Swapping out the Seats | TRC Van Conversion 14.0

Time to get back to the van. First job is to replace the old rigid double seat with a far nicer single seat for the co-pilot! :-)
Plus a little preview of our power system...
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VAN CONVERSION ELECTRICS and SOLAR200w Solar Panel - tinyurl.com/y9... 20 amp MPPT Charge Controller - amzn.to/2NSHkQI -Corner Mounts - amzn.to/2LWFlsL - Side Mounts - amzn.to/2Q2zoO... Point - amzn.to/2NQ6m2C - Sikaflex 512 - amzn.to/2NLfl5m 12V Connectors - amzn.to/2Rwauca Crimpers - amzn.to/2sEy8qp Aten Lighting - bit.ly/2xXyrBwI... Fuse - amzn.to/2M3XhT... - amzn.to/2sNPpMX Sargent Unit - sargentltd.co.....
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Bosch 18v Circ Saw - amzn.to/2G6TyQS
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Dometic Fridge - amzn.to/2t3Od8n
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Thetford Duplex Oven - amzn.to/2t3jrfZ
Gas Locker - (Although Larger Size) - bit.ly/2HHYSLp
CTA Swivel Seat - amzn.to/2qqZ63y
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[@ARepublicIfYouCanKeepIt]

To heavily paraphrase St. Thomas Aquinas: For those who "get it", no explanation's necessary. For those who don't, no explanation's possible." "Demanding" viewers. Really folks? What part of a wonderful, talented husband and father (who, by the way, also has a "day job") who freely shares his expertise and experience with us all don't you get? Tim will drop project-themed videos based on HIS requirements, not ours. I too would love to see every campervan conversion video from the start of the project right through to the finish. However, I realize that Tim must invest in his marriage and family, his job, and all the projects on the homefront, in addition to finishing out the van. Tim, brilliant work. I so appreciate you sharing your adventure in converting the van. Your approach, presentation style and project execution are all top notch. Keep up the great work! Oh, and please thank Jo and your girls for sharing their husband and daddy with us all.

[@Paddlerpat]

Tim, you're annoyingly good at this stuff! Doing a conversion at the moment myself and stealing lots of tips from you so thank you for the really good videos. Cheers.

[@Quaker-sn5fr]

You have an understanding of moisture control that I know some architects don't possess Tim. So far I'm with you all the way. Really good effort buddy-I'm a new subscriber so playing catch up. Keep it up mate. So glad to see a UK based channel that is so professionally done. Regards Pete.UK

[@WisselUK]

Just wanted to say thanks, after finding your channel this morning and watching all 16 van build videos back-to-back. Really enjoyed them. I built our van about 5 years ago (MySelfBuildCamper), but it's getting a total re-build early next year as we want to go full-time. It's great to see what others have done and your videos gave me a idea for an issue I've been struggling to solve for weeks. Good luck with your electrics and the rest of your build, and look forward to watching your future updates. All the best, David

[@martinprice1738]

Thanks for the videos, really appreciate that you take the time to explain the how and why of it all. For example i had been worrying about whether and how to add a vapour barrier and yours is the only van video I've seen explain this. Planning my own (smaller) conversion next year for me and the kids.

[@AndyTaylor_Paintguy]

Ha, I can kind of understand people's impatience as I've watched countless van conversion videos and you seem to go the extra mile explaining the reasons why you have taken a particular route, rather than just showing the how. Let's hope then can keep it in check though as I'm sure it's added pressure that you don't need, and besides, I'm sure each video will be worth the small wait ☺️

[@stacieodstacieod9555]

Andy Taylor you are right!

[@austenconstantinou1786]

Great Work the love van projet, but all so love all your other videos mate, dont stress Rome was not build in a day and all that! looking forward to the rest of the stairs.

[@markp3000]

Great video, thank you. Still in the infancy of planning however I think the sargent panel will save me a lot of potential headaches and time.

[@gabsinventions9135]

thank you very much for all the enlightenment you have been given about conversion. keep up with this amazing job!!!

[@kevinmorrow6007]

Awesome DIY videos, Will be doing our own van shortley

[@ARepublicIfYouCanKeepIt]

Also, Tim, it may be worth experimenting with upholstery/fabric paint (such as Simply Spray) in an attempt to match the replacement passenger seat cover to the rest of the existing seats. You're going from grey to dark blue (lighter to darker), so it should work. Past that, the cheapest alternative would be harvesting a matching seat cover from a salvage vehicle, obtaining one from Ebay, etc. It would be far more form-fitting and durable than seat covers for all the chairs.

