[Metris_the_van]

Hello .
Anybody.. please provide any pictures how dose the passanger version Metris van has the seat rails mounted to the body of the vehicle.
Thank you.
Or if anyone has already done any type of conversion for cargo into passanger, please help me with pictures and mounting points.

 

[pawo007]

I have a feeling that completing that conversion successfully would cost as much or more than just trading in the cargo version for a passenger one....it also opens up all sorts of liabilities if you ever try to sell it. The passenger vans are equipped with several airbags in the rear compartment, a major item not easily (or at all) replicated in a conversion.

 

[Metris_the_van]

I have a feeling that completing that conversion successfully would cost as much or more than just trading in the cargo version for a passenger one....it also opens up all sorts of liabilities if you ever try to sell it.

I dont need a passenger version of it .
I need cargo version with removable seat option .
Thats what I'm trying to create pretty much .
I just haven't seen how the rails are attached to the body of the car on passenger one .

 

[Greenmanedlion]

The seat rails are connected to a specially reinforced section of the body that is not present on cargo vans, essentially sandwiching the mount with the rails on top, the floor in the middle, and the reinforcement on the bottom. Installing that reinforcement is theoretically possible, however it is very complicated and involves removing things like the fuel tank. If you were to realistically install passenger seats, it would be quite substantially less safe than even a non-airbag equipped passenger van (a non-finished, non airbag passenger Vito is sold in some markets). It would also be illegal for road use in the US without going through substantial hoops (Actually it would be illegal even if you DID install the reinforcement).

Enforcement criminally of this is pretty lax, and afaik is only ever done if a fatality occurs because of the violation, or the vehicle is being used to commercially transport passengers for hire (think taxi/bus/livery). However you would be engaged in negligence and could be (probably would be) sued in the event of death or injury by, for example, an employee. It would also likely invalidate any liability insurance you have for damages related to it (both auto and business), so you would be on the hook for it personally. I am not a lawyer, so i am not giving you legal advice, but still keep it in mind. Were I using my potential Metris as a crew van, I would use a passenger van as the base. (Actually, I’d probably buy a Sprinter crew van, since it is larger and not substantially more expensive than a passenger Metris).

If the safety is not articulately important to you, it really doesn‘t matter where you mount the things, although I suppose I would try to take advantage of the reinforced mountings for the tie-down points. Jury-rigging something using them would probably be mildly safer than attempting to bolt in OEM seat rails without the passenger reinforcements.

 

[gogoKawi]

I did this earlier this year. Cost me about $2600 in parts and labor to add four 8-foot L-track rails to the floor and windows in each of the side sliding doors. It was done by a local van upfitter. The L-track is secured with about 80 plusnuts, while using the 4 pre-drilled points in the floor for the outer rails. I currently have a 3 seater (bought on this forum) turned sideways against the door, which allows me to slide my motorcycle on the other side. If I need to carry people, I just move the seat to whatever position I want on the l-track and bolt it down using the L-track heavy duty studs accessory.

L-track gives you the most flexibility. It's what I wanted in my cargo Metris originally, but I couldn't find a van with the OEM track and configuration I wanted. Sure, the passenger van has the rails built in. But what folks forget is that you lose space with the passenger version, suspension is softer, and you don't have the flexibility of the cargo version without ripping out stuff. There's no good solution except for Mercedes to have a crew van Metris.

You can do the work yourself to save quite a bit of money.

 

[Metris_the_van]

I did this earlier this year. Cost me about $2600 in parts and labor to add four 8-foot L-track rails to the floor and windows in each of the side sliding doors. It was done by a local van upfitter. The L-track is secured with about 80 plusnuts, while using the 4 pre-drilled points in the floor for the outer rails. I currently have a 3 seater (bought on this forum) turned sideways against the door, which allows me to slide my motorcycle on the other side. If I need to carry people, I just move the seat to whatever position I want on the l-track and bolt it down using the L-track heavy duty studs accessory.

