mk5 swivel passenger seat

[ergs]

Hi folks, back again with transit no 3, this time a mk5 camper conversion
Been nicely done but I can see I'll be looking for a few bits of advice along the way. First up though is the passenger seat. I've looked through old threads and see its been a recurrent theme over the years but has anyone managed to turn the double passenger seat into a (double) swivel seat? I see there's a base plate available for a mk6/7 but is it possible for the smiley? Wouldn't really want to lose a seat in the front by fitting a single swivel. Cheers folks

[ergs]

This is the view looking forward (obviously!) the rear seats face forward (not very clear in the pic) the drivers seat is backed up to the units so i don't think would turn, so I think i really need the passenger seat to be able to turn to make a decent seating area, will be at least three of us in it, maybe more if older boys are at home. Any other ideas?

[Luke]

has anyone managed to turn the double passenger seat into a (double) swivel seat?

yes ive done it - it doesnt swivel all the way round but goes 90deg enough to get access into the back
i made the base from a modified 180deg swivel base
dont think ive got any pics tho

[ergs]

has anyone managed to turn the double passenger seat into a (double) swivel seat?

yes ive done it - it doesnt swivel all the way round but goes 90deg enough to get access into the back
i made the base from a modified 180deg swivel base
dont think ive got any pics tho

Cheers mate, what was the swivel base off that you used and what sort of mods did you have to do to it, I'm ok with general handy work but never done any welding! And why does it only go round 90deg, is that as far as it'll physically go before it hits the dash? Thanks again

[Luke]

yeah mine was in a mk2 which is narrower but i can't see it being able to rotate all the way round - it only just rotates 90deg

i think it was fiat swivels i used what i did was mount it on studs with nuts i could adjust the gaps with then when i'd got it set made up solid spacers

[ergs]

Thanks again Luke, did you fit the swivel directly onto the floor, or make it fit onto the transit base? Cheers

[Luke]

Thanks again Luke, did you fit the swivel directly onto the floor, or make it fit onto the transit base? Cheers

yeah directly to the floor and i adapted the transit base to fit it

[ergs]

OK, well if I've got to go this way then I suppose fitting slightly narrower seats from some other vehicle would give more room to get them turned through 180deg if this is going to be a problem with the mk5 seats. Take it it was just a case of drilling new holes in the floor and bolting the base on Luke?

[Luke]

you might get a narrower seat to go all the way round you might even get a transit one to in a mk5 - you could always put it on a rail so you could move it back to swivel it - tbh with mine i only wanted access into the back so it only spinning 90 deg was fine for me

on my mk1 camper i want a double passangers thatworks both ways but i intend to build one where the back rest folds forward allowing you to sit on the static base with your back against the back of the seat (when its flipped forward) if you understand

[Luke]

here's the pics of mine ive just taken - the back nut does have a spacer ive yet to fit

sorry i couldnt spin them to show but the van is full of crap they wont spin but it gives you an idea where the centre needs to be

[ergs]

you might get a narrower seat to go all the way round you might even get a transit one to in a mk5 - you could always put it on a rail so you could move it back to swivel it - tbh with mine i only wanted access into the back so it only spinning 90 deg was fine for me

well i suppose there's only one way to find out, was hoping that someone might have tried it on a mk5 but if not I'll just have to try it and see..

on my mk1 camper i want a double passangers thatworks both ways but i intend to build one where the back rest folds forward allowing you to sit on the static base with your back against the back of the seat (when its flipped forward) if you understand

lol, it took me a while but i think i've got it!! no idea how you'd do it though

[Luke]

this is mine with the 'flipping' passangers seat viewtopic.php?f=27&t=34477 althought ive not built it yet

[bortaf]

Shame you cant get away with a single, i tend to use Previa midle row singles with built in swivels, maybe you could adapt one of those or similar? they are rather tall though as they have sliders built into the swivel ? some previas come with double seats that swivel but they sit rater low for a front seat but the mech may be usefull ?

[ergs]

this is mine with the 'flipping' passangers seat viewtopic.php?f=27&t=34477 althought ive not built it yet

wow, now that's what i call a project lol, christ it's a project on it's own reading all the posts!! Very impressive mate

[ergs]

Shame you cant get away with a single, i tend to use Previa midle row singles with built in swivels, maybe you could adapt one of those or similar? they are rather tall though as they have sliders built into the swivel ? some previas come with double seats that swivel but they sit rater low for a front seat but the mech may be usefull ?

would be best with the double as most of the time it'll just be me the missus and the wee(est) one, so 3 up front would be practical, other times the older boys might be there, so having a swivel double would mean getting four seats round the table. But thanks this is the sort of info I'm needing