Advice on building false floor in T5 Transporter - surfing, camping

[downhilljon]

Looks good Big Bug… just out of interest is it fine to drill new mounting holes directly in the floor? I've been trying to design around the existing holes in the floor/sides, didn't want to go drilling anywhere that would cause issues...

[Big Bug]

Looks good Big Bug… just out of interest is it fine to drill new mounting holes directly in the floor? I've been trying to design around the existing holes in the floor/sides, didn't want to go drilling anywhere that would cause issues...

It was quite tricky to put where I wanted it. The underside of the van is covered in plastic "guards" and aluminum heat shield so the relevant ones had to come off. I then did some measurements using the spot-welds as rough guides to translate from inside to underneath and made sure I wasn't drilling into anything. Also that the plates that go underneath would sit OK. But just to make sure I only drilled
1.5mm hole to start with. Then the 6 x 11mm holes for the bolts. All sounds very simple but it took me ages as those corrugations in the floor make it quite difficult to get a good fit, unlike my old T3 which had wider corrugations and was much easier to do. I also didn't want to drill any holes in the wrong place, so it wasn't measure twice and "cut" once, it was more like measure a 100 times.....well it seemed like it.

Bruce CQ

[Sunny43.5]

Big Bug is right I used to fit seats and seat belts as part of my old business and placement of the seats is a crucial part of the job . Not only for mounting reinforcing plates but also to make sure the position is correct for the relevant ADR's . I used to do the certification for QLD transport as well and you would be horrified at what some people thought was a properly mounted seat , they would mount two seat belts to one bolt and put them in such a bad position that in an accident they would probably cause more injuries than if they did not wear a belt at all . Then there were those who would bolt a seat in with mild steel bolts and washers !!

[downhilljon]

Right… think that means I will be keeping it (relatively) simple and using the existing mounting holes...

[Big Bug]

The very reason I wanted a seat with integrated seat belts, much easier that way and gives more flexibility where the seat can go. The fellow who did my approval and blue plate is fairly particular so not only did I want them to be right for safety's sake but I wanted to make sure I satisfied him 100%. I had built my own seat for the T3 and had it approved by an engineer so I pretty much knew what was involved but decided to take the easy way out this time with a ready made approved seat.

Bruce