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Converting a volkswagen t5 from a van to a private vehicle
macspeedy - 2/9/08 at 04:32 PM

I am looking in to buying or converting a van for private use, what do you have to do for the legal side of this and how complicated / expensive is it?


like the look of these

[Edited on 2/9/08 by macspeedy]


Jon Ison - 2/9/08 at 05:08 PM

Sold my last T5 54 reg 12months ago with 102k on clock, FSH and 130 engine for under £4k, they look expensive even considering the work they do, you really need the 130 engine minimum in one of those and though VW they do have a few problems.

Now if your up for the work yourself we have 2 due to be replaced end of year, they will be the right price, one driver with FSH.

Sorry that didn't answer your question at all did it ?


JoelP - 2/9/08 at 05:10 PM

a van is a private vehicle, tax class PLG means private light goods. You need do nothing besides register, tax, insure and mot it like any other vehicle.

If you mean adding seats legally, i have no idea.

[Edited on 2/9/08 by JoelP]


macspeedy - 2/9/08 at 05:54 PM

I like the sound of that john what colour are they? what sort of problems do they have? what have your vans been used for?

Seat wise they seem to come with holes for seats, just add as required.. might be wrong..







[Edited on 2/9/08 by macspeedy]


hillbillyracer - 2/9/08 at 06:51 PM

Have yourself a look about on here:
http://domain1648967.sites.fasthosts.com/index.php
It's really for the earlier T4 van but there's T5 section & a fair few getting converted now.
If you're fitting rear seats something you do need to check out is the seatbelt mounting points, on the T4 (I'd expcet the T5 to be the same) there's few different build specs some of which dont have the captive nuts & strengthening plates to take the belts.
My ex AA T4 is registered as a commercial but I'm using it as a private car with no changes. Being a commercial it escapes the new heavy-handed emissions related tax. There's a section on there just on tax!


Triton - 2/9/08 at 07:14 PM

As above, but put side windows in it to make pulling out of junctions a wee bit safer!!!
Also but not sure how true it is fitting these windows lets you rip down the out side lane on motorways instead of being stuck at 60mph...might have dreamt that last bit though....
Buy seats from the caravelle as folk selling them all the time on ebay when converting to a camper.
Moi has got 'glass seats in his....


Triton - 2/9/08 at 07:16 PM

Lowering them is a complete doddle too, shorter springs and dampers and unwind a big bolt thing up front...carefull though as the beast needs supporting in case it falls...really is easy and helps get round corners better...


hillbillyracer - 2/9/08 at 10:55 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Triton
Lowering them is a complete doddle too, shorter springs and dampers and unwind a big bolt thing up front...carefull though as the beast needs supporting in case it falls...really is easy and helps get round corners better...

Well the T4 works like that but the T5 has mac struts so not so easy but I think they'll handle a bit better.
As for the speed limit I think you'll have to if says commercial on the logbook then you're restricted to commercial limits, rear windows or not. It's a bit of a grey area though, if you've got the windows in then mabye you'll get away with it. I've got them in with it being ex AA so I hope it works!


Chippy - 2/9/08 at 11:31 PM

It used to be that if you put windows in a van then you had to pay some form of tax, can't remember what or why. May have been done away with, (but that would mean the Gordy mob would lose out), so maybe not!! I know that with windows the van becomes a private vehicle, and just needs to comply with the speed limit of the road in question. HTH Ray


macspeedy - 3/9/08 at 02:26 PM

I would be tempted not to tell the dvla if i put windows in it as the tax hike is huge, (depending on emissions..)

[Edited on 3/9/08 by macspeedy]


matt_claydon - 15/9/08 at 06:44 PM

Just to clarify, on motorways you can drive a van at 70 anyway. The difference is on dual carriageways (vans 60, cars/CDVs 70) and single carriageways (vans 50, cars/CDVs 60).