Legal passenger seat?

[crofter]

What is legal for passenger seat?

Assuming you took out the passenger seat and put your refrigerator there:

Is a pillow on the cooler OK if you have seat belts?

Does the passenger seat have to be bolted down or a certain design?

Could a passenger legally ride in the cabin if you bolted in seat belts? 

If you have a roof rack, is it legal to add a rocking chair for extra passengers? ( just kidding)
-crofter

 

[MrNoodly]

Considering few law enforcement officers feel it's their duty to interpret the fine points of law, they'll probably write you up for having anything but standard looking seats and belts, then let you work it out in court.

That said, there have been a few times I've had a passenger riding in a folding chair, on my bed or on the floor. It's not the kind of thing LEOs are likely to notice as you drive past, but if they stop you for something else, well,...

 

[crofter]

So it would have to be a fridge that looks like a seat. 

I know there are some who have done this, maybe never carry passengers though. I rarely have a passenger, but I can't say never.
-crofter

 

[bullfrog]

Don’t forget if you are hauling migrant workers in a school bus to the fields you can legally use folding chairs without seat belts according to federal law! Inequities! Naw their ain’t no inequities! Lol!!!

 

[crofter]

Good to know.
-crofter

 

[user 423]

What is legal for passenger seat?

Assuming you took out the passenger seat and put your refrigerator there:

I saw somewhere that some newer Toyota Sienna seats have built-in seat belts. You would still need to bolt the seat base solidly to the floor.

A Sienna seat would probably be more comfortable to lounge in than the camp chair I would use (behind the DS seat) so I may go that route if I end up removing my PS seat and relocating the fridge as you are planning.

My van had 2 captain's chairs that were removed but I kept the 1/2" bolts so I'd just need to drill holes (and not hit anything).

 

[MrNoodly]

I saw somewhere that some newer Toyota Sienna seats have built-in seat belts. You would still need to bolt the seat base solidly to the floor.

The seatbelt latch on current generation (and maybe others) Chevy/GMC vans is attached to the seat base, which is bolted to the floor. When the passenger seat is removed, you're left with four large bolts sticking about an inch and a quarter from the floor, where they're welded. My fridge is on a platform over the inboard bolts, and the platform is anchored to the outboard bolts.

 

[user 423]

^
My Ford is similar except 2 bolts stick up and the other 2 screw down into the floor.

The seat belt latch/anchors are separate from the seat bases.

That's good because I'm going to need to use that large PS bolt to add a grab bar or something so I can get into the van.

I didn't realize that I used the PS seat to grab onto as I pulled myself up.

 

[PlethoraOfGuns]

I think the more important question is would you want to be in said seat during an accident? Yes, nobody wants to be in an accident. But proper seatbelts greatly increase your chances of survival. Rolling vehicle over on highway and you'll be bouncing around the interior like a rag doll if you're lucky. Unlucky is if you get ejected which is triple not good. Wear your seatbelts people.