L-track gives you the most flexibility. It's what I wanted in my cargo Metris originally, but I couldn't find a van with the OEM track and configuration I wanted. Sure, the passenger van has the rails built in. But what folks forget is that you lose space with the passenger version, suspension is softer, and you don't have the flexibility of the cargo version without ripping out stuff. There's no good solution except for Mercedes to have a crew van Metris.

You can do the work yourself to save quite a bit of money.

Do you ha e any pictures of what has been done and how .
Also I'm in Cali and bote sure who dose any this kind of modification in my area.

 

[focus805]

Sorry to be a Buttinski, but I think it's grossly reckless to hack in seats, or even those upfitter rock 'n roll beds. Good name, actually. Please don't put young humans in those seats while you're rolling. Adults can do whatever they want, I suppose, but I'd like to be repaid for the taxpayer-funded ride to the ER, and sadly for many, the taxpayer-funded stay at the hospital.

 

[imacd]

I tend to agree with Focus805. Admittedly, you do lose some space, but you can get a 4x8 in there, just not flat on the floor. Just prop it up on something or have a little platform to raise it a bit. I use mine mostly for hauling dogs (hence rear A/C), and banana boxes of stuff for the food bank (I can get 50+ in there, 30 if they're full of cans). Good vision, good seating when I want it.
Question for someone - Can you put the cargo van suspension in the passenger van?

 

[gogoKawi]

Here is a pic with the carpet over the L-track on the floor and the 3-seater attached to the floor. I can move them anywhere along the L-track by loosening the bolts and sliding them to the preferred position. This is with the stock Metris seats. I did purchase the cleats for the passenger version which the seat latches into. They fit perfectly in the L-track. The second pic just has the seats against the wall so there's space for the motorcycle when loaded.

 

[pawo007]

I tend to agree with Focus805. Admittedly, you do lose some space, but you can get a 4x8 in there, just not flat on the floor. Just prop it up on something or have a little platform to raise it a bit. I use mine mostly for hauling dogs (hence rear A/C), and banana boxes of stuff for the food bank (I can get 50+ in there, 30 if they're full of cans). Good vision, good seating when I want it.
Question for someone - Can you put the cargo van suspension in the passenger van?

The only real difference between passenger and cargo suspension is which shocks are used (firm vs softer) and which springs (softer vs reinforced) A true passenger only equipped version also has a rear sway bar.

In my van I have the middle suspension option, that being softer passenger shocks + reinforced springs and no sway bar. I didn't even realize this until I was under it, it handles plenty great with no sway bar.

 

[imacd]

Thanks for the info!

 

[Vitovito]

Hello .
Anybody.. please provide any pictures how dose the passanger version Metris van has the seat rails mounted to the body of the vehicle.
Thank you.
Or if anyone has already done any type of conversion for cargo into passanger, please help me with pictures and mounting points.

Please keep in mind the strength of the seat anchor bars. In a frontal collision, for example, with 3 big passengers and the weight of the seat itself (say a thousand pounds), the peak load on the anchors could easily exceed ten thousand pounds.
Using the seat anchor bars for to secure heavy cargo in a passenger van is a more secure technique than using the relatively weak cargo D rings.

 

[gogoKawi]

I just went on a trip and turned the seats around for passengers. I figured I would take a pic just in case someone wanted to use this as a reference.

The seats are in the Metris passenger cleats, which are bolted to L-track, which sit on top of the L-track in the floor. The visible track is not a necessity. The seat cleats can be bolted directly to the track in the floor, which is covered by the carpet. It's just that the track on top of the carpet makes removal and moving easier.

As I stated previously, the L-track gives you lots of options. Moving the seats forward and back, turning them around, or unbolt them so the bench can go to one side of the van. They can be taken out or moved with just a socket wrench.

Hopefully this gives those looking to do something similar some ideas. Please, no comments on whether this is safe or not. We know everyone doesn't approve.

 

[Greenmanedlion]

The approval you seek and are not going to get is that of the NTHSB. It’s not just unsafe, it is also illegal.

