Increased seating capacity options / ideas

[winewagen]

Greetings, I am looking for some ideas on ways to increase the seating capacity in my vanagon. Primarily the area behind the front passenger seat. I am having a hard time coming up with anything that jives with the plastic molded interior. My initial thought was finding another matching jump seat, this proved to be quite expensive and hard to find. Now I need to get creative... I know you guys have some great ideas, pictures will help a lot.
1985 Westfalia Wolfsburg Weekender

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1971 Westy
Winewagen Tours

[CessnaJon]

I love your interior. The seat cover inserts and hardwood looks fantastic! Guess this really doesnt help.
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1973 Westy (shared birthday)
1990 Westy Multivan
2015 Passat TDI 6sp
2015 Sportwagon TDI 6sp
LR-JET, Gulfstream 159

[xoo00oox]

A rear facing fold up jump seat covered to match your very nice seats would be an option.

[dhaavers]

^^^ Like this:

From here (or look through your local pick-n-pull):
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1424624

It's removable, but you'll also need the mounting bracket to attach to the battery box. Good looking rig you've got!
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86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS>

[winewagen]

Thanks for the replies. Having read through the threads pertaining to the jump seat pictured, not sure if I am up to the task of making that work (welding/cutting). Although not entirely out of the picture if I could actually get some hands on time with one to see what it takes. I guess, (sight, un-touched) I am looking for something that I can just bolt or lag in. From what I understand that seat requires some engineering to be done right. I have scoured my local scrap yard, and searched the samba classifieds in hopes of ideas or something that can be used. There have been some creative ideas in the bay forum which I did use to to expand the seating in my bay. I am pretty handy with wood and upholstery, so home made that looks the part would not be out. I am having a hard time visualizing what would fit with the current modern plastic interior. I am just looking for examples and ideas to make a more educated approach. I will probably just have to pony up and spend the bread on a matching one to completely satisfy my obsessive brain. That also is a tough one.
Here is the bay expanded seating:

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1971 Westy
Winewagen Tours

[dobryan]

Seat belts, and head restraints?
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Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2010 Subaru EJ25 (Vanaru) and Peloquin TBD

"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson

MD>Canada>AK>WA>OR>CA>AZ>UT>WY>SD
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620646

Building a bus for travel in Europe (euroBus)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=695371

The Western Syncro build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=746794

[jsmitch11]

you could change your front layout to a 6o/40 seat like a doka. then you can get three up front.
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1984 Vanagon Westfalia Syncro Hightop
1986 Vanagon Syncro(RIP)
1989 Vanagon Wolfsburg Whitestar Edition(RIP)

My Van syncro conversion/restoration
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=535730&highlight=black+diamond

[singler3360]

I did not have to weld or cut anything to install a stock jumpseat in my Westy. Drill 4 holes for the mounting bracket on the passenger side pedestal and 2 countersink holes down to the metal on the floor for the JB Welded nuts to anchor the legs, and it was done. Alignment and measuring took all the time but that would be true, regardless. Your custom upholstery looks good.

[Curtis.Allison]

She's so pretty! I love the interior and the flooring. Will you have the expanded jump/bench seat with the same stitching? She sure is gorgeous all around!

[T3 Pilot]

Here is something to look at....

http://campervanculture.com/2012/10/vw-1989-syncro-built-in-south-africa/

If you are trying to maximize passenger carrying capacity, you should look at acquiring a non camper van. You can easily seat 6 passengers, and increase to seven if you could ever locate a 3 person middle seat. Might be easier to extend the middle seat tracks and build your own......

Check out this thread...

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=447830

Good luck with the tours.
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1988 Vanagon

The most important part in every vehicle is the nut behind the wheel......

[danfromsyr]

I agree to the stock vanagon jumpseat, but you may be able to make one in wood similiar to your DS jumpseat.
my ASI Riviera vanagon conversion came with a pass side rear facing seat that was made from 3/4" ply.

you can see it here in the ASI brochure to get an idea.

http://wetwesties2.tripod.com/1983_asi_brochure.html
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[winewagen]

Thanks for the compliments and ideas!
I have seen that thread in my late night searches for ideas and love the look of the matching seats. Like he also mentioned; very hard to find for a reasonable price if at all.
That South Africa Syncro is unique, seems like it may be a noisy hot ride in that spot?
I will have to re-upholster mostly anything I got to match. Sewfine made those in case any one was curious.

Singler3360: Could you by any chance elaborate a touch more on this? JB Weld and duct tape, I have become quite a master of these fine instruments. Pictures would be great as I have never had a chance to inspect one of these seats in person.
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1971 Westy
Winewagen Tours

[binger59]

Winewagen I have pictures of my jump seat install in my gallery. Also have pictures of the JB weld floor anchors. Have a look I may also have a source for a jump seat like the ones in the photo.
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Binger

1984 Westy
1986 7 Pass R.I.P. Donor van
2019 Jetta
2014 Passat R.I.P
2025 Atlas
2006 Passat R.I.P.
1998 Jetta R.I.P.
1984 Vanagon R.I.P.

[winewagen]

danfromsyr: That stationary seat and ottoman would be the cats meow. I could not even imagine how hard it would be to find those? I have never seen one before, not even in pictures. Yes that was the kind of seat I was looking to find or maybe duplicate.
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1971 Westy
Winewagen Tours

[winewagen]

Thanks binger59, that was extremely helpful. Please let me know if your source pans out, Oswego is only a short drive North.
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1971 Westy
Winewagen Tours

[singler3360]

[singler3360]

[Red Beard]

[danfromsyr]

any basic handyman/carpenter can build one. it's a fairly easy box to build out of 3/4" plywood, the ASI version is particle board covered in melomine. I'm just over a few miles north of syracuse if you want to see it. it's a tad bulky to bring along to any of our local fingerlakes region VW campouts or cruise events. (see CNY VW events link in my sig)