Club 80-90 Forums

Its been a while since I've been on here - March 2017 apparently so 8 years - ooops.
The Kamper has been sat idle for much of that time, but recently I've had what initially appeared to be a crazy idea, but I'm wondering if maybe it isnt so daft afterall. 

We have a discovery 3 that we use to tow our caravan, but wife and the children want to go to Denmark. Being a 2005 model the Discovery would have to pay to get into Bristol and Birmingham, but it appears Denmark has numerous low emission zones that simply wont let Discovery in.  I have a 1.8 Astra, but its only 4 seats so doesn't work for 2 adults and 3 children.

The T25 is A reg, so MOT and tax exempt (as of last April). It turns out that Denmark also allows anything over 30 years into its low emission zones too.  Its a 1.9 petrol, original Kamper interior currently, but the pop up roof was swapped year ago for a fibreglass hightop.

Now finally to the point..  Can I seat 3 children (13, 11 and 6, in the Kamper, as well as two adults? Ideally I'd like everyone in seat belts, although I am unsure if that is a legal requirement in Denmark. We'd probably stay in accommodation, so I'm not too worried about sleeping etc, but having stood for about 8 years what might be in need of replacement before attempting such a long trip?
Obviously tyres and wipers are on the list, check and free off the brakes etc, get an MOT for independent verification.

I recall from my last visit that there are probably 2 belt mounts on the rear pillars, but any guidance on things to check, 'seats' that might fit, getting 5 seated and belted, and any other general advice would be very welcomed.
Thankyou

Not being familiar with the Kamper interior, does it have a buddy seat? The B posts have a second seat belt bolt tapping about 3" below the front belt top mount, this can be used.
Not that anyone wouod want to sit on a buddy seat for 1000's of km! You'd want to be sat on a pukka VW folding buddy seat, rare but worth it.
If the rear bench/bed is full width you can install seat belt mounting plates but the middle one will be a lap belt (ok if properly adjusted for a teenager or to secure a kiddy seat)
Brickwerks us the place for stuff that actually fits.

Hi, No buddy seat, but also no bulkhead to attach it to. I just have a single driver seat, single passenger seat, and 3/4 bench / bed at the rear. My understanding is that the double passenger front seat, and the buddy seat both attach to the van bulkhead. which isn't there on the kamper. Hopefully I am wrong!
The 3/4 rear bench / bed will accommodate 3 with no belts, but is possibly a little narrow for 3 with belts. I can see the belt mount on the rear pillar on the left hand side. I assume there is another behind the cupboard on the right hand side too, but not sure if a belt could be run out through the cupboard. The current / original rear bench back just has a little bolt each side to hold it up. I am unsure this secure enough to be honest!
Can a middle-row seat from a 'minibus' be bolted to the floor of a non-minibus shell? I've seen what appears to be a double middle-row seat for sale - with belts built in. It would make it pretty impossible to use as a campervan, but they could be removed when not needed?
 

The VW factory buddy seat (multivan etc) has its own frame and it is fixed to the passenger side seat box.

I take 3 kids in the back of our VW T25.  

One on a rear facing multivan seat.  I bought a three-point seatbelt kit from Gowesty in the USA (it was the only kit I could find specifically designed for this seat - I'd put a link but the website is being weird).  The bottom fixing points are the same as the passenger seat (longer bolts provided and the inertia reel sits at the bottom).  The top fixing point is just under the top passenger fixing point.  No bulkhead required.
Multivan seats can be hard to source but it's the best option if you don't want a full width RnR bed. 

For the other two I found the best option was to get a new RnR bed with in-built 3-point seatbelts. It would likely require new upholstery though.  This was the simplest and easiest solution for us.  On my previous camper (currently in the process of selling it) I bought the RnR frame from M1 Campers I think (not sure if they are still trading).  I'm currently in the process of sorting a new RnR bed with seatbelts from Tins Kustoms - this is better than the M1 one because it has a higher back.

If you were to use your existing RnR bed (assuming that is what you have) then do you have existing two-point seatbelt points for lap belts?  On my current camper these are just bolted in through the floor at four points where it rises for the engine bay.  Would be difficult to fix these in the middle of the van though if not there already.
There should be two third seatbelt fixing points at the rear of your van (although sometimes you need to get these welded in) but then you have the decision of whether you go through the wardrobe (presuming you have one) or fix two to the other fixing point - neither is apparently a good idea. 
I did come across a garage in Warrington which could put a bespoke metal A frame in your wardrobe to bring out the fixing point on that side which is another option.

My wife always wanted a third cab seat - like a doka - but I didn't think it would work / too difficult.  Tins do a cool bench seat for the cab that replaces the driver & passenger seats and would seat three in the front (you'll find it if you look through their Instagram photos).  This can then lie flat to form a small bed (maybe big enough for your 6 year old) or flip to form a rear facing seat.  Problems are no headrests and no three-point seatbelt in the middle - fairly easy to fit a two-point belt if you didn't mind it fixing into the passenger and driver fixing points.