Additions to chassis, IVA?

[mt2man]

Hey all, I'm building a Discovery but the rear of the body was beyond saving so has been cut off, i have a pickup bed going spare i was looking at fitting. In order for it to be mounted i would need to weld a small amount of box section onto the chassis. I wont be cutting any part of the chassis off at all and the box section will be an addition within the dimensions of the chassis, will this be fine and not require a IVA?

I am a qualified welder so I'm asking merely to make sure i stick within the rules! I wouldnt be too suprised if its called in for a VIC check when i change the details on the log book but as far as i can tell this is all it would need?

Many of you have probably seen the big yellow Tonka truck i have that i am now breaking, it is the bed off of that, it is mounted to the range rover in the same fashion I'm just making sure i will have no problems with the Discovery?

Thanks Jack

[composimmonite]

The rules state "unmodified chassis" ie the same as you would get from the factory if you ordered one new.
Could you make some sort of bolt on strap mount to hold the box section in place just for any inspection ? When passed simply remove the strap mount and weld up.
A VIC test won't pick up on any alterations / modifications to the chassis as it just confirms the vehicle exists and VIN matches records !
As long as chassis original and "unmodified" then it should simply be a case of turning up at your local DVLA office and inviting them outside to see that the body has changed to pick-up. Appointment MIGHT be necessary so ring first.

Have fun.

Paul H

[mt2man]

I suppose that is one way of doing it! I could probably build a frame which bolts to the exisiting body mounts and then mount the pickup bed to the frame, it would just be a ton easier and alot less wasted material to weld a couple of bits of box section to the chassis! haha, i suppose if it keeps it all legal i may go down that route.

[Dez]

The rules don't state unmodifed chassis. You can add as much as you like as long as you stay within the original perimeter of the chassis- in other words don't make it longer, wider or taller. Adding cross members and boxing chassis rails is absolutely fine, but you're not allowed to cut anything off to do so.

[mt2man]

Ah the box section would be sitting ontop of the chassis making it chassis slightly taller, would this be a reason for test then? No cutting will take place!

[Deleted]

Are you re-registering the vehicle, if not then don't worry about it. if for some reason you are and planning on getting VOSA to check it then just make a good job of any welding and as long as you don't go silly with large outriggers or overly modified body then it will be fine but based on what you have said it won't need an IVA.

[composimmonite]

Oct 18, 2013 10:16:51 GMT Dez said:

The rules don't state unmodifed chassis. You can add as much as you like as long as you stay within the original perimeter of the chassis- in other words don't make it longer, wider or taller. Adding cross members and boxing chassis rails is absolutely fine, but you're not allowed to cut anything off to do so.

Sorry to contradict but rules do say
"original or new and unmodified chassis, monocoque bodyshell or frame"
"You won’t be able to keep your vehicle’s original registration number if 1 of the following applies:
it has a second-hand or altered chassis, monocoque bodyshell or frame"

www.gov.uk/vehicle-registration/radically-altered-vehicles

This is taking the rules to the letter. In OP's case doubt there would be any problem - as you say.

Paul H

[stealthstylz]

There has been clarification that you can add to a chassis/body aslong as it is kept within the original perimeter.

For what you're wanting to do with the Landy make the extension bolt on as AFAIK that makes it temporary and therefore doesn't count as extending past the perimeter.

[Dez]

Oct 21, 2013 0:53:53 GMT stealthstylz said:

There has been clarification that you can add to a chassis/body aslong as it is kept within the original perimeter.

For what you're wanting to do with the Landy make the extension bolt on as AFAIK that makes it temporary and therefore doesn't count as extending past the perimeter.

Have they definitely decided that's the case now matt? I recall there was some ho-ha about bolt-on beam extenders for bugs, and the fact they didn't like em as it was effectively a bolt-on chassis extension.

[stealthstylz]

Oct 21, 2013 7:53:08 GMT Dez said:

Oct 21, 2013 0:53:53 GMT stealthstylz said:

There has been clarification that you can add to a chassis/body aslong as it is kept within the original perimeter.

For what you're wanting to do with the Landy make the extension bolt on as AFAIK that makes it temporary and therefore doesn't count as extending past the perimeter.

Have they definitely decided that's the case now matt? I recall there was some ho-ha about bolt-on beam extenders for bugs, and the fact they didn't like em as it was effectively a bolt-on chassis extension.

I'm not 100% sure. I can't see how they could have a problem - otherwise a re-body wouldn't be able to extend past the perimeter of the chassis. I reckon if you welded the pickup bed floor to the new rails so that they were all one unit, then bolted it to the chassis that to me would be part of the bodywork.

[mt2man]

Is it in writing anywhere that it's fine aslong as you don't go past the parameters?

It would be the main deciding factor on whether I go ahead with finishing the discovery or putting the 200tdi in the range rover chassis!

[stealthstylz]

www.the-ace.org.uk/rebodying-a-clarification/

Just under the photos.

[mt2man]

That is great! Means what I am planning in my head is fine without worrying about an IVA!

So body mounts can be welded to the chassis as long they are similar to the originals?

I wouldn't cut the old body mounts off so it seems the additions I want are fine!

"It is not acceptable to weld additional structures to the external dimensions, other than body mounts which are expected to be o fsimilar construction and/or size as used by OEM manufacturers."

[mt2man]

Does this mean rock sliders welded to chassis would require an IVA?

[Dez]

Pretty much any of the common land rover mods require IVA, they're mostly the ones who have got us into this mess in the first place by blatantly taking the curse word.

[mt2man]

What do you count as taking the curse word?
Body mounts in my eyes would be fine but i can see why bob tailing and shortening the chassis would be taking it abit far!

[composimmonite]

Oct 23, 2013 13:02:30 GMT mt2man said:

What do you count as taking the curse word?
Body mounts in my eyes would be fine but i can see why bob tailing and shortening the chassis would be taking it abit far!

It used to be common for people to shorten a Range Rover chassis and then fit a Series body but claim road tax exemption based on the body donor V5. At one 4x4 show Police, VOSA and DVLA went around the car park and caught a whole load of people who were claiming their shortened 1980/90 Range Rover was a tax exempt 1960's SIIA ! They got done for invalid insurance, false registration displayed and VED avoidance. Another thing done is basically using VIN and no plates of a tax exempt Land Rover on what is otherwise standard Defender albeit made up of parts from numerous vehicles. Most of this has now stopped although there are still people around who consider themselves too clever to be caught that you occasionally see on eBay

Paul H

[Deleted]

12% of about 1000 cars were either impounded and/ or drivers fined/ prosecuted from one event in Hampshire last year for various offences including those described above.