[@kevinspiteri3150]

Fantastic channel getting loads of tips of you keep up the good work. Thankyou. Gasman

[@carter4067]

Nice seat Tim

[@petermiller3882]

Well done mate will be watching

[@ammcknockiter]

I am doing this today. I was hung up on airbags. I will double check the connections

[@atvstel]

Under the passengers bench seat on my Promaster, there are six bundles of cables. I experimented unplugging one by one and I always receive an airbag fault. The single passengers seat I bought is the authentic one for a single passenger. It has 3 plugs on it to receive the 3 cables. Now what happens to the other 3 cables that used to plug under the middle seat? Any way to loop them to fool the computer? Two of the cables attach under the middle of the two cushions to sense the weight of both passengers. I did find a solution, but, I haven't continue yet until I see if anyone else has done something different. I can't just deal with the seat belt receiver only. I wish it was like that.

[@sczscoob212]

Just came across your channel & watched all the van videos. Look forward to the next one, great work & explanations!

[@ivecamperbuild_thomas4084]

Mostly only on sprinters and VWs most others using Alan keys . Were Merck’s use them to so they can charge loads of money to do any repairs

[@Alexandros-Gr]

I was wondering. The 240v sockets you intend to put inside the van, can they be powered by the 12v batteries when you are not plugged in? it must be complicated to be able to use batteries with a transformer AND outside power which is 240v. The ideal would be that when you plug the vehicle with your outside socket it then starts charging the batteries and supplies the 240v sockets inside the vehicle. Fantastic job.

[@TheDaf95xf]

Take your time and ignore them jerks 😩😩😩 Them who wait won’t be disappointed 😀

[@stevebrown6665]

Funny as well as the same rear seats I used the same controller on my build You can switch over to road battery to charge it from hook up I used a feed from the cigarette lighter for the ignition on sense feed The compressor fridge on mine is direct via fuse from the leisure battery not using the fridge feed on the Sargent unit as it's not man enough

[@TheRestorationCouple]

+Steve Brown Yes I saw that on the diagrams they recommend direct feed for compressor fridge. Looking forward to getting stuck in to the wiring soon. Will let you know if we get stuck!

[@pauljones1113]

So does the Sargent charge the leisure battery like a split relay? ie Charges the leisure whilst driving?

[@DuncanMacLean]

That's exactly the colour of seat I need for my Ducato... Fancy a swap if I end up unable to find the colour I need? Also for electrical stuff - are you aware there is an "upfitter" connection in the base of the driver's side B pillar? There's connections for rear speakers, internal lights, and a 50A fused + and - supply from the battery.

[@TheRestorationCouple]

Ooh that sounds interesting, was just about to look at speaker cables to the back. Does it need a specific connection pin/plug? Which do you need, the double or the single I just fitted?

[@DuncanMacLean]

I think this wiring diagram for a Ram Promaster is the same or very similar to the Ducato: www.rambodybuilder.com/2014/van/docs/vf/vfwiring/S/31/D2865.pdf

[@yakbellamy2330]

I like your second role of seats would did they come out of ??

[@TheRestorationCouple]

Ford transit tourneo.

[@gca259]

Use dye to make the new seat the same colour as the existing...?

[@franklealand1181]

You can get dyes to change mismatched seats into matching. Jobs a good'n

[@tedward123]

Have you considered dyeing the mismatched fabrics the same color?

[@jamesboswell7920]

A question for you Tim, if you have time... I have found a cheapish driver's seat online to potentially use as a single passenger seat. It seems like it would bolt down ok, and i can deal with the armrest being on the wrong side, but the fixing position for the seat belt receiver @9:19 concerns me. I take it there is no bracket on the opposite side? Would this require some welding or can the bracket be relocated to the other side of the seat frame?

[@TheRestorationCouple]

I believe it has a thread to bolt it in both sides but not 100% sure. I know lots do it so can’t be too tricky.

[@g2macs]

Oh! The vannazis will give you grief for buying a pre-made loom not struggle for months wiring the booger up!

[@TheRestorationCouple]

+g2macs I’m sure they will! Oh well can’t win at everything and at least if we ever sell the van we won’t have to spend a day training the new owners what on earth does what! 😀

[@onceamoth]

Anyone tried removing the double seat via the passenger door? (Got a bulkhead in my van, and want to fit my batteries under the double seat)

[@austenconstantinou1786]

Omg Just watched your 10k giveaway :) super stuff love you guys love the channel! looking forward to the 20k! Big one! :) hahah

[@이상원-o4e7h]

What is brand and model of controller?

