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Commercial Conversion of a 4x4??

  • 23-02-2009 2:57pm
    #1
    Skillie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 357 ✭✭


    bought a 97 landcruiser 8 seater and its on uk plates. i want to register it as a commerciala dn use it as a commercial, no funny business. i have the seats out will weld the seat belts holes and put ply on the floor and a rubber liner in the boot. Disconnecting the windows etc My question is; do i really need to do anything with the windows as i've had contradicting sources one saying yes another saying no.

    anyone here been refused by the VRO for having standard glass in the back. don't see the big issue with this anyway its much safer and i'll only be carrying dogs in the back and diy materials


Comments

  • #2
    draycottgirlz
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 287 ✭✭draycottgirlz


    think you have to cut the wiring but you can leave the windows.
    Have you contacted and asked vrt/customs office what you need?


  • #3
    Skillie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 357 ✭✭Skillie


    well i've had a few people who have done this say they didn't have to do the glass a few say they did. the vro wouldn't tell me over the phone what had to be done and i got stopped at a customs checkpoint today by a stroke of murphys law and they said i had to block out the windows, they also said weld the holes not metal putty even though i know people have just used the putty before. seems consistency ain't their forte. i really don't want the windows touched if possible, all the rest i'm fine with


  • #4
    draycottgirlz
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 287 ✭✭draycottgirlz


    Skillie wrote: »
    well i've had a few people who have done this say they didn't have to do the glass a few say they did. the vro wouldn't tell me over the phone what had to be done and i got stopped at a customs checkpoint today by a stroke of murphys law and they said i had to block out the windows, they also said weld the holes not metal putty even though i know people have just used the putty before. seems consistency ain't their forte. i really don't want the windows touched if possible, all the rest i'm fine with

    thats true. I know people who have both. I think cut the wire and leave the windows in firstly and see how you get on, you can always change at a later date. You can always say you were told that was ok, because they don't really have any guidelines on it....
    Thats really unlucky, where did you get stopped?


  • #5
    Skillie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 357 ✭✭Skillie


    draycottgirlz wrote: »
    thats true. I know people who have both. I think cut the wire and leave the windows in firstly and see how you get on, you can always change at a later date. You can always say you were told that was ok, because they don't really have any guidelines on it....
    Thats really unlucky, where did you get stopped?


    South link in cork big checkpoint. both sides of dual carriageway stopping all trucks and vans for the old diesel dip. ya bad luck to get stopped withing 5 days but had planned registering it this week anyway, had taken the seats out already and bought the metal putty. will chance the windows as is then, thanks


  • #6
    MrFoxman360
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 576 ✭✭✭MrFoxman360


    As has been stated there are no real guidlines so its just a matter of contacting who ever your going to, to see what they want. I did my pajero there two years ago, all the seats out including seatbelts, plastic blanking plates over the mounts, black limo tint on the glass and disconnected the electric window switches. They were specific on having a metal floor welded in though, to be honest that was all they said, i did the rest off my own bat.

    I went to the VRO, but was then sent to the motor tax office. Girl came out had a quick look and signed it off. She said she just needed to be sure that it was going to stay a commercial and that the seats wouldn't be put back in again, the details didn't matter, but thats just in my area.

    Floor is always the main thing though, so wouldn't be too sure about the plywood, but the load liner would look convincing.


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  • #7
    AsphaltRisin'
    Closed Accounts Posts: 415 ✭✭AsphaltRisin'


    MrFoxman360 wrote: »
    As has been stated there are no real guidlines so its just a matter of contacting who ever your going to, to see what they want. I did my pajero there two years ago, all the seats out including seatbelts, plastic blanking plates over the mounts, black limo tint on the glass and disconnected the electric window switches. They were specific on having a metal floor welded in though, to be honest that was all they said, i did the rest off my own bat.

    I went to the VRO, but was then sent to the motor tax office. Girl came out had a quick look and signed it off. She said she just needed to be sure that it was going to stay a commercial and that the seats wouldn't be put back in again, the details didn't matter, but thats just in my area.

    Floor is always the main thing though, so wouldn't be too sure about the plywood, but the load liner would look convincing.

    nothin wrong with plywood, sure practically every second van out there is lined with plywood


  • #8
    MrFoxman360
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 576 ✭✭✭MrFoxman360


    AsphaltRisin' wrote: »
    nothin wrong with plywood, sure practically every second van out there is lined with plywood

    Lining it with ply wood is fine but if you need to put in a floor over a footwell or that it has to welded in, according to my motor tax office anyway.


  • #9
    stephenmarr
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 843 ✭✭✭stephenmarr


    just ring around a few tax offices see what they want you to do they differ from county to county.


