Apologies. Reversing middle bench- can anyone help?

[Tidmo]

Hi, apologes if this topic has been done to death but is anyone willing to give me a hand to reverse my middle bench please? Im still unsure if i want it to slide or remain fixed. Pros and cons? Ive a new shape model if that helps. Thanks

[daveblueozzie]

There are fact sheets in the members area about reversing the seats.

[mentaliss]

Hi, apologes if this topic has been done to death but is anyone willing to give me a hand to reverse my middle bench please? Im still unsure if i want it to slide or remain fixed. Pros and cons? Ive a new shape model if that helps. Thanks

if your middle seat is the 'split' type where as the split is ajacent to the side door you will loose the point of the split - (easier rear access via the side door) the seat will slide but if you intend to use this seat as a bed then the centre hinge mechanisam sticks up when the seat is laid flat, also the seat runner handle to adjust your seat's position will now be behind you. you can utilise an air bed but that did'nt work for me and I would not personally recommend it.

[Tidmo]

Thanks for your replies. I was going to use it as a bed allbeit a short one just using what would be the seat base as the extension. I mostly keep the middle bench folded flat in table mode anyway so access etc isnt an issue. I have seen the fact sheets i just wondered if there was anyone local to lend a hand.

[spud350]

I swapped mine around along with the runners so the handle to move it back and forward was in the middle of the van so the seat can be moved easily. It took a couple of hours and was quite heavy to do on your own. Personally I like it this way because when there's a couple of you in the back you're facing each other with a seat each and can have a table between you.
Normally I sleep upstairs but it was so windy recently we had to stay downstairs. With the seat in this configaration there is a 5" gap between the seats which is a pain. This can be easily solved though.

[rita]

Thanks for your replies. I was going to use it as a bed allbeit a short one just using what would be the seat base as the extension. I mostly keep the middle bench folded flat in table mode anyway so access etc isnt an issue. I have seen the fact sheets i just wondered if there was anyone local to lend a hand.

I think the guy is looking for a HAND IE Assistance,not instructions.

[spud350]

^^^^
Yes, but I can't help with that. However I'd thought it might help with this bit.

Hi, apologes if this topic has been done to death but is anyone willing to give me a hand to reverse my middle bench please? Im still unsure if i want it to slide or remain fixed. Pros and cons? Ive a new shape model if that helps. Thanks

[Tidmo]

Sorry. Maybe I needed to be more specific. I think seeing a reversed seat would help me make up my mind re the pros and cons. Assistance in the physical job would be a big help! Willing to recompense.

[spud350]

Oh I see. Well if you just want to see what it looks like that's quite easy. The seat is only held on with 4 bolts under the plastic covers which pop off. Undo bolts, turn seat around and bingo. 10 minute job. If you want the runners turning around, that's were it starts to get more difficult and time consuming. I shouldn't bother unless you're sure you want it that way.

[M 80NGO]

The only downside to having a rear facing seat we've found is that it seems to make some people feel sick travelling backwards,

Or maybe thats my driving

[Tidmo]

Thanks spud350 and m8ongo, will give it a go at the weekend, i never use the middle bench, passengers (my 8 year old) normally travel on the rear bench. That way their hearing can be 'selective'

[Diplomat]

... If you want the runners turning around, that's were it starts to get more difficult and time consuming. I shouldn't bother unless you're sure you want it that way.

Agreed.

For me, it didn't really work out. Although it looked rather palatial initially, the seat soon became an obstacle in the way of easily reaching an arm from the front to the back to grab things while under way. Few passengers want to travel that way round unless there is someone to talk to at the back. Also, the logical two thirds split becomes reversed to something less convenient.

I am happy with using a flip up footrest seat with a decent cushion and back rest or sometimes sitting on a lowered passenger seat back, if I want to face backwards to eat etc.. If we socialised frequently with couples or played cards I might find more of a use for a reversed bench.

I soon put it back to normal (it's now the only rear bench and usually lives far back) but wish I hadn't wasted so much effort having to move all four runners and loads of trim at the back twice . All the other bits and bobs for limiting the travel have stayed in a bag to pass on to any new owner, if there ever is one.

Move the rails to where you want the seat to be before unbolting the bench and turning it round if you just want to evaluate the configuration. If the worse comes to worst, you can release the runners by poking a stout screwdriver or similal into the square hole in the upper side of the runners and simulating the action of the release bar, so there is no need to completely replace the bench the correct way round just to move it a few clicks. Make sure, if you do this, that you move each runner by exactly the same amount.

You can, of course, modify the runners to release either way round but that is a real labour of love.
.

It's a real pain that the designer didn't make the mechanism symmetrical. That would make the seating very flexible. However, when you look at the cumbersome systems in many MPVs with allegedly flexible seating, you soon realise that the Bongo seats could have been a lot worse and even heavier than they already are and with no storage space beneath them!


Frank

[Tidmo]

Thanks Diplomat and to everyone else for their replies. Will give it a go at the weekend and see how it is. Cheers.

[Driver+Passengers]

The biggest problem I found was the loss of payload.

With the middle seats facing forwards (and populated), and the rear seats down an in position, you get to stuff the back seats and the floor of the back seats with stuff - you can fit quite a lot in there before you get level with the seat backs. This still leaves the middle seats and the boot empty.

This is how I travelled to a meet. At the meet, I reversed my runners and the seats.

On the way home, I realised how much less space you get. Passengers were now on the rear bench, and you just can't pile up the middle seats (now reversed) and the floor space (now shared between the middle and rear benches) in the same way. I'd say you probably lose about 60% of your junk carrying capacity by turning the middle seats round, assuming you have at least one rear passenger.

That said, getting in and out is whole lot easier, and the setup is more sociable.

That's my 2p.
Matt

[digitalgypsy]

Hi guys,
I want to reverse my bench seats which are on the short runners. I also want to keep the seat sliding if possible. I'm not sure I want to tackle the job by myself though. Would anyone be available to help me, possibly in the Hampshire area? Happy to pay you for your time!

Steve