Defender Conversion

TimMcC

Hi
Anyone know if its possible to convert a Defender Country Estate ( this is the one with 2 rows of seats and either a space in the back or sometime they have bench seats along the sides ) to a crew cab ie remove the bench seats in the rear if fitted and weld in a bulkhead between the 2nd row of seats and the rear .
Would it be classified as a crew cab with the 13% vrt and comm tax ?.
Thanks

BeardyGit

TimMcC wrote: »

Hi
Anyone know if its possible to convert a Defender Country Estate ( this is the one with 2 rows of seats and either a space in the back or sometime they have bench seats along the sides ) to a crew cab ie remove the bench seats in the rear if fitted and weld in a bulkhead between the 2nd row of seats and the rear .
Would it be classified as a crew cab with the 13% vrt and comm tax ?.
Thanks

That's "County Station Wagon" Tim. It's possible to do it alright, but you need to be careful about the type of seats in the second row. The full height seats will prevent the bulkhead from sitting far enough forward to leave sufficient load space in the rear for a proper crewcab designation. If you have high back seats you'll need to replace them with the bench type second row. Do you have access to an already registered 110 crewcab to work your plans/dimensions from?

Incidentally, do you actually need the second row of seats? They're bloody uncomfortable in the first place, as there's so little leg room. If you don't need them, you can remove them altogether for a bigger load bed area. The crewcab 110 is also poxy for trying to get anything big into the rear cargo area, even a kayak paddle won't go in the back! Not second guessing you, just pointing it out.

Gil

101sean

I'd forget about crew cab, it will cost at least £600-700 for a secondhand crew cab roof if you can find one and it still won't count as a commercial for VRT purposes, loadspace won't be big enough. OK for commercial tax though.

Easier to turn it into a Utility by putting plain sides in from a series 88" SWB and a fixing a bulkhead, still wont get you round VRT, only a 130 or a plain 110 hardtop/pickup will do that.

101sean

Just re-read your post and realised it's a Utility you want to turn it into and not a crew-cab.

This is the official version, doesn't need bulkhead for UK market. http://www.landrover.co.uk/gb/en/vehicles/defender/compare-models-and-prices/110-utility-wagon.htm

TimMcC

101sean wrote: »

Just re-read your post and realised it's a Utility you want to turn it into and not a crew-cab.

This is the official version, doesn't need bulkhead for UK market. http://www.landrover.co.uk/gb/en/vehicles/defender/compare-models-and-prices/110-utility-wagon.htm

Hi Sean
Yes correct it is the Utility I was looking at in the UK not a crewcab :rolleyes:. If I was to import one of these ( as is ) would it be 13.5% vrt and commericial tax here in Ireland or what way is it viewed Ireland ?.
Thanks
Tim

101sean

If you look in the Toyota hilux DC thread on here there are links to the current rules, been a while since I looked into and the goal posts were shifted:rolleyes:

masteroftherealm

Bumping a slightly old post, but would a CSW with no rear seats at all, and blacked out windows qualify as a Hardtop as the loadspace would be the required amount, or do the 2nd set of doors act against it? I would have no intention of installing more rear seats but would like the side access. and CSW's are more plentiful.

In basic terms, what would I need to do to convert a CSW to a Full Commercial in the taxmans eyes?

101sean

Should do although the chassis number will always flag it as a SW. You'll need to remove the rear seat belt rails if fitted, looks like they were designed by a blacksmith as an afterthought and held in by a dozen bolts and spreader plates, same with second row belts.

You'll pay a premium for a station wagon, they hold their value more than others unless they are really ropey and there's often a lot more electrlytic corrosion on them than a standard hardtop (they have an extra steel frame around the doors and an extra crossmember).