  • #10
    draycottgirlz
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 287 ✭✭draycottgirlz


    MrFoxman360 wrote: »
    As has been stated there are no real guidlines so its just a matter of contacting who ever your going to, to see what they want. I did my pajero there two years ago, all the seats out including seatbelts, plastic blanking plates over the mounts, black limo tint on the glass and disconnected the electric window switches. They were specific on having a metal floor welded in though, to be honest that was all they said, i did the rest off my own bat.

    I went to the VRO, but was then sent to the motor tax office. Girl came out had a quick look and signed it off. She said she just needed to be sure that it was going to stay a commercial and that the seats wouldn't be put back in again, the details didn't matter, but thats just in my area.

    Floor is always the main thing though, so wouldn't be too sure about the plywood, but the load liner would look convincing.


    So Foxman,
    can you explain what you did exactly you did start to finish if you don't mind? (physically with the jeep and paperwork?)


  • #11
    L-M
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,694 ✭✭✭✭L-M


    I'd imagine just disconnecting the windows will suffice. Use a piece of cardboard then as a template to mark out the window, cut this out from a thin sheet of metal, and line the inside with carpet or something. Stick that on the windows then. Weld in the spots for the seats, take out the seat belts and make some sort of make shift box that'll fit in and cover the boot.

    On the complete opposite, i know a fella who passed for just taking out and welding the seats, disconnecting the windows and tucking the seat belts underneath the plastic trim the were on top off. No more, no tint to nothing.


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  • #12
    Skillie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 357 ✭✭Skillie


    cheers guys, getting the seat belts and the plugging done today, will disconnect the electric windows and gonn abring it in to them at that. if they bauk at the floor or the windows then i will get them done but gonna take the nct approach and let it fail first and do what they tell me then. hopefully not too much as its perfect for what i need it for with just the seats out, dogs and DIY not goods transportation or anything. much appreciated lads


  • #13
    MrFoxman360
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 576 ✭✭✭MrFoxman360


    draycottgirlz wrote: »
    So Foxman,
    can you explain what you did exactly you did start to finish if you don't mind? (physically with the jeep and paperwork?)

    Rang the VRO, they told me what i needed, including replacing the glass with a metal material.

    I stripped out the back of the jeep and took out all seats, mountings and seat belts, although you could have just cut the belt and it would just wind up in side of the trim.

    Dis connected the rear electric windows and put a black limo tint on the four side windows, leaving the glass in place I made up a frame from box section to fit into the rear passenger foot well and when that was bolted in I weld in a sheet of 2mm stell to create the leve floor.

    Stuck little plastic trim pieces over the seatbelt mount holes that were in the trim, and put down some industrial carpet.

    Went to the VRO office only to be told they could only sign off a commercial conversion if it was also a english or nothern import, which was weird, so they sent me to the tax office.

    Girl from motor tax office comes out, has a quick look in, i show her the welds on the floor, and shes happy, alothough she did say the seatbelt holes should be welded, but mine were covered up anyway.

    Took my private tax cert and week later got a new one back fro same vehicle but now commercial. Got a DOE done on it then and taxed it commercial. The test centre weighed it as there was no weight on the cert, so not really too sure how the weigning is supposed to work.

    One commercialised jeep, with passenger spec


  • #14
    stephenmarr
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 843 ✭✭✭stephenmarr


    this is what i had to do. my jeep was already registered in Ireland before i converted it.

    1. remove rear seats
    2. remove rear seatbelts.
    3. plug up all bolt holes for the seats and seatbelts with a metal putty no need to weld the up.
    4. get the jeep weighted with a printed weight docket
    5. a form from the doe test centre that needs to be signed by the garda


    and thats it nothing to be done to the windows or floor pan.

    when the above was done i had to go over to my tax office(nass) the teaster came out checked over the work done and she was happy.
    she sent off the form and now all im waiting on is the doe which is up friday

    i went into the doe centre and asked the tester do i need to do anything else he said everything was grand.

    now just to pass the doe test. when its passed the form i will get i have to bring that over to the tax office and then i can tax the jeep.


  • #15
    draycottgirlz
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 287 ✭✭draycottgirlz


    thanks guys (Foxman)

    Don't get this though:
    they could only sign off a commercial conversion if it was also a english or nothern import, which was weird, so they sent me to the tax office.
    ??


  • #16
    MrFoxman360
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 576 ✭✭✭MrFoxman360


    I know, I can rember the woman explaining some rubbish about this to me and it made no sense, but point of it was that if it wasn't being imported at the time VRO weren't dealing with it. A conversion of a vehicle to a different motor tax classification could only be done at a motor tax office, which for me was just up the road from the VRO in Naas, so I wasn't that bothered :rolleyes:


  • #17
    Slidey
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,811 ✭✭✭✭Slidey


    MrFoxman360 wrote: »
    The test centre weighed it as there was no weight on the cert, so not really too sure how the weigning is supposed to work.
    They would have to weigh it as the brake efficiency is worked out on the 'presented weight' on the day.

    This should not be good enough for the tax office.

    They normally want a weight docket from an approved weigh station.


