Minibus options?

[ronburgundy]

Hello all!

From time to time it would help greatly if we could use the westy as a minibus! I appreciate I could buy a different vehicle with 8 seats (more likely a T4 or dare I say bongo ), but If I can somehow get 8 seats into my bus this would mean my wife can use this for a potential child minding business that she is planning. We are also too emotionally attached to our camper to consider changing it for something more suitable for this purpose - plus for the majority of time we are happy with the configuration of the 5 seats (including multivan buddy seat) that we use for day trips and camping.

The other option is to trade her nasty citroen in against an 8 seater vehicle, but if I can reduce the three cars we have to two whilst keeping my westy, then I would like to explore this first.

My bus has the locating runners already in the floor to accept the middle seats as per the below:


First of all If anyone has the middle row of seats please shout (have also placed add in wanted)!

Secondly, can anyone suggest a way of configuring the rest of the bus to accept more seats... with seat belts etc? Probably not 'doable' but if you don't ask.....

This is what we currently have:


Thanks in advance for your help!

[scoobydrew]

I would go with what plan you have already.
The middle seats do come up now and again and you could also swap the passanger seat for a double seat, I think they just slide on to the existing runners with a leg for the walk through gap.
Then as you have said change bakc to camper set up when you go away.

[82JEW75]

Have a middle row, but they're full width (3 seats), so I don't think would fit your van?

[jamesc76]

If I can somehow get 8 seats into my bus this would mean my wife can use this for a potential child minding business that she is planning. We are also too emotionally attached to our camper to consider changing it for something more suitable for this purpose - plus for the majority of time we are happy with the configuration of the 5 seats (including multivan buddy seat) that we use for day trips and camping.

I would see how much the insurance goes up by using it as a company vehicle, plus if your emotionally attached do you really want othe peoples kids climbing all over it???

[ronburgundy]

Have a middle row, but they're full width (3 seats), so I don't think would fit your van?

Thanks anyway, but I think you are right, it is the two seats that fit.

[ronburgundy]

If I can somehow get 8 seats into my bus this would mean my wife can use this for a potential child minding business that she is planning. We are also too emotionally attached to our camper to consider changing it for something more suitable for this purpose - plus for the majority of time we are happy with the configuration of the 5 seats (including multivan buddy seat) that we use for day trips and camping.

I would see how much the insurance goes up by using it as a company vehicle, plus if your emotionally attached do you really want othe peoples kids climbing all over it???

Thanks James.

I had anticipated the insurance and we had factored this in. Any 8 seater is pretty pricey (well more than we pay at the moment). My kids do their best to climb all over it, but you are right this should also be considered!

The more we investigate the more it is clear that we either need to change the van or keep the third car.

I will confess though I have been looking at multivans with the option of a pop top!

[ronburgundy]

I would go with what plan you have already.
The middle seats do come up now and again and you could also swap the passanger seat for a double seat, I think they just slide on to the existing runners with a leg for the walk through gap.
Then as you have said change bakc to camper set up when you go away.

Sorry scooby, missed this on my phone.

Don't suppose you have a picture of the front seat arrangement with the leg in for the walk through do you? I did not realise that the bench seat at the front could fit if it was not originally installed..

Thanks

[82JEW75]

No leg on my front seat, just slides on to the standard runners.

However... the backrest screws to the bulkhead...

[scoobydrew]

I ve not seen one for a while so I would go with 82jew75.
I know a few years back I gave a single seat away and they just slid the double one straight off and put the single in.

82jew75 might be able to take some pics.

Andy

[82JEW75]

Will try to remember to get some photos tomorrow, but the seats are currently out of the van and in a pile, so not exactly evident.

My van is a Kombi(?), not a Caravelle, i.e. it's a 9 seat configuration with a half-height bulkhead (no walkthrough, very basic interior), other than being LHD, it's exactly the van pictured in the Aircooled (pale green) version of the Haynes Manual.

The twin front seat consists of a base and backrest joined by a hinge. Unlike the single seats, there is no way of securing or adjusting the backrest, it flops about when removed from the van. When fitted, it screws to two brackets on the bulkhead. There's not really any adjustment.

You could make up a frame and brackets easily enough, but I'm not sure what the MOT man would have to say about it. Seat belts are simple, passenger side stalk is replaced by a belt type fitting and passes between seat base and back, middle belt is a lap strap secured to the passenger and driver's belt mountings.

It's really, really basic


Was there a different setup offered on the Caravelle? I've never seen a walkthrough van with the double front seat, surely it defeats the purpose of the walkthrough?


E D I T: walkthrough and non-walkthrough vans are identical with the exception of the bulkhead and the covers on the battery boxes (not present if there's a bulkhead), there are no other differences I can see between the two vans we have here.

[scoobydrew]

The one that I seen had fixed rear part, so no problem of fixing to bulk head.
I think they were standard in some panel vans and as I said earlier was not sure if they had legs or not but know they went on standard runners.
It is the same as newer t4s etc that seat 3 in the front, the 25 van did they same in its day.

Andy

[Allanw]

The 3 seat middle row could be shortened up a bit, and the backrest made flat - I think it will end up wider than the 2 seat style (that pic shows room for an armrest - that's another 1/2 a kid!), and the seatbelt mounts can be repostioned along the seat (they are mounted under the seat, NOT on the van body. I ferried people at a wedding (Off Road) and every trip had 4 people across each row (all adults) and it wasn't too bad. If the seat extended to touching the cabinets, and "touching" the sliding dooor, I reckon you'd get 3 on it. Even the back seat/bed can probably squeeze 3 if the seat belts mounts are modified - perhaps abar which bolts into the original mounts, and the new mounts spaced evenly along that?

Mine is an 8 seater "Kombi" model and the middle row has enough space for 3 car seats with a good size space between them - the moulded backrest makes it tricky to have more than 3 people on it.

(actually, I had 15 in it once, but 1 sat between in the walkthrough