Add a passenger seat to a cargo van?

[One Awesome Inch]

How difficult would it be to add a passenger captain style seat to a cargo van?

I am specifically speaking of a Dodge Ram 1500... which is the type of van I want. I know I could get a conversion van with the seat already in it, but then I would have to deal with ripping out all the "conversion" stuff as I have very specific ideas about what I want to do to the interior.

I require a passenger seat in the back so that I could safely and correctly attach a child/baby seat for my 3 year old daughter. I would also quite likely put a swivel on the bottom to use it as a recliner as well.

Just trying to get a ball park of how much $$$ a shop would charge me to install it... assuming I got (a good) one from a junk yard.

 

[MrNoodly]

Having bolted a few things through the floor of my cargo van, the biggest hassle is access from underneath. The frame, exhaust, mufflers, catalytic converter, heat shields, drive shaft, fuel tank, hoses, brake lines, and all that can make it hard to reach where you want to bolt something. Other than that, it's a pretty straightforward job. Drill holes, get some beefy bolts, nuts and washers, some Loctite, and tighten everything down.

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Also, you'll need to figure seat/shoulder belt attachment, particularly if you're in a state with vehicle inspection.

 

[LowTech]

If I was putting a rear seat in a cargo van, first I'd check to see if the floor is already molded to accept a seat pedistal. They usualy use the same body for a convertion van. The mount points for the sholder belt is often already there as well.
If I couldn't tell from that, then I'd prob go to a junkyard and see how a convertion rig had theirs mounted.
A lot of things I'm good just mounting them to the floor w/ bolts, seats . . . not so much. Would rather know that I'm mounting in to something solid, just like they do at the factory.

I have mounted seats in a converted metro bus. The ones going in were nothing like the ones that came out.The ones we put in have a plate of steel under the floor larger than the pedistal base. W/ 4 grade 8 bolts on each one.

Just some things to think about,

 

[Bdog1]

I think the last swivel pedestals were in 1993. In conversion vans at least.

There's been plenty installed as accessories since then: my van included. A shop would be foolish (legally) to touch this, so your on your own. Use large backing plates under and above the floor.

 

[Patrick46]

I've done this numerous times, on several types of vans and stepvans, and have never had a problem.

I do custom fabricating, so this is easy-piesy for me. Unfortunately, this doesn't sound like your cup-o-tea. :-/

I can't see a 'reasonable' shop charging you an arm and a leg to have this done.

 

[user 423]

You can still buy the swivel bases but they are not DOT approved. A swivel base just won't stand up to the G forces of a wreck. Your daughter would be much lighter than an adult though, so it's not as much of a danger. I would still be very careful.

A regular passenger van would have a middle bench seat which would be safe for her but then it would take up space. If you could somehow work around that by getting an extended van, that might be the way to go.

 

[vanman2300]

If you want to maintain about the same floor space you could try something along the lines of what handicap vans do for tie downs to a wheel chair. It's probably not much more difficult to bolt in the tie downs than it is to put the tie downs for seat belts. That way you can place a chair modified with a solid base down when on the road and then put it where ever you want to afterwards. If you don't mind spending a little extra money then get a used wheel chair and they collapse to a much smaller size that can fit underneath a bed.

This might also circumvent the legal concerns for mechanics because they are only putting in tie downs which can be used for almost anything.

 

[Almost There]

I think the last swivel pedestals were in 1993. In conversion vans at least.

There's been plenty installed as accessories since then: my van included. A shop would be foolish (legally) to touch this, so your on your own. Use large backing plates under and above the floor.

Not sure where you got your info from.

I found DOT approved bases here.http://www.discountvantruck.com/rvvanseatbases/rvvan6waypowerseatbases.htm

 

[MrNoodly]

Not sure where you got your info from.

I found DOT approved bases here.http://www.discountvantruck.com/rvvanseatbases/rvvan6waypowerseatbases.htm

That link is to 6-way power seat bases. You probably meant this link:
http://www.discountvantruck.com/rvvanseatbases/rvvanseatbases.htm

 

[highdesertranger]

thanks noodly and almost there. I knew I have seen them somewhere. if this seat is going to be installed where there are no mounts some reinforcing should be done. a van conversion shop can do this job if you can't. highdesertranger