[@jsiedlecki5331]

Hi, thank you for the fab videos of your van build. You are doing a really great job. We are looking to convert a boxer and the seat idea is great. The seat you got from eBay. Is that a standard drivers seat and does it have to be of a similar year?? Thank you😊

[@TheRestorationCouple]

It is a single passenger however you can adapt a drivers seat. Doesn't have to be same year just the same model of van. Finding matching patterns is the tricky bit!

[@jsiedlecki5331]

The Restoration Couple Many thanks for the information. Really great videos. Thanks for taking the time to share them with us all 😁👍

[@ryanelliott7471]

Have you checked out Matt Harrisons bus build?

[@anafrancois7024]

Tell them to bugger off... did I say that right? An American fan.

[@seandanes3945]

Ana Francois lol. Yeah you did.

[@anafrancois7024]

Sean Danes thanks... never want to misappropriate a "completely" different language.

[@cjhification]

Could go with "Stick it up your stovepipe!" if you wanted to go for obscure British sayings. It's a particular favourite of mine and equates to bugger off!

[@MrTobypowell]

Where did you get your seat? thanks... Your damn good at this stuff!

[@TheRestorationCouple]

Ebay. They come up every now and then. It is possible to adapt a second drivers seat too if needed.

[@MrTobypowell]

Thanks very much for the reply. Love your channel, great stuff.

[@stacieodstacieod9555]

Andy Taylor is right!

[@bren106]

You aren't allowed to have a life outside the content creating. Your sole purpose in life is satisfying the needy who have no concern but their own lives. 99.9% of them will never use any of the information you pass on, because it's easier to watch than do.

[@Mevi]

Your van is coming on great. I've been watching the conversion from the start - I'm converting a Ducato too. So how different is a single passenger seat (or LHD driver's seat) to the RHD driver's seat? Are the seat structures the same from side to side? Seeing you transplant the seatbelt mount from the bench had me thinking. For example, are any of the mountings present down the right side of the driver's seat to fit a seatbelt if I were to use a RHD seat in the passenger's place? I don't care about the armrest. The mark-up for used single passenger seats in the UK is stratospheric - after all, nearly every other country will have a single seat on the left. If a passenger seat can't be created from a driver's seat and I can't find one cheap, I'm off to Europe to pick up "siège du conducteur", or a "bestuurders stoel". Thanks, take care

[@TheRestorationCouple]

+Mevi I doubt there is much to it. Probably fixing points on both sides of everything. I nearly got a LHD front twin seat to fit in the rear as the belts would be correct to fix to pillar. Apart from the controls and armrest they seem to be the same seat.

[@Mevi]

Thanks, I'll have a tinker when there is some *daylight* - converting a driver's seat to a passenger seat would be a good video to make, be good for the conversion community. You mentioned the winter in your video, it's really going to hold everything up. I was working on the van after work yesterday and it was 4c in there. :D

[@TheRestorationCouple]

That's why I am hoping that I can get the van lined, painted, floored and wired soon. The whole interior I can make in the garage section at a time, (mind you it's only slightly warmer in there!)

[@Mevi]

Good luck for completing that in time. I'm really hoping it's gonna be a mild winter. Brr

[@MrScoresby]

Will you be using the double seat for the kids. Bert

[@TheRestorationCouple]

No, belts would be in the wrong place. We went with some Ford seats which worked really well. Here's the vid. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z2iqc4RjdqilbKs

[@constanzacorrea2567]

but you didn’t show how you changed the seat :(

[@MichaelNolanUK]

I'm looking at getting hold of some IKEA blinds: www.ikea.com/gb/en/products/textiles-rugs/curtains-blinds/trippevals-block-out-cellular-blind-light-grey-art-10336894/ There is a slightly cheaper non-blackout version in the same sort of design. Hoping it will offer some insulation as well as privacy and light blocking. Planning to mount between bonded windows and the panelling but haven't checked measurements yet. I was a little wary of the dedicated power management systems and have probably gone overkill with some products from Sterling Power after watching some of their KZbin videos.

[@ChurchClown7]

“Where are the van videos?!!” Just kidding.

[@PenfoldSmith]

Worth a look at you tube channel... kenetube.... for great idea re saving weight on the kitchen/galley by use of 1820 aluminum bars...Simple too

[@johnmead1337]

See if there is anyone out there prepared to swap a drivers seat thats the same colour.

[@TheRestorationCouple]

+John Mead good idea. Probably a lot easier to find a matching drivers seat than passenger.

[@johnmead1337]

Might even find a builder happy to swap as he may not be worried about mismatch in his van

[@Nick23Wood]

Could you not dye it the same colour ??

[@TheRestorationCouple]

Wrong pattern too, :-( , plus would probably need to take it off the seat to do it.

[@Prto3typ]

talk soo much omg...