Hi everyone.
I've done quite a bit of research but struggling to find a definite answer.
I have found there was new legilation regarding seat belts made in 1989 and vehicles made before this date had different rules but I can't find the actual rules. My question is are motorhomes required to have seatbelts for passengers in the back? My front seats are engineered and I will be putting in seat belts in the same way for seats in the rear but if I get pulled over and a cop wants to argue then I'm wondering if I can state that regulations for motorhomes pre 1989 don't require seat belts at all.
Cheers
Mick
I would think that, if you make changes to the vehicle, then those changes would need to satisfy current regulations.
Dicko1 said
07:21 AM Jun 16, 2021
I don't know why your asking. You have already said that you are putting seat belts in the rear for passengers so why would you worry. I,d be more concerned about the engineering aspects of fitting seat belts. Normally arguing with cops sees you out of pocket anyway. Anyone travelling in any vehicle without a seatbelt is a recipe for disaster. Wouldnt you want to protect rear passengers just as much as those up front? Hopefully you will find the regs .
-- Edited by Possum3 on Wednesday 16th of June 2021 08:01:08 AM
Peter_n_Margaret said
08:20 AM Jun 16, 2021
You will need to have the changes approved by an engineer appointed by the RTA. They have a list of approved engineers in your area.
The RTA also needs to be notified and the seating capacity of the vehicle increased accordingly.
The engineer will attach a blue modification plate to the vehicle. Without it you are not legal and can not carry passengers in the back.
Cheers,
Peter
wasn_me said
06:09 PM Jun 16, 2021
The more passengers you are able to carry the more CTP you pay. If there's only ever going to be 2 people aboard get all the engineering done for that.
Jaahn said
09:47 PM Jun 17, 2021
Hi Mick
I have lost track of where you are up to with your 'new' bus. Is it registered or has it been registered previously as a bus or a motorhome or a panel van with windows ?? What State are you in ?
My 2000 Sprinter was a mini bus for 12 people and wheelchairs. That put it into a heavy vehicle category due to the seat numbers. I had it engineer inspected to change it to a panelvan with windows after discussion with the engineer. I left 4 seats in the back for a total of 6 seats and all have seat belts as originally fitted. The interesting thing is I had to fit child restraint fittings to 3 of the rear seats as it was reclassified as a car type vehicle(not a technical description).No problem doing that.
Actually I usually leave two seats out and nobody has commented on that when it was inspected each year !! I do not have any extra certification plate or sticker, just the notation on the rego papers to TWO previous certification inspections that have very little information. Note I did get money back from the RTA for the different cheaper type of category at the time and I just get it inspected annually at the servo around the corner.
I do not believe the number of seats changes the CTP by any measurable amount that I noticed. I never worry about what the cops think as it is not their job to check the details like seat belts ! I maintain the look of the bus OK and the tires, wipers, rust etc so it looks OK for a walk around check, and if they wanted to do that there is nothing to see really. Never happened to me anyway but they do look over it at big RBT check stops. Never failed them either
Good luck Jaahn
-- Edited by Jaahn on Friday 18th of June 2021 08:41:12 AM
tuggersbmx said
09:22 AM Jun 19, 2021
Hi Jaahn
Thanks for the info.
My bus build is on its last stages now. It has been engineered and registered. Currently not registered as rego run out and I'm finishing it all off over winter and will be ready for spring. New engine is in and now running good with 12 psi off boost. Just need to do some boost / vac leak tests and fine tune. Oh and install some sort of kill switch to cut the engine off.
Its engineered for 2 seats but at times. Very minimal I will have 4 people travelling in it. Can sleep 4 people comfortably. The engineer originally told me I HAD TO take it to a specific company up the road from his business if I wanted to get two seats engineered by him. I went to that business and they quoted me 2.5k. I laughed and walk out of their shop. I did my own research, re-insralled the seats as per required australian standards including seat belts and all the anchor points. Cost me roughly $250 and a day of time. Engineer signed off on them but was quite pissed off I didn't get his mate up the road to do it.
I know how to install 2 extra seats to the same specs of the front ones. I would not let anyone sit in a bus seat while traveling if I didn't know they were safe. I'm not going back to the engineer I went to, he is just an old guy who's been in the business too long and just wants as much money as he can get out of you. I may take the bus to another engineer just to sign off on the extra seats.
Cheers
Mick
tuggersbmx said
09:23 AM Jun 19, 2021
I'm located in ACT
Jaahn said
09:30 AM Jun 20, 2021
Mick
Sounds like you are pretty well on the last work to get on the road . Good going after some hassels !
On the extra seat idea, I believe that there are some places that will just do seat upgrades. The RTA list of approved engineers does show the type of certifying work they are approved to do. Not all do the full range of modifications and they do not charge the big money either.
Good luck. I do not know what the ACT does or if it uses the NSW system ?
Does this help?
https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/vehicles/design/files/04D.pdf
I would think that, if you make changes to the vehicle, then those changes would need to satisfy current regulations.
Current list of Legislated Vehicle Design Rules (VDR's) www.infrastructure.gov.au/vehicles/design/second_edition_adrs.aspx
Edited list of pertinent rules
-- Edited by Possum3 on Wednesday 16th of June 2021 08:01:08 AM
The RTA also needs to be notified and the seating capacity of the vehicle increased accordingly.
The engineer will attach a blue modification plate to the vehicle. Without it you are not legal and can not carry passengers in the back.
Cheers,
Peter
Hi Mick
I have lost track of where you are up to with your 'new' bus. Is it registered or has it been registered previously as a bus or a motorhome or a panel van with windows ?? What State are you in ?
My 2000 Sprinter was a mini bus for 12 people and wheelchairs. That put it into a heavy vehicle category due to the seat numbers. I had it engineer inspected to change it to a panelvan with windows after discussion with the engineer. I left 4 seats in the back for a total of 6 seats and all have seat belts as originally fitted. The interesting thing is I had to fit child restraint fittings to 3 of the rear seats as it was reclassified as a car type vehicle(not a technical description).No problem doing that.
Actually I usually leave two seats out and nobody has commented on that when it was inspected each year !! I do not have any extra certification plate or sticker, just the notation on the rego papers to TWO previous certification inspections that have very little information. Note I did get money back from the RTA for the different cheaper type of category at the time and I just get it inspected annually at the servo around the corner.
I do not believe the number of seats changes the CTP by any measurable amount that I noticed. I never worry about what the cops think as it is not their job to check the details like seat belts !
I maintain the look of the bus OK and the tires, wipers, rust etc so it looks OK for a walk around check, and if they wanted to do that there is nothing to see really. Never happened to me anyway but they do look over it at big RBT check stops. Never failed them either 
Good luck Jaahn
-- Edited by Jaahn on Friday 18th of June 2021 08:41:12 AM
Mick
Sounds like you are pretty well on the last work to get on the road
. Good going after some hassels !
On the extra seat idea, I believe that there are some places that will just do seat upgrades. The RTA list of approved engineers does show the type of certifying work they are approved to do. Not all do the full range of modifications and they do not charge the big money either.
Good luck. I do not know what the ACT does or if it uses the NSW system ?
Jaahn