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Subject Topic: Back seats into VW Caddy Maxi Post Reply Post New Topic
Personjabberwok
30/10/2011 at 9:37pm
 Location: Scotland
 Outfit: Lunar Clubman 475 + Pennine Aztec View jabberwok's Profile View Profile   Reply to jabberwok Reply   Quote jabberwok Quote  
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Thought this would be easy after buying rear seats from the car version (Caddy Maxi Life) on Ebay........

No go - the problem seems to be with the fitting of the seatbelts.  Looks as though we'll have to go the very expensive route of a crash-tested RIB rock and roll bed, if this is possible. Safe seatbelts are a must for transporting our new grandson.

Has anybody out there tried to go down this route?


ukstevie
31/10/2011 at 11:40am
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 Outfit:  View ukstevie's Profile View Profile   Reply to ukstevie Reply   Quote ukstevie Quote  
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have you spoken to a VW service centre/workshop?


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Personjabberwok
31/10/2011 at 6:32pm
 Location: Scotland
 Outfit: Lunar Clubman 475 + Pennine Aztec View jabberwok's Profile View Profile   Reply to jabberwok Reply   Quote jabberwok Quote  
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Yes, thanks, several, and the workshops they recommended.  We also contacted the VW Van website who replied:-

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Head Office is unable to supply technical information via email. If you would like to confirm technical data/fitting or repair instructions, please contact your local Volkswagen Van Centre or alternatively you can visit our dedicated technical website; www.erwin.volkswagen.de .

 

In addition to the above, you can visit our website www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk and choose the CONVERSIONS option at the top of the page then click on ENGINEERED FOR YOU then SEARCH FOR A CONVERTER. Here you will find a list of accredited converters who should be able to confirm all the available options for you.

We tried the above, and other VW converters, both locally and those with a web presence.  No go.  That's why we have just returned from a 5 hour journey to Shropshire to ask whether a RIB Altair rock and roll bed can be fitted.


ukstevie
31/10/2011 at 8:07pm
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"If it was me...."

Id try to tap up a local VW man, prefereably a service dept guy or mechanic, obviously the official line is it cant be done?


Personjabberwok
13/3/2012 at 9:43pm
 Location: Scotland
 Outfit: Lunar Clubman 475 + Pennine Aztec View jabberwok's Profile View Profile   Reply to jabberwok Reply   Quote jabberwok Quote  
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Just an update - had the crash-tested RIB Altair rock and roll bed fitted (a specially built lower verson); van insulated; carpet on walls and ceiling; vinyl on floor; leisure battery, control +.socket; LED spotlights + bar; curtains + tracks; electric roof fan and another window.  Fabulous!  However 250 miles to travel, 4 nights accommodation and 250 miles back - not so fabulous.


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Personwineciccio
13/3/2012 at 11:12pm
 Location: Liverpool
 Outfit: IH TIO R View wineciccio's Profile View Profile   Reply to wineciccio Reply   Quote wineciccio Quote  
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In my opinion, you have chosen the wrong van to convert, the caddy is rather short on space ie, lenght and width, i think one should have gone to specsavers, jokes apart, the VWT4 or the new VWT5 would have been my choice, but then its not my money is it ???? 

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wineciccio


Personjabberwok
16/3/2012 at 8:32pm
 Location: Scotland
 Outfit: Lunar Clubman 475 + Pennine Aztec View jabberwok's Profile View Profile   Reply to jabberwok Reply   Quote jabberwok Quote  
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Living (and parking) in a city centre; wishing the option of using underground carparks; owning a 2-berth caravan with the occasional need for another couple of beds; storing the caravan some way down south and wanting to stop overnight en route; or use the van for an occasional weekend away - need I say more?  We did try using two single mattresses in the back of the Caddy Maxi, which fitted fine, before chosing this option.  By the way, my daughter has a similarly converted VWT4, which suits her growing family.  Garages willing to convert this size of van are "2 a penny" so she had no problem finding a local one.....


Personrnwright
07/1/2014 at 11:35am
 Location: Lincoln
 Outfit: Hymer Motorhome View rnwright's Profile View Profile   Reply to rnwright Reply   Quote rnwright Quote  
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Hi Jabberwok,

Just read your posts with interest as I am looking at putting a Scopema RIB Altair bed in the rear of a VW Caddy Maxi. Obviously, the standard unit will be to high and the height of the frame will need to be reduced as stated in one of your posts. Looking at the standard rear seats you'd get in a kombi model they look to be virtually sat on the floor.

Please can you tell me where you got it fitted and did they customise the framework or was this something you did yourself? Also, any pictures of the finished work would be fantastic.

Thanks,
Rich


Personjabberwok
07/1/2014 at 12:56pm
 Location: Scotland
 Outfit: Lunar Clubman 475 + Pennine Aztec View jabberwok's Profile View Profile   Reply to jabberwok Reply   Quote jabberwok Quote  
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Sure, will do, Rich.

The conversion by Bodans at Shrewsbury was excellent and we have been, and continue to be, very satisfied by the result. They arranged for the seat to be lowered considerably by the manufacturers in France. As I am the main user of the seat, I tried one in the back and they were able to measure the minimum and maximum height so the seatbelts could still operate. This worked!

We suggested they used photos of our conversion (for folk like you) in their website - www.vw-interiors.co.uk - but I don't think they did.

I have put a couple of photos in my profile for you to see and hope this helps. Let me know how you get on....


Personrnwright
07/1/2014 at 1:32pm
 Location: Lincoln
 Outfit: Hymer Motorhome View rnwright's Profile View Profile   Reply to rnwright Reply   Quote rnwright Quote  
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Hi Jabberwok,

Thank you for the reply and photos on your profile. I really like what you have done and it is pretty much what I had in my head.

Is your RIB the 104cm or 112cm version?

Just looking at the power sockets you have in the rear. Have you installed an electric hook up / leisure battery? If so, where did you position the leisure battery etc.

Sorry, more questions I am afraid. I have looked into the VW Transporter option. However, as an everyday (daily commute, school run, supermarket run etc) and weekend recreation vehicle, the Caddy is ticking most of the boxes for us.

Thanks again for the reply,
Rich


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Personjabberwok
07/1/2014 at 8:08pm
 Location: Scotland
 Outfit: Lunar Clubman 475 + Pennine Aztec View jabberwok's Profile View Profile   Reply to jabberwok Reply   Quote jabberwok Quote  
Joined: 26/10/2011

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Back again, Rich. Did you see the Message I posted on 16/3/2012 at 8:32pm? You obviously are thinking along similar lines - I just wish we could have bought our vehicle when we were your age.

However, the electrics, lights, insulation, lining, flooring and curtains were all done by Bodans. The RIB is a 2-seater. We got the windows and roof fan done locally.

As for the leisure battery, there is a very useful area where the footwell would be in the Caddy Maxi Life. Our battery is there, accessed behind the driver's seat.

You may also see we left the bulkhead. Okay, so it cuts down on the space, but we don't have to put curtains on the cab and we can use the cab to leave the electric cool box, etc. when we don't use an awning.

Good luck!



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