Date: Tue, 28 Jun 2011 23:18:27 -0700
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: the 5th seat
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that single seat to me, looks like a regular Carat type jump seat that has
been added to that westy.
I have seen, however..
a deluxe model 85 Westy with a true single forward facing seat middle seat.
that sits on the seat rails that can be in the middle floor area of any
vanagon ..
or at least ones from whatever...83/84 on.
there are also two person forward facing middle seats that go on seat
rails..
Have seen those in a westy or two ..
they have seat backs that fold forward.
re
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?"
if you are looking for a bolt-in that is kosher.......in a word 'no.'
About your brown/green seats ...not only are the colors very odd..
very 70's ....green and brown , a real yucky combo to most people.. Reminds
one of a cheap tacky motel ..
( just my opinion, don't take it personally )
the material is rather course ..
and I've seen lots of them with metal spring parts sticking through.
Got one or two for free even.
they also come in a slightly more attractive ( or less ugly )
brown/gray/blue. Same course material though.
if you need two person middle seats..
I've got too many.
The tan or blue velour ,material used around 84 to 85/86 etc..
- not a bad material. Quite durable.
the one really bad one is the shredomatic corduroy in the 85 Wolfsburg
Weekender.
material wise that is. Just shreds right out very easily.
I'll have to give VW real credit for durable upholstery material in vanagons
..
all the velour types .....super rugged, long lasting, comfy.
Scott
turbovans
----- Original Message -----
From: "pickle vanagon" <greenvanagon@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, June 28, 2011 10:28 PM
Subject: the 5th seat
> 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
