Cargo/conversion van seat installation {Moved}

R

redsunfish

Guest
My mother is severely handicapped from MS and we just recently bought a used Chevy Express 3500 van that had been converted with a a wheelchair lift. We'd like to be able to use it to take the whole family on trips including my two children.

Right now it also has 5 side-facing jump seats which I know can't be used for car seats. I'm thinking that we're going to have to have a forward facing bench seat installed but I have other questions too. Do I need a shoulder belt or are lap belts on the bench seats enough? Right now both my children are rear-facing but I'll assume we'll need tether points too once they turn around.

Does anyone know where I would even start with getting this done? Chevy dealer? Somewhere else? Has anyone ever done something similar? I really hope to keep the cost down because there aren't a lot of spare $$ and we would love the family to be able to go all together! Any tips or ideas on how to make it safe for my kids would be very very appreciated!
 
ADS

ketchupqueen

CPST and ketchup snob
Staff member
Hi!

Lap belts are only safe for harnessed car seats. It would be best to have both lap-shoulder and tether points put in. One way to keep the cost down would be to look for a junked bench and just replace the belts (don't want to use belts that may have been crashed.) You might even end up with lower anchors.

A mod shop is the best place to do this kind of work, as they are familiar with what's needed, structurally.

Make sure any accessories or medical equipment that your mom travels with can be adequately secured, and that the wheelchair tiedowns and belt she uses are crash rated too. :)

Good luck, and please ask if you have more questions we can help with!
 

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