  • #18
    Skillie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 357 ✭✭Skillie


    Well i went down and didn't get the jolliest member of the VRO crew. End result no joy they want me to weld in a metal floor where the footwells are and bond metal to the windows and seal the rear quarter windows as they are the pop out type. He was happy with teh filler and paint over the seat and seatbelt holes but insisted i had to do the rest. Came away with an exemption form that will buy me a couple of weeks to get it done. So in summary i needed

    1. Seats & Seatbelts out
    2. Fill and paint holes left by belts and seat bolts
    3. Bond sheet metal to the inside of the windows
    4. Weld in floorpan where the footwells are
    5. Disconnect elec windows
    6. Seal any popout type windows

    No weighing for the VRO

    VRT will be €50

    after that i will need DOE to tax (may need weight for DOE)


  • #19
    MrFoxman360
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 576 ✭✭✭MrFoxman360


    Yea, I had an idea that a flat floor was one of the key requirments, and it has to be welded in, mine is bolted, but I put a few beads on the top just so I could show the girl that is was welded, bolting makes more sense in practical terms though, acces to wiring and what not.

    I had no issues with a weight either, just needed for the DOE, thats all really


  • #20
    Celt 55
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4 ✭Celt 55


    Hi all

    I'm hoping someone can help me with a "schedule" list of what I need to do to convert a SWB Pajero with UK plates (and back seats) to Irish Plates and commercial classification

    At present, I have the Jeep insured only, its on Private ground, and still has UK plates, for which the UK Road tax has now expired, can anyone advise, do I have to change it to a commercial first, or have the plates changed first, not really sure where to go with this, any advice would be welcome

    Thanks

    Colm


  • #21
    CJhaughey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,907 ✭✭✭✭CJhaughey


    Celt 55 wrote: »
    Hi all

    I'm hoping someone can help me with a "schedule" list of what I need to do to convert a SWB Pajero with UK plates (and back seats) to Irish Plates and commercial classification

    At present, I have the Jeep insured only, its on Private ground, and still has UK plates, for which the UK Road tax has now expired, can anyone advise, do I have to change it to a commercial first, or have the plates changed first, not really sure where to go with this, any advice would be welcome

    Thanks

    Colm
    search is your friend
    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055774210


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  • #22
    Celt 55
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4 ✭Celt 55


    Thanks for that

    I’ve a rough idea what I need to do to the car, to convert it to a commercial, what I don’t know though is what sequence I do the applications in, I know for instance that I need to
    · Do the necessary work to qualify as a commercial vehicle
    · Visit the VRO office and have it classed as a commercial vehicle
    · Pay the 50 Euro ? VRT and apply for Irish plates
    · Have the jeep weighed at a weighbridge
    · Have the DOE Test done (Its 7 years old)
    · Tax the vehicle under its new classification
    I “think” I’ve covered everything there, just not sure what the sequence is, maybe someone could advise...also, what's the story with driving to the VRO office/DOE test centre with UK plates, the vehicle is insured, but has neither UK or Irish Tax disc, am I bending the rules, or plain breaking them, cant see how else I could get the vehicle there otherwise-short of a transporter that I cant afford
    Thanks again

    Colm


  • #23
    broro22
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 92 ✭✭broro22


    sorry mate but you wont be paying 50 euro vrt on a short wheel base 13% of open market selling price there is a weight limit not sure what it is lwb are over it swb generally arent


  • #24
    Skillie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 357 ✭✭Skillie


    not sure about the weight restriction on the €50 vrt thing but heres what i did with my landcruiser lwb.

    take out seats and seatbelts in rear
    weld or metal putty and paint the boltholes that were left
    put sheet metal floor in so the floor is level all the way to the front seats, cover in the area the rear footwells were
    cover rear side windows by bonding sheet metal to them, has to be permanent and irreversible in the eyes of the VRO
    disconnect rear electric windows
    rear quarter pop out widows have to be bonded shut

    they were a pain in the ass at the VRO and very fussy i made 3 trips before they passed it and took my 50 euro and gave me a reg

    DOE and tax (in that order after you get the registration sorted)

    good luck


  • #25
    colm_mcm
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 73,516 ✭✭✭✭colm_mcm


    your VRO will have a checklist of what they look for.


  • #26
    Celt 55
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4 ✭Celt 55


    Thanks for all the help Guys, hope to be able to do this on a "when I can afford to" basis, fortunately the cars on private ground,

    Thanks again everyone


    Colm


  • #27
    colm_mcm
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 73,516 ✭✭✭✭colm_mcm


    Re: the VRT, the SWB Pajero has too short a loadbay to qualify for E50 VRT. (has to be 45% of the length of the wheelbase)


  • #28
    Celt 55
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4 ✭Celt 55


    Colm

    Thanks for that information, how do they calculate the open market value of a vehicle, do you know what percentage you are required to pay

    Appreciate your help

    Colm


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