Fifth Seat in Ocean?

[pjduffill]

Have ocean on order and have had the fifth seat option. The extra seat is for occasional use only. Does anyone have this option? Is the seat easy to get in and out of the van. Also when in does it create any compromise for passengers when on the go?

 

[ger]

The seat is easy to get in and out if you're good at lifting awkwardly shaped extremely heavy objects

 

[pjduffill]

The seat is easy to get in and out if you're good at lifting awkwardly shaped extremely heavy objects

Maybe a two peeps job by the sounds of it, what about passenger compromise?

 

[Alan Andrews]

Yes heavy. Once on rails ok, but as mentioned you might need 2 people to load in and out.

 

[westfalia]

Its a tight squeeze for the passengers when the 5th
seat is fitted.

It weighs a ton and i don't think an extra
pair of hands will help much.

I fold the back part down over the seat base and lean
over and lift and carry it.
Its been in the cellar for the last 6 yrs unused,

 

[Bellcrew]

Maybe a two peeps job by the sounds of it, what about passenger compromise?

Just lose the rear bed support frame and there is plenty of room for passengers, we use the kitchen side rails and the 5th passenger is then positioned between the front seats, very chummy and comfortable.
The seat is heavy but two reasonably strong people can cope fine, we have done so on many occasions.

 

[andyinluton]

On a T6.1 I understand the rear shelf is an inch or two shorter, prior to this there was only about 6 inches of leg room for the passenger directly behind the seat, theres now a little bit more room!

If the passenger behind the seat is in a booster seat it works ok with the shelf in place. People with longer legs also have the option of putting legs to either side or both one side of the 5th seat.

When ours was being used frequently we left the shelf at home & slid the bench back a foot. You've then got an excellent practical 5 seater & still have a huge boot. As Bellcrew said, put the 5th seat on the rails nearest the sink & the passenger in that one then has a great view out the front screen & has loads of extra legroom between the front seats.

 

[Bellcrew]

On a T6.1 I understand the rear shelf is an inch or two shorter, prior to this there was only about 6 inches of leg room for the passenger directly behind the seat, theres now a little bit more room!

If the passenger behind the seat is in a booster seat it works ok with the shelf in place. People with longer legs also have the option of putting legs to either side or both one side of the 5th seat.

When ours was being used frequently we left the shelf at home & slid the bench back a foot. You've then got an excellent practical 5 seater & still have a huge boot. As Bellcrew said, put the 5th seat on the rails nearest the sink & the passenger in that one then has a great view out the front screen & has loads of extra legroom between the front seats.

Well done Andy, the definitive reply to the question, all rear seats will also have Isofix locations with back tether attachment points, got to keep the little devils secure and safe.

 

[pjduffill]

Many thanks for the replies, informative! Did not appreciate 5th seat can be positioned on both sides, did wonder if behind driver would access be tight! Not seen a Cali with a fifth seat, for us seat 5 is only for very occasional use. Does any one know if seat 5 has arm rests, able to swivel ?

 

[andyinluton]

Yes has a pair of armrests & swivels, can be locked in forward or backward facing position for travel. Also has a useful draw in the base. If kept in the van but unused you can fold it flat & use the back of the seat as a table.

If kids are small enough you can take off the head rest which gives a far better view for the person behind, takes up less room when folded flat & if you use the seat in the rear facing position, lets you move it closer to the front seats - its the headrest of the 5th seat & the drivers seat that clash when its facing backwards.


Fifth seat in position as far forward as it can go behind the drivers seat

 

[Alan Andrews]

As has been said already. If using seat 5, try to remove or lift up the downstairs bed frame at the back. It provides so much more room. This might compromise on your storage capacity, but like most things is a compromise and shows the Cali flexibility.

 

[andyinluton]

If you really need to, you can just about squeeze a second 5th seat in to make an ocean a six seater as long as one person has no legs Still room in the boot for 6 small suitcases & obviously you can fill the cupboards etc. As both extra seats use the middle floor rail they have to be staggered like this, a 7 seater beach has an extra rail so the two seats would sit alongside each other.

 

[TripleBee]

Well, in theory it should be possible to install a double rail in the California Ocean and Coast. That way you could install both 5th and 6th seat next to each other.

 

[andyinluton]

Well, in theory it should be possible to install a double rail in the California Ocean and Coast. That way you could install both 5th and 6th seat next to each other.

You cant, the kitchen unit is in the way. You would need a second middle rail & then another rail under the kitchen unit.
If you look at how far over the trim on the arm is compared to the rail, you need the seats 2x that distance apart & there just isn't room.

 

[pjduffill]

Andi

Ooops .... Andy, thanks for the pics= a thousand words!