Multivan Seat\Sleeping arrangements question

[Meic]

Like I said in my intro...

Looking to buy a Multivan (I think!). I need a 7 seater for when we have visitors, and also something where the seats will turn into a bed for nights away for the 4 of us.

I have been thinking of buying 2002 Toyota Super Custom - cost around 15k. Then I realised for an extra 10k you can buy a VW Multivan, newer model. Trouble with Super Custom is not many garages sell them, a couple in Sydney but they don't get good reviews. A lot more garages sell VW.

Questions regarding Multivan:

1) 80% of the time there would only be 4 of us. Is it possible to take the back 3 seats out (rather than folding)? and put back only when we need it?

2) do the seats fold flat to double up as a bed? Or do you have to take seats out for this?

3)Can you sleep on an inflatable mattress on the floor after removing bacak seats (if poss)?

4) I have a budget of around 26k. So will most prob be looking to buy an older model. Do the older models still have the same seat flexibity as the newer models?

I know we could only sleep 2 in the van, eventually I'd like to put a pop up roof in the van. (SWB)

Thanks in advance!

Mike.

[Guest001]

Like I said in my intro...

Looking to buy a Multivan (I think!). I need a 7 seater for when we have visitors, and also something where the seats will turn into a bed for nights away for the 4 of us.

I have been thinking of buying 2002 Toyota Super Custom - cost around 15k. Then I realised for an extra 10k you can buy a VW Multivan, newer model. Trouble with Super Custom is not many garages sell them, a couple in Sydney but they don't get good reviews. A lot more garages sell VW.

Questions regarding Multivan:

1) 80% of the time there would only be 4 of us. Is it possible to take the back 3 seats out (rather than folding)? and put back only when we need it?

2) do the seats fold flat to double up as a bed? Or do you have to take seats out for this?

3)Can you sleep on an inflatable mattress on the floor after removing bacak seats (if poss)?

4) I have a budget of around 26k. So will most prob be looking to buy an older model. Do the older models still have the same seat flexibity as the newer models?

I know we could only sleep 2 in the van, eventually I'd like to put a pop up roof in the van. (SWB)

Thanks in advance!

Mike.

Havent removed seats in a Van but when I did so in a Landcruiser I had to get an engineer to put a mod plate on it when I removed them and again when I replaced them a year later. In most states there are rules about removing seats that are bolted down for longer than a very short period My engineer said "under any circumstance"

[The_Hawk]

I have the T5.2 or 2010+ model but I believe it's all much the same in the T5's.

To remove the seats you pull the access tabs on the rails at the front, then slide the seats forward, then lift up.\

1) To get the back row out you would have to remove the second row, then the back row, then put the second row back in. I can tell you the single seats are BLOODY HEAVY and I'm told the three seater is a right bastard. That said, yes you can take them out and leave only what you need for day to day use (we currently have the two singles out and the back row slid all the way forward).
(in the case of the Multivan you aren't actually unbolting things, just sliding and lifting so I don't believe there would be any legal issues).

2) Yes, the whole thing folds flat to double as a bed although there is a flexi board thing that fills the gap between the "bed" and the back door.

3) I just went outside and measured (remember I only have the three seater in the back at the moment), there is currently ~1.3m behind my seat and about another 30cm of rails I could slide forward meaning you would have about 1.6m.
Checking out the size of mattresses and it seems they are all 187 or 203cm long so you are a little short.
Australian & International mattress & bed size dimensions

Looks like the best bet would be to leave both rows of seats in, lay them flat and put a mattress on top.

4) Yes, I believe the rail system is the same. On the upside the <09 models have the 128kW engine, although I'd be aiming at a manual over the autos.

[Meic]

Excellent. Really appreciate your reply, thanks for measuring too.

This is very good news. Sounds perfect for what I need it for.

When looking at old threads it appears the only downside may be no one in Austarlia fits a pop up roof on the Multivan. It was an old thread I was reading so hopefully no longer an issue in Australia.

Great forum

[Meic]

Thanks for you reply