Keeping Kombi Seats With Camper

[RobW]

Hi All - I'm sure this must be covered elsewhere but I can't find it.

I have a LWB Kombi and want to put a bed and furniture in the back to make it a camper (already have Hilo roof fitted).

However, 90% of the time it's going to be used for family transport, so I'd like to use a (crash tested) bed in the back as a seat as well as using the mid row kombi seats - the bonus being that I'll gain a couple of seats in normal use, and the usual kombi seats are easier to access for child seats etc.

For camping needs I'd love a rear cupboard / cooker / sink (and 3/4 width bed) but has anyone done this in a 'short' conversion that stops behind the seats? I have a twin slider so for epic camping trips probably will remove the kombi seats and replace with a pod fridge unit etc.

Looks like there's around 1600mm behind the seats to accomodate the units - is this do-able, or more to the point has it already been done??? Is there anything on the EVO site or similar that fits the bill?

As an aside, is it possible to move the double kombi seat across to the passenger side (I have 2+1 setup)? This might allow a longer furniture run whilst still keeping 2 seats...? The floor brackets obviously will need relocating but I guess it's not as simple as just drilling some new holes as there's probably underfloor reinforcement needed etc. to achieve crash safety?

Thanks, Rob
(Newbie with carpet lined LWB T6 kombi)

 

[Dieseldonkey]

I've the option to drop 2 factory seats in front of the rails on my Smart bed Evo R if this helps. Standard side units from Evo design. 5.4 kit. Although I'm actually getting some custom made rails that extend all the way to the current floor brackets and take out the gap between. 165mm added to the front and 165mm added to the rear of standard SWB rails.

 

[RobW]

Thanks Dieseldonkey, that’s food for thought. Nice setup (thanks for the pics). Can you get second seat for the longer evo rails or will you have to convert T6 Kombi seats somehow...?

From the look of it I think a titan bed mid-mount will also fit in place of the sliding rails... I’m not sure which is the better option but yours is certainly flexible!!

By the way I’ve never seen a Kombi with two rear singles, is yours standard?

Thanks,
Rob

 

[Dieseldonkey]

Hi @RobW . My van started life as a 9 seat Shuttle as opposed to a Kombi. It had 3x1 seats in the mid row with 1x3 in the rear. Here's some more pics with the longer custom length rails now fitted. I've made the bed so that the seat base hinges up and the buddy seat base slides off. This allows two key formats that I was after. Firstly I can now carry bikes in the rear. Secondly, if I drop in the the two centre seats, the hinged seat base allows for a large flat load area without having to lift out the heavy Smart-bed. Some cosmetic work to do, such as blending in the rail rubbers with the cleat surrounds with PU adhesive. I'll also carpet the underside of the seat base but gives you the idea. Transforms the flexibility of the van.