Benches... to keep or not to keep, that is the question

[flarts]

We're getting our conversion done soon which will mean we'll keep one bench (rear) and lose the other (mid).
So I began to wonder two things at least one of which most of you who've had a conversion done must have considered...

1 - Did you keep the spare bench(es) in the garage... just in case?

2 - If one bench stayed in the Bongo, did you pick the "best" one and potentially switch them? For example, the mid bench is a split seat, the rear is not. Our conversion will retain the rear bench but do we take both out and put the split seat version in the back? ...or am I over thinking this!!

[cmm303]

Swapping bench seats is trivial - but they are heavy!

Maybe the split could be useful in your converted set up? Passing stuff through the tailgate? Carrying longer loads? Also the middle bench has a hard surface on the back of the backs so when they are folded forwards they serve as a table. Again, possibly useful after conversion?

As for the redundant seat, it is hard to think that your van will revert to an 8 seater MPV if the conversion isn't designed as a removable one. With a bit of patience you could well find a buyer for it.

[flarts]

Maybe the split could be useful in your converted set up? Passing stuff through the tailgate? Carrying longer loads? Also the middle bench has a hard surface on the back of the backs so when they are folded forwards they serve as a table. Again, possibly useful after conversion?

Yes my thoughts exactly. I'm sitting on the fence a little with conversions... I love the Bongo in its original state with all those clever features but do want to add some camping conversion comforts... so I'm keen to keep as much of the original cleverness as possible and moving the split seat to the back so we can have an extra table if needed is another way to do just that.

[Diplomat]

I've kept both. The 2/3 split middle bench is still in the van because it is more versatile and with full length rails I can position it more or less anywhere to suit the occasion.

The one piece back seat now resides in the house, sitting on castor cups, in use as a novel extra sofa.


Frank

[flarts]

I think it makes sense to squirrel the spare bench away, at least for the short term. All it takes is a clumsy glass of red wine in the Bongo and it would be called straight back into service

I've kept both. The 2/3 split middle bench is still in the van because it is more versatile and with full length rails I can position it more or less anywhere to suit the occasion.

It only dawned on me after reading that, I only need take the rear bench out and the front one will then just slide all the way to the back positions anyway won't it?

[sotal]

We only have the rear bench in our conversion. I don't know if there was a technical reason it was chosen over the middle bench but it might be something that Kevin at Southern Bongos can advise on if you go down that route.

[flarts]

We only have the rear bench in our conversion. I don't know if there was a technical reason it was chosen over the middle bench but it might be something that Kevin at Southern Bongos can advise on if you go down that route.

Yes indeed I'll chat to Kevin about it in advance to make sure

[Diplomat]

It only dawned on me after reading that, I only need take the rear bench out and the front one will then just slide all the way to the back positions anyway won't it?

I actually left the rearmost runners 'parked' right at the back. This saves removing them and also creates a natural spacer preventing the remaining bench from going through the rear window in the wrong combination of circumstances. There is, of course a removable stopper to prevent this happening with the normal sliding rear seat. I removed that before positioning the empty runners fully back. Just don't have the seats slightly reclined when slamming the tailgate down!

The split bench is my choice over the other one because the seat backs have tables, the pillow angle can be set for individual sleepers and either side can be lifted, when in sleeping mode, to get at things stored below/behind.

I guess that in your case the conversion will eat into the space and it may not be practical to leave both sets of runners in place. I keep the van unconverted as some of the things I do in it need plenty of horizontal space!


Frank

[flarts]

I keep the van unconverted as some of the things I do in it need plenty of horizontal space!

I'm saying nothing

Seriously, thanks again for the advice.

[cmm303]

It only dawned on me after reading that, I only need take the rear bench out and the front one will then just slide all the way to the back positions anyway won't it?

I actually left the rearmost runners 'parked' right at the back. This saves removing them and also creates a natural spacer preventing the remaining bench from going through the rear window in the wrong combination of circumstances. There is, of course a removable stopper to prevent this happening with the normal sliding rear seat. I removed that before positioning the empty runners fully back. Just don't have the seats slightly reclined when slamming the tailgate down!

Frank

I found the seat belts didnt have a lot of spare when the middle bench was pushed back to the last click before hitting the rear runners. Maybe I could have squeezed in a further click if I had removed the plastic cover round the seat legs? But it would take just ten minutes to transfer the seat to the other runner. With a side conversion you are only going to use one pair runners so I would unclutter the floor space by removing the unused runners.