11-passenger full-sized van
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Junior User
Joined: Aug 2016
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11-passenger full-sized van
Hello.
I live in Ontario, Canada, and we are looking at a large van to use for carpooling kids to school.
Unfortunately, in Ontario you require an F-class (bus) license in order to drive a 12- or 15-passenger van. However, it *is* legal to drive an 11-passenger van for personal use, without compensation.
Is it possible to replace the 4-seat rear bench in the 12-passenger van with a 3-seat bench? Are the mounting brackets spaced the same?
Alternatively, there are apparently some companies that will take an 8-passenger E-150 and install a third bench 3-position bench and seatbelts, making the van an 11-passenger van. Does anyone know more about this process?
Thanks in advance for any help!
I live in Ontario, Canada, and we are looking at a large van to use for carpooling kids to school.
Unfortunately, in Ontario you require an F-class (bus) license in order to drive a 12- or 15-passenger van. However, it *is* legal to drive an 11-passenger van for personal use, without compensation.
Is it possible to replace the 4-seat rear bench in the 12-passenger van with a 3-seat bench? Are the mounting brackets spaced the same?
Alternatively, there are apparently some companies that will take an 8-passenger E-150 and install a third bench 3-position bench and seatbelts, making the van an 11-passenger van. Does anyone know more about this process?
Thanks in advance for any help!
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 197
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From: Atlanta
I'm not sure if this is the case for all years, but on my 2006 the spacing is not the same. For me it is a different issue, as I want to move the 4-seater to the third row (second bench seat) and remove one of the 3-seaters. To date I have not found an easy way to do this other than drilling new holes and moving the mounting location, either on the floor or on the seat frame.
Would it be an option to remove the first bench seat and install two captain's chairs instead? I think that was a factory option on the Chateau level vans (making them 11 seaters).
Would it be an option to remove the first bench seat and install two captain's chairs instead? I think that was a factory option on the Chateau level vans (making them 11 seaters).
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Junior User
Joined: Aug 2016
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Would it be an option to remove the first bench seat and install two captain's chairs instead? I think that was a factory option on the Chateau level vans (making them 11 seaters).
Logistics Pro
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 3,677
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Just curious about this... the rear bench seat in my van is wide enough to easily hold 4 people, but only has 3 seat belts... Since you are legally required to have a seat belt for each person in the van,, what if you removed one of the rear seat belts? You could not legally carry 12 people... it would be an 11 person van..
I can only legally carry 7 people but if I installed another seat belt for the rear seat, I could legally carry 8
I can only legally carry 7 people but if I installed another seat belt for the rear seat, I could legally carry 8
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Junior User
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Thanks for the suggestions all.
I actually found a place in Toronto that sells 8-passenger vans with a conversion shop attached that will install a matching third bench for an extra $1000. Seems like the easiest way to go!
I actually found a place in Toronto that sells 8-passenger vans with a conversion shop attached that will install a matching third bench for an extra $1000. Seems like the easiest way to go!
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,943
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I wanted to be able to carry more passengers as well as have the utility of easily emptying the back to haul things. I was able to find a set of bench seats and brackets on Craigslist. They even matched the color....although I drove 10 hours round trip to pick them up. I left all the captains chairs and just installed the 2 back benches. A 4 person and a 3 person bench. Total came to 11 passengers. Keeping the captains chairs in the back is also nice when we go somewhere with another family, since the captains chairs are much more comfortable for the other adults. Kids get the benches. This pic shows the bracket placement. The rear 4 passenger seat and the 3 passenger do not have the same spacing.
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2004
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I just purchased a 2013 E-150 that was built as an "executive limo" and has 11 seats and a raised roof. You might search for "limo van" and you'll probably come up with a suitable vehicle. This one was converted by National Van Builders in Mass. Previous owner was a limo service.....
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Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2008
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From: Semper Fi tell I die!
This is what I did in my '88 e250. It started its life as a 7 passenger. It had 4 captains chairs (the drivers area and a row behind it) and a jack knife sofa in the back that would fold into a bed:
I wanted to be able to carry more passengers as well as have the utility of easily emptying the back to haul things. I was able to find a set of bench seats and brackets on Craigslist. They even matched the color....although I drove 10 hours round trip to pick them up. I left all the captains chairs and just installed the 2 back benches. A 4 person and a 3 person bench. Total came to 11 passengers. Keeping the captains chairs in the back is also nice when we go somewhere with another family, since the captains chairs are much more comfortable for the other adults. Kids get the benches. This pic shows the bracket placement. The rear 4 passenger seat and the 3 passenger do not have the same spacing.
I wanted to be able to carry more passengers as well as have the utility of easily emptying the back to haul things. I was able to find a set of bench seats and brackets on Craigslist. They even matched the color....although I drove 10 hours round trip to pick them up. I left all the captains chairs and just installed the 2 back benches. A 4 person and a 3 person bench. Total came to 11 passengers. Keeping the captains chairs in the back is also nice when we go somewhere with another family, since the captains chairs are much more comfortable for the other adults. Kids get the benches. This pic shows the bracket placement. The rear 4 passenger seat and the 3 passenger do not have the same spacing.
Could I get a closer picture of the front bench brackets ? I got a 84 I'm trying to figure out how they go so I can put a seat back in as the previous owner got rid of them
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,943
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I will grab a photo this weekend and post it up for you. If yours orginally had bench seats, I would think that it should already have the threaded holes in the floor for the brackets. You should double check, but if I remember correctly my mounting bolt are all 1/2"-20 (fine thread). I would recommend using anti-seize on all the bolt as they tend to freeze up over time. My van never had bench seats, so I had to drill holes and use backers to re-enforce the mounting locations.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2012
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 3
From: gravel road ONTARIO
wife has a 92 E150 clubwagon chataeu with 7 passenger but it would be easy to mount a 4seater at the rear, viola 11passenger. it has front buckets, 2nd row buckets and 3rd row 3passenger bench . 3 and 4 seaters definitely have different brackets, I tried the swap already.
my 2005 E350 diesel club has the 7 passenger package too, I think they must have been a popular family size.
so all you need to do is find yourself a pair of 2nd row captains/buckets with brackets .
my 2005 E350 diesel club has the 7 passenger package too, I think they must have been a popular family size.
so all you need to do is find yourself a pair of 2nd row captains/buckets with brackets .
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