans.

[VANDAYUM]

Thank you everyone for the advice I'm so sorry, I didn't even think to include the fact that I'm in Ontario Canada

[Big_kid]

My conversion van has a steel plate running across the floor from the slider to the driver side. It has/had studs in it to mount the middle seats. A previous owner reconfigured the cargo area before I bought it, I put it back to basically original configuration using the front seats I had taken out of my wife's min-van. I used whichever studs I could use to mount the seat bases, I cut off the ones I couldn't. I then drilled and bolted the seats down with backing plates underneath, using grade 8 hardware. That makes 3 layers of steel spreading the load, counting the extra mounting of the upfitter's floor plate. The lap belt and receivers are part of the seat base, the shoulder belts mount in the original position using unmodified factory seat belt parts. I think there's pics in my gallery.

[VANDAYUM]

My conversion van has a steel plate running across the floor from the slider to the driver side. It has/had studs in it to mount the middle seats. A previous owner reconfigured the cargo area before I bought it, I put it back to basically original configuration using the front seats I had taken out of my wife's min-van. I used whichever studs I could use to mount the seat bases, I cut off the ones I couldn't. I then drilled and bolted the seats down with backing plates underneath, using grade 8 hardware. That makes 3 layers of steel spreading the load, counting the extra mounting of the upfitter's floor plate. The lap belt and receivers are part of the seat base, the shoulder belts mount in the original position using unmodified factory seat belt parts. I think there's pics in my gallery.

Wow!!! Good job man that's almost exactly I would do grade 8 hardware and use more steel to reinforce the floor and the seats thank you so much for your advice!!!

[AstroOafAdventurer]

My conversion van also had the steel plates the seats mounted to, but the seat belts looked to mount to factory points. The rear most seat the receivers mounted to the floor and the uppers to brackets sandwiched to the top on either side.
The middle seat upper belts bolted to the pillars with a nut behind them.
I'd actually been looking at removing those from mine as I have no use for them and lug that the belt bolted to protrudes down a bit.
I'll post a pic in a bit.

[VANDAYUM]

My conversion van also had the steel plates the seats mounted to, but the seat belts looked to mount to factory points. The rear most seat the receivers mounted to the floor and the uppers to brackets sandwiched to the top on either side.
The middle seat upper belts bolted to the pillars with a nut behind them.
I'd actually been looking at removing those from mine as I have no use for them and lug that the belt bolted to protrudes down a bit.
I'll post a pic in a bit.

I can't wait!!!