 

[gogoKawi]

I won the bet! I knew someone couldn't resist. Lol.

 

[Greenmanedlion]

People rely on forum responses to remain informed. When someone is doing something stupid or illegal I want to inform them of it. They can then go ahead and engage in said action informed of the possible consequences of what they are doing. I would feel irresponsible doing less.

 

[gogoKawi]

The OP asked for options and solutions, not opinions. Yet the need to impart one's opinion, despite no one asking for it, is just too strong for some to overcome. It's hilarious, and sad. And the arrogance... "When someone is doing something stupid or illegal I want to inform them of it." Translation: "I know better than you, and I'm going to let you and everyone else know it."

Moral of the story to anyone that wants to modify their van, get permission from the forum first. Or just don't post up your question or solution. Otherwise, you will get: "When someone is doing something stupid or illegal I want to inform them of it." No solutions to actually help you. Even if you took months to research and talked to your DMV, insurance company, dealership, upfitters, collision shops, and local law enforcement and were given the thumbs-up on your particular solution, it doesn't matter. People in the forum know better.

Metris_the_van, good luck with your project. I'm curious to know what you decided to do.

 

[Greenmanedlion]

I’m an arrogant prick? Really? You’re just picking up on that now? 😂😂😂

They don’t need my permission. I am stating my opinion, or in this case stating information that they apparently are unaware of. It is not my opinion that’s such a seating solution is a legal; that is fact. It is my opinion that it would probably be dangerous as that kind of track is not designed to withstand that kind of levered torsional force.

Nevertheless what I said is true. The OP can flamenco dance up Mt Everest, and I am not going to stop them. Actually I’d probably buy popcorn. But I will tell them that I think it is dangerous, if they submit their intention to do it on a public forum. I do all kinds of stuff you people would disapprove of; I’d only mention it here in search of your opinions, for goodness sake!

By the way the only legal solution to having rear seats in a Metris is to buy a passenger version, or certify yourself as an up fitter. You can come up with illegal solutions on your own. That’s not my bag.

 

[VanGo]

How To: Installing Euro Sliding Rails and Euro 2+1...

Wrote this the other day, and lost it on my computer while I was waiting to confirm the Torx bit size when I got home. NOTE: THIS IS FOR A 3 RAIL SETUP EURO RAIL ONLY. WE DID NOT INSTALL A 4TH RAIL, DUE TO THE COMPLEXITY AND HAVING TO DROP THE FUEL TANK TO PROPERLY INSTALL. Tools needed...

www.metrisforum.com

This might be helpful to people like the original poster who want to get something done. It might be infuriating to doubting Thomases, who just want to spend time pontificating. I'm becoming pretty sure that clinging to the notion that the floor in my 135" cargo van differs, other than length, from the 126" passenger van, is a losing position. I'll bet when I take out my floor, I'll find all the superstructure to mount 4 stock Mercedes seat rails in my cargo van. Can anyone who owns a 135 or works for a Mercedes repair outlet tell me if my hunch is true? The poster of the thread I referred to said he thought one must drop the gas tank to install the forth rail. Can anyone who owns a 135 tell us whether that is true. It seems far-fetched since the other three rails are installed into riv-nuts, which would preclude dropping the tank. If you don't know, please hold your fire. I will soon find out and call you out if you're speculating. It isn't helpful to people looking for fact-based exchanges. I believe all the scare talk about mounting rear seats in a cargo van is just that - empty scare talk.
I think these vans are all made with the same superstructure and the only thing missing is the side curtain airbags in the rear. But, I will soon see for myself in any case.

 

[icerabbit]

@ vango ... I am personally curious on this topic, as I found an extended cargo van that I like ...without the lashing rails in the floor ... and wanting to secure a few things, frequently or every now and then ... I am thinking to retrofit the floor rails ... but are the “ riv-nuts there “??? ... I am curious if there are threaded nuts in the metal floor of the van, underneath the plain plywood cargo floor.