Take out seats and turn them around to face one another in a people carrier?

Swift66

Hello,

Thinking of getting rid of my transit, which I've used off and on as a camper van , and maybe getting an mpv of some kind. Anyone have any experience removing first row of passenger seats and turning them round to face the last row?

Is it easy , any tips?

Also any recommendations on an mpv, budget is €5500 max.

Thanks

Owen

It should be a case of 4 bolts but beware of a few things. Any wiring looms going to the seats for pre-tensioners, occupancy mats will need to be twisted 180 degrees, and may cause airbag lights to come on in time. The seatbelts may not align correctly with the new seat position, and if you have head airbags/side airbags in the rear, they will effectively be useless as the passenger position will have changed.

Plus, and this is a biggie, if you've kids, they'll be constantly getting carsick from being rear facing.

Guy:Incognito

Certain ones can do it without mods. The only one I have experience of is the Espace, the seats rotate. The Renault site gives overhead views of how it works.
http://www.renault.ie/vehicles/espace/espace_design_seating.asp

On the seatblets etc, the Espace has them built into the seats, I'd imagine anythign that would take the seat convertion would have to be the same.


I'd imagine that for similar set ups with other manufacturers you'd be in thefull size MPV brakcet too. SO the likes of the Galaxy/Alhambra etc.I had a VW multivan as a hire last year in Germany that did it too, but as far as I know they are crazy money , so might not be a runner depending when they started doing them..

colm_mcm

Hyundai Trajet has front swiveling seats.

kazul

VW Caravelle?

colm_mcm

Swift66 wrote: »

Anyone have any experience removing first row of passenger seats and turning them round to face the last row?

you don't mean the middle row of seats do you?

Guy:Incognito

colm_mcm wrote: »

you don't mean the middle row of seats do you?

Thats what I took it to mean.

L-M

colm_mcm wrote: »

you don't mean the middle row of seats do you?

Aye, front row of passenger seats, or the second row.

galwaytt

Limerick man wrote: »

Aye, front row of passenger seats, or the second row.

Why ?.....as mentioned, are a regular source of carsickness, for me (even on the train.......)

L-M

galwaytt wrote: »

Why ?.....as mentioned, are a regular source of carsickness, for me (even on the train.......)

You're asking me?

I don't know, but I presume since the OP has mentioned camper van, it probably has something to do with when they are stopped, putting in a table etc. etc.

Swift66

Exactly that Limerick man, its for somewhere comfy to sit and read /watch a movie, when its pissing down outside, not for while driving.

Also wondered if anyone knows if any older mpv seats can fold down into a makeshift bed base.

What ever happened to old style, couch/booth type seats, this shaped racing driver nonsense is only comfy if your a midget (same on new trains - dart). and you can't sit across them comfortably.

colm_mcm

the Caravelle's seats make a bed. they also swivel, slide etc.

Drummerboy08

The previous model Ford Galaxy came with something called "Captain's Seats" in the Ghia spec as an option AFAIK.
Instead of 3 seats in the second row, there were two. These could be swivelled 180 degrees to face the rear seats.

colm_mcm

thinkin back to the Apprentice, the new Espaces have rear facing seats that can be used when the car is in motion while you're annoyingly talking into a mobile phone that's on speakerphone.