Kombi Seats: which setup is best?

[milner993]

Looking at two vans one has front captain seats with the 2+1 rear seats and the other van has the driver captain with double front passenger and single bench rear seat.
Which is the better or more desirable option?

Pros vs cons if any?

 

[JiMsHaDY69]

The double front passenger gets a lot of complaints about comfort for long journeys. I have captains seats up front and find them very comfy.

The 2+1 will be more versatile for seating versus the 3 seat bench as you have the option to remove one or two seats if required. The bench is all 3 or nothing and they're heavy to remove.

Personally I would go for the twin captains with the 2+1, but other opinions will more than likely be shared with you.

 

[Aggers]

2nd vote for the 2 captains seats and 2+1.

 

[Ayjay]

In the front, If pure comfort is your priority then 2 x Captains is probably the way to go BUT if you value the extra storage in the cavernous space below the double seat and are willing to spend a little bit on modifying it for comfort (search 'Vankraft reclining bracket') then go for the double. Mine is a camper with a modded double and personally I wouldn't be without the additional storage. I can't comment on seating options in the rear.

 

[Dave Lawson]

If it’s just the seats that are making you hesitate on which van to buy get the 1 + 1, you can always sell the the passenger seat for £1000 then buy a double for £50.
2 + 1 for the 2nd row in better imo.

 

[Paynewright]

If it’s just the seats that are making you hesitate on which van to buy get the 1 + 1, you can always sell the the passenger seat for £1000 then buy a double for £50.
2 + 1 for the 2nd row in better imo.

Not quite as simple as that as the dash airbag is different on a factory supplied single passenger seat.

My wife found the double bench seat very uncomfortable so it was swapped to a captains chair.

The triple bench seat for row 2 is very heavy - if you plan to remove it often to create cargo space its a two person job to do safely IMHO.

 

[dubber36]

Surely you can go from a bench to a single, but not the otherway round. A single seat airbag won't reach to the centre passenger on a bench. That's the only issue that I can see.

Either way, captains up front and 2+1 in the rear for me.

 

[davecdjt]

I’m definitely with the 2 captains seats and 2+1 in the back. We tested drove a van with the double seat in the front - if you sat on the outside your left shoulder was pressed into the b pillar, sit inboard and you had the gear stick and console on your knees practically. Neither seat was comfortable. Then drove a Kombi with single seats - so much more comfortable. It has the 2+1 in the back which I can just about manage on my own.

 

[Jay586]

I've had both the bench & single seat in the front. The bench is useful but uncomfortable. I also wanted to be able to walk through to the back. The 2 +1 in the back means you can access the boot space too from the middle as the single seat tilts.

 

[Paynewright]

Also, we occasionally need 6 seats so I’ve fitted a single middle shuttle seat (with integral seat belt) in row 3.

 

[T6ChrisO]

In the front, If pure comfort is your priority then 2 x Captains is probably the way to go BUT if you value the extra storage in the cavernous space below the double seat and are willing to spend a little bit on modifying it for comfort (search 'Vankraft reclining bracket') then go for the double. Mine is a camper with a modded double and personally I wouldn't be without the additional storage. I can't comment on seating options in the rear.

I never knew about this reclining bracket, looks a good option!

 

[milner993]

Thank you immensely for all your replies, I was leaning towards the two captain seats and the 2+1 for the rear and hearing issues around comfort is a very compelling reason to avoid the double front passenger seat, thanks everyone.