Can you take the passenger seat out

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS THE UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
1

Hi All

This might sound stupid, But can you take the passenger seat out of a Volvo fh, Asked Thomas Hardie all they’ve said is you will have to put it back in for MOT, BECAUSE it was built with a passenger seat.

There has been trucks without passenger seats, Renault did one a few years back so just wondered if i could, As space is a little down on my DAF 95

2

In a word, yes.

If you do have a passenger seat, then it has to meet MOT requirements, to be secure, to have a properly working seat belt etc but there’s nothing in the legislation to say that you can’t take it out. It would be no different to taking the bunk out, it wouldn’t fail the MOT just because it had a bunk fitted when it was new.

3

If it needs the seat for its MOT, then possibly its going to need it if you get pulled in a VOSA check. You could end up with a PG9 if you don’t have it fitted.

4

Why not fold the seat base up and use the extra space underneath?

5

As far as I was aware this would not be an MOT issue unless something has changed I’m not aware of. If it wasn’t for OCRS I would happily try it with a mat over the holes in the carpet, doubt it would be noticed as not unusual for a truck to be like that.

-Had a quick flick through current tester’s manual and cannot see anything to suggest this either under seatbelts or seats section.

6

Renault did indeed do a Premium without one, as I used to drive one.

It had a flat floor all the way to the door, and a chaise longue on the bottom bunk.

Ken.

7

MMTM that if an item isn’t fitted (even the engine!) it obviously can’t be tested, but that in itself wouldnt nul the MoT! :laughing:

Might not be right though… :wink:

8

I took my passenger seat out of a FH but it was Belgium reg never had a prob
at service/test time.

Gives you more space, just make sure it does not get damp in storage.

I was also told by a tester that if it aint there he cant test it but that
was a rear lap belt in a car.The buckle wouldnt work so I just removed
the belt and buckle,still had two belts in the back passed its test.

The only problem I had was keeping it a secret from the company grass. :sunglasses:

9

I know things have changed a lot since I mot tested, but I can’t see a reason why you can’t take it out, if its not there it cannot be checked and that in its self is not a fail only an advise at best/
would be slightly different if the drivers seat was missing though :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

10

I’m trying to work out why they would take exception to you taking the seat out. I guess the only possible thing they’d say if you carried a passenger they wouldn’t have a proper seat to sit on and therefore no restraint. That’s got to be the only reason surely? And if so what a crazy reason as who’d be bothered to travel as there’s nothing to sit on?!

11

I don’t see why you can’t remove it ? When I worked on Fed Ex back in the UK there were some ■■■■■■■■ ■■■■■■■■ who removed the passenger seats, nothing was said and none of the vehicles failed the MOT test as they didn’t carry passengers. Some of the drivers on my company here remove them because they have full sized household fridges in the cabs.

12

How much room do you actually need in your cab?

13

happysack:
How much room do you actually need in your cab?

Maybe just enough to fit a portaloo in its place, which has been done, never heard of any issues regarding testing though, so should be ok!

14

Christ. Imagine rolling the wagon with a bucket of ■■■■ next to you.

15

Wouldn’t it be the same situation as a spare tyre? If it’s there then it has to be legal, but it’s not a requirement to have one.

16

m1cks:
Wouldn’t it be the same situation as a spare tyre? If it’s there then it has to be legal, but it’s not a requirement to have one.

A spare tyre does not have to be legal while it is stowed away.

theaa.com/motoring_advice/le … tyres.html

17

Method of Inspection:-

  1. Check the driver’s seat for condition and security.
  2. Check that the driver’s seat position can be adjusted forwards and backwards and secured in the selected positions.
  3. Check all passenger seats for security and that the back rest can be secured in the upright position.

Take it out and the seatbelt if it’s not integral to the seat :smiley:

Steve

18

You can. remove it without any worries

19

You can, I have taken 4 different transit vans with all but the drivers seat taken out, and 2 Iveco Cargos.
All passed the MOT fine, but all did come back with an advisory for “missing passenger seats” like the person driving the vehicle wouldn’t/hadn’t noticed :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

20

Took the missus Zafira (car I know) for it’s MOT the other weekend at my mates garage. What with it potentially being a 7 seater I asked if he needed the stowed seats in the boot floor to be up. His reply was it’s up to me how I wish to present the vehicle. If I present it as it was with just the five seats it would be tested accordingly, if I wished to present it as a seven seater it would be tested accordingly.