Date: Wed, 29 Jun 2011 09:44:49 -0400
Reply-To: Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
Subject: Re: the 5th seat
In-Reply-To: <BANLkTims0kuA_FhnQP2QEk3mXSmE2XmwDA@mail.gmail.com>
Content-type: text/plain; CHARSET=US-ASCII
That pictured is a jump seat that was typical in late model passenger vans (and mid-years Carats). It was never a standard feature in a Westy.
In the 85 model year of the Westy, there were rails on the floor, that were special shortened versions of the rails typical in passenger vanagons through most model years. These shortened rails allowed for a single seat to be put in to a Westy in the middle area, and still be able to open the fridge. It has a storage locker underneath it, using a key just like the glovebox.
There is sufficient space on the rails (in a westy) to put 2 single seats, or a 2 person bench. In passenger vans it was possible to get a 3 passenger bench.
As to safety. The rails used are bolted to the floor pan in all instances. The seats have lap belts (which is all that was required in the year it was offered.)
On Jun 29, 2011, at 1:28 AM, pickle vanagon wrote:
> Regarding adding a 5th seat to a westy...
>
> supposedly these 5th seats really exist. Gary even has a photo of one on
> his website, just to prove that they do:
> http://www.telusplanet.net/public/gary2a/rack/5thseat/5thseat.htm
>
> Notice how it folds up. Neat!
>
> Some questions:
> 1) Occasionally 5th seats pop up on the samba for large amounts of money.
> But these appear to have a storage compartment, and it seems like they may
> not flip up. What's up with the ones that flip up? Are they really
> different from the ones with the storage compartment? Are they even rarer?
>
> 2) Our van has the old green/brown/tan seats (these:
> http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=850174) and I have to
> say we really like them (I know some people hate them!). I'm guessing the
> 5th was never made with this fabric. Is it possible to take one of these
> green/brown/tan seats, which are relatively cheap online, and disassemble it
> and attach it to one of the 5th seat brackets?
>
> 3) I guess the other option for adding seating to a westy is the 2 seat
> bench in the back, on tracks. Presumably these don't come in our choice of
> fabric but we could re-upholster it if we were really determined. I'm not
> as excited about this option because I imagine it is more of an impediment
> to camping, even though it can be easily slid in and out. Anybody want to
> comment on how the 2-person bench affects access to the camping stuff while
> its installed? (I'm guessing people that have this just sit it outside
> under plastic while in a campsite.)
>
> Thanks for any help!!
> Wes
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