VW caravelle seats; swapping from rails to bolts

[buskituski]

I have purchased and modified a vw multivan/ caravelle rear bench for use as a campervan bed (it's been cut and reupolstered to 3/4 width). The seat did not come with rails and I have no great need for it to move. Now that it's time to put it in to the back of the van and I don't have 2 grand laying around for a full rail system. Has anyone converted one of these seats to be a direct bolt in? doesn't need to be quick release, the thing is mega heavy so I´m happy to have it more or less permanent. I'm in Iceland, so I can't run it to the nearest UK vanfitter, but I am quite handy and happy to do some welding and fabrication to make this safe and workable. Any advice would be deeply appreciated.

 

[roadtripper]

If it's not on the rails (or the rails aren't fitted to spec) then you might want to check how compliant that is with your legislation, especially as the bench carries the seat belts.

Are you planning on people travelling on the road using the seat or is it just for camping, that might give you more latitude.

 

[buskituski]

I do want the seats to be roadworthy and safe, but local restrictions here aren't quite as strict as the UK so it doesn't need to be pull tested, I just need to convince the inspector that it's safe. I am thinking about two options. 1, I could buy one caravelle rail, cut it into thirds and install it with the proper underfloor brackets. I am reluctant to do this option because the rails are hard to source and expensive. option two would be to use the proper underfloor brackets in conjunction with some sort of bolt in bracket on the top.

 

[Tinbasher]

I have purchased and modified a vw multivan/ caravelle rear bench for use as a campervan bed (it's been cut and reupolstered to 3/4 width). The seat did not come with rails and I have no great need for it to move. Now that it's time to put it in to the back of the van and I don't have 2 grand laying around for a full rail system. Has anyone converted one of these seats to be a direct bolt in? doesn't need to be quick release, the thing is mega heavy so I´m happy to have it more or less permanent. I'm in Iceland, so I can't run it to the nearest UK vanfitter, but I am quite handy and happy to do some welding and fabrication to make this safe and workable. Any advice would be deeply appreciated.

Hiya Mate, I’m a retired fabricator & 3d cad designer, who over the years have modified & built stuff to fit my last 2 kombi vans & you don’t have to spend a fortune to adapt them to your requirements.
If you send some pics of the seat & it’s fixing points: & roughly where you want to position it, I may be able to give some pointers of what to do - if it’s sensible.
I bought a double seat ( used but like new £60 ) with seat belts on it, & made a few bits so it bolted to 2 unistrut rails for slight backward/forward adjustment, & 5 minute removal. I made 4off mounting spacers, bolted to double thickness chassis members ( flush with rubber floor, so not dangerous when took seat out ) & small thick spreader washers on the underside. It converted my 5 seater to 7 seater for the odd time i needed it
& so convenient !!
The law requirement here is a minefield & although mine is “rock solid engineering” it would be up to anyone, to get it tested themselves & mine is not a permanent fixture.
If I can help, I will