| [ Total Views: 1474 | Total Replies: 12 | Thread Id: 16868 ] |
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 KOM123
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| posted on December 19th, 2003 at 09:59 PM |
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Seating options needed in a Kombi camper
Hi all,
The current setup is two seats in the front and a two thirds seat in the back (that sits two nicely, currently two kids seats anchored to a bar
across the back).
Our problem is that later next year we will more than likely need an option for a third seat. Because kids are involved in terms of child restraints,
safety is paramount so it needs to be done right and engineered certified I would imagine.
I went to a child restraint place today and enquired about the possibility of having a single reverse facing flip down seat mounted to the metal part
behind the passenger seat up front. They rang up a few authorities and manufacturers and none of the standard setups would work i.e. pass
certification. The only option given was that they would have to build a base mounted to the floor and then put a seat on top of that. The figure
tossed around to have this done and certified was somewhere between $1000 and $2000 (with the probability being at the higher end of the
scale)....ouch 
So what are my options? Do I remove the existing great cupboard work that's in the back and get a full width seat put in? How hard would this be
to do and get certified? Can you cut down a bench seat and mount it in the middle (assuming the mounting points for such a thing would be underneath
the existing floor) and again could it be certified and where would the seatbelt anchor points be? Do I need to sell the camper and get a microbus
(last resort option!)?
All advice appreciated thanks! Dave if you read this, would Boris have knowledge of these things? Should I go to VVW for a chat?
Cheers :o
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 vw54
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| posted on December 20th, 2003 at 04:33 AM |
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Scot
I think you will find the origional mounts will be under all the carpet n junk.
I would buy a stock rear seat and remove the camper stuff, and possible buy a tent. Looks like you will have to convert to a semi micro bus.
Yes give Boris a call but it will have to be in Jan now.
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Robo
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| posted on December 20th, 2003 at 12:41 PM |
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I have a front centre seat, It is a VW factory seat, it is only small, you would only fit a kid up to about 7 I would assume, and they have to make
sure they don't get in the way of the gear lever. I could send you a picture if you want.
It has a lap belt with a harness that goe's over their sholders.
I wonder if you could install a two person bench seat out of a single cab ute? that would also give you 3 seats in the front. Its the seat belts that
are the hassel. I made mounting points for the seat belts in the rear of my Kombi camper, ( converted panel van) I consulted an RTA certified engineer
and he told me what I would have to do to make it safe & leagle and then he gave me certificate and I presented this to the RTA and it was passed,
I can now seat 5.
Rob....
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baybuscamperkid
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| posted on December 20th, 2003 at 01:28 PM |
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cant you fit 3 kids in the back seat? it is perfectly legal in victoria to fit an extra seatbelt to a bench seat to the mounts of the existing
seatbelts (ie:new seatbelt in the middle of two old ones bolted using same bolts as old ones) for a child of under a certian size to ride in. there
is also a front centre seat available as Robo says, which mounts between the front buckets.
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paulr
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| posted on December 21st, 2003 at 02:06 PM |
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Depends what your camper set up is but I used a single seat from a micro bus - ie the first of the three midle seats and fitted that to the original
mounts - you can remove it easilly and fit factory seat belts etc.
Paul
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and riding a pushi
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HotRodMatt
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| posted on December 21st, 2003 at 06:48 PM |
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Scott did you notice the seat in WOTSUP?
I have one that I am going to cut the same...
Just shorten the standard 3 seat middle to two and bolt to the standard supports in the floor.
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KOM123
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| posted on December 21st, 2003 at 08:54 PM |
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Thanks for the replies so far.
Dave, yes I will probably have a chat to Boris in January as suggested.
Rob, if you could send the pic of the seat setup that's be good. I had thought about that front seat option but as you say, I thought it might be
a problem with the gear shifting. Also, how did you get in contact with the RTA engineer?
baybuscamperkid, unfortunately the back seat is not a full bench, hence the problem. It can physically only seat two people (or kids) as there is
cupboard work next to it shortening it's width.
paulr, any chance you could send me pics of your setup? It sounds like a good option.
Matt, I can't recall the WOTSUP setup but will ahve a further chat to you in the New Year 
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Robo
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| posted on December 22nd, 2003 at 07:56 AM |
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Just go down to your local RTA office and they can give you a list of approved RTA engineers, that can give you the required certification
(report).
Rob...
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HotRodMatt
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| posted on December 24th, 2003 at 09:09 AM |
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Just as long as you don't have to go for this option....
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KOM123
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| posted on December 24th, 2003 at 10:00 AM |
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Not that many kids thanks but wouldn't mind the Kombi
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HotRodMatt
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| posted on December 24th, 2003 at 10:40 AM |
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Hey but kids and their friends add up Scott!
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helbus
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| posted on December 24th, 2003 at 02:04 PM |
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Aha so that is a 15 seater!
Would get hot in summer, defintley need safari's.
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baybuscamperkid
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| posted on December 24th, 2003 at 03:11 PM |
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u beat me to it helbus, and if u look closely there's only 12 people inside! so thats why they show no interior pics of those brazilian 15seater
kombies!
Reimagined/Recycled/Upcycled Cool
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helbus
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| posted on December 24th, 2003 at 03:19 PM |
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Those Brazillian 15 seaters must look funny full of people, chooks and baskets. LOL
They would have to drive with the sliding door open in those humid conditions.
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paulr
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| posted on December 24th, 2003 at 08:46 PM |
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Sorry KOM123
No pic - thought I did
Paul
Dazed and Confused
and riding a pushi
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