Converting Kia Sorento passenger to Commercial

jayroyal

So to the guys with the wisdom, I'm thinking of buying a kia sorento passenger jeep and converting. The reason I would like to do this as it seem cheaper to but a passenger one and they have so many extras than commercial, also they would tend to be better looked after.

So what's the rule on converting to commercial, how much for the materials. My mate is a very good chippy so he should panel it off easy enough. Is there ways I have to panels the floor to pass inspection and how does the whole inspection work.

Thanks in advance

sean1141

I'm nearly sure it has to have a steel floor. Also seat belts have to be removed and blanked and side windows tinted and non operating

dgt

I did it myself

• Seats out
• Belts out
• Windows out
• Van panels in
• Steel floor in
• Weld all holes

I got the car signed off by an engineer

Arrange an appt with the tax office

Beware of tyres, can be a grey area. I was fine with car tyres for example

jayroyal

dgt wrote: »

I did it myself

• Seats out
• Belts out
• Windows out
• Van panels in
• Steel floor in
• Weld all holes

I got the car signed off by an engineer

Arrange an appt with the tax office

Beware of tyres, can be a grey area. I was fine with car tyres for example

Did you do a sorento yourself and would tinting the windows be enough to pass. Van panel?? How much did it cost you to convert.

dgt

jayroyal wrote: »

Did you do a sorento yourself and would tinting the windows be enough to pass. Van panel?? How much did it cost you to convert.

I should have added, I haven't done this on a Sorento, a car instead. Alas, the process is the exact same. Cost me nothing as I had a donor vehicle with all the bits.

In regards windows, replace them with steel inserts and disconnect the wiring to the windows for the inspections

Your best bet is to ask breakers what they charge for the commercial bits you need (false floor + rear windows)

goz83

I had a Mazda Bongo as a commercial. It's like a space wagon, windows all around. They were tinted. Passed DOE like that. No need to have steel in the window panels. Seat belts out and side windows deactivated. Steel floor and bulk head. The bongo didn't have a bulk head and it still passed!

Eric Cartman

converted a sorento in 08 , no need for the windows to come out, tint them and remove the switches in the rear doors. If you really want to go overboard the rubber gasket on the inside of the window will peel off with a stanly knife leaving you the perfect recess to put in a piece of steel sheet over each window , then you can adhesive that on and put carpet over it ,

the floor is handy enough as when the seats are removed you have a lip that will take 25mm box section , weld that in and weld it to the floor behind the front seats, cover with a sheet of 2mm steel and weld / screw that in, cover in spray adhesive and put carpet over it.

its an easy vehicle to convert and looks well when done right. just make sure when your measuring out the floor to put both front seats all the way back and at a bit of a tilt back so you know where the floor has to stop to not interfere.