My dad and I, we have a van, and are trying to install a seat. But we need to determine the type of material used for the flooring. I figure it's stainless steel, however, my dad wants to be sure. We need to drill into the steel to attach bolts into the seat right into the work van. But, we don't have the right drill bits yet, but we don't want to buy the wrong ones. Any advice?

 

It's ordinary sheet steel. THIN metal.

Which seat are you trying to install?

So far this sounds like a very suicidal idea.

 

From removing the old folding bench/bed in the back of my van, it did have u-bolts holding the frame down. These bolts however run all the way down through the frame rail. Attaching a seat to just the floor material, agreed, suicidal. Drilling through the frame is also not recommended for structural reasons. Don't know how the newer models are secured.

 

I would think you should in the least be installing thick plates underneath the flooring to anchor the seat into. If you do not even understand the differences between stainless steel and regular steel then... perhaps installing a non-factory seat setup is a bad a idea all around.

 

It's a small seat we got from the pick and pull, fits about 2 people. K, so don't just drill into the material. Get some thick plates for underneath the flooring to anchor. Thanks guys, unfortunately my dad is not backing out of this idea. So I'm in it for the long haul.

 

OK so it's a 2nd row bench?

You can look at how the driver's seat is mounted. The area around the bolts will be reinforced.

I don't know if you have state inspections where you live, but that might be something to consider.

 

A 2 or 3 inch angle iron underneath should be plenty to hold in that seat.