height-adjustable seats

[Brom]

Has anyone ever noticed that the cab seats have no seat adjustment? This seems to be because VW has fitted a swivel to the seats - but VW Transporter seats without the swivel can have full height-adjustment.

To us, the standard driving position is too low - you get a much better view of the road and a more comfortable posture if you're sat higher. We find it amazing that this, very expensive, high-spec vehicle lacks a useful feature you find in every car - even a Dacia Sandero! It doesn't matter for the passenger, so much, but we find this a real drawback for the driver (both of us).

You can, naturally, fit a height-adjustable seat with an after-market swivel - they're easily obtained. The question we have is - where can one buy a 2014 spec, height-adjustable driver's seat for a reasonable price? We would ideally like to part-exchange one fixed-height driver's seat, in perfect condition.

 

[danny13]

I agree, it is a bit of an omission. One of my prior T5s had factory fitted swivels with height adjustment...as you suggest its fully compatible. Try Colin + Oxford T5

My other frustration is that the passenger seat can't recline fully due to the kitchen being in the way...not particularly comfortable on long journeys

 

[snowy55]

Hi there

We had a Kombi with the height adjustable seats and fitted swivel plates even on its lowest it was a bit high for me, so it all depends on your height leg length ratio. I find the Cali seats very comfortable but then I'm a short @rse

 

[Andy]

Standard seat height is too high for me but am happy to live with it.
As said try Colin he is member here oxfordt5 I believe

Sent from my GT-I9305 using Tapatalk

 

[Brom]

Thanks all

Have spoken to Colin at Oxford T5 - he sounds very knowledgeable, will do some research and I'm to call back tomorrow. Will let you know how we get on.

Brom

 

[greenfintry]

I didn't realise you could add height adjustment to the swivel seat mechanism..... Sound like a great option and a way to spend a few more pennies Does anyone know the cost and if we get a discount???

 

[Brom]

No, the seat itself has to be height-adjustable, but that isn't compatible with VW's own swivel design, so it has to be a seat with the mechanism included, plus a non-VW swivel. Wouldn't a height-adjustable swivel be a good idea! Though clearly, many folk find the standard layout fine - it's just us who are awkward.

 

[Brom]

As promised, a report back, post operation. [It will be fairly clear from my description of our bed arrangement that ours isn't a Cali - but it is a T5, and I do find the advice on this forum very helpful!]

You'll recall, we had an extra swivel fitted in addition to the existing, integral, VW swivel, when we bought the van, to raise the seat for driving, but as the driving seat did not have height adjustment, this made the bed un-level, and uncomfortable. We needed a height-adjustable seat, but with a swivel. I had been previously told this would be prohibitively expensive, as VW seats cost a fortune .... if ordered via VW.

I rang Colin and discussed the problem further. He had taken the time to ensure he had a suitable seat for me, and explained clearly what had to be done. This was Friday, so I arranged to travel down to Witney the following Monday. He said it should take an hour to do the work, and told me the cost. As he would be swapping my (nearly-new) seat (with its integral VW swivel), for another similar (but with height-adjustment), the price would be offset.

We arrived at lunch-time; inspected each other's seats (!), and work commenced. He first tried the new seat on the extra Reimo swivel we had had fitted when the van was purchased - this was no good for our particular bed arrangement, as the Reimo swivel is not centralised (we had always turned the seat on the VW swivel, which is centrally mounted).

He then replaced the seat base, (with a new, lower handbrake mounting to avoid fouling the handbrake), fitted a Sportscraft swivel (which swivels centrally, and is lower than the Reimo), carefully cut the plastic handbrake cowl to fit the new handbrake position, re-adjusted the hand-brake cable, and fitted the new seat.

Time - about an hour (plus some chat time!). Cost - very reasonable, and precisely as quoted. Job done!

The bed is now flat, the seat is height-adjustable, and in all other respects, just the same specification and comfort as our previous seat,(lumbar support, armrests, same type of headrest, same upholstery). We received an e-mail from Oxford T5 the following day, with a certificate of work done and confirmation that all parts used were genuine VW parts, save for the TUV-approved Sportcraft swivel).

Colin is a very pleasant, knowledgeable specialist; I would thoroughly recommend his services, and thank the Forum members for advising us to use him.

Brom

 

[DMB9R]

Bringing this one back up. Has anyone found a solution for the California seat being way too high with no height adjustment?

 

[Brom]

Yes - see my previous posts on this thread. Our trouble was the standard, fixed seat being too low - we're all different! However, the replacement seat fitted by Oxford T5 has made a great difference, and we feel almost anyone should be able to find a comfortable position. Ring Colin, and he will advise.

Good luck!

 

[DMB9R]

I did try contacting him the other day. Also today. No answer and also left a couple of messages. I'll wait for him to respond and also keep searching for someone who can do it.

 

[Brom]

I did try contacting him the other day. Also today. No answer and also left a couple of messages. I'll wait for him to respond and also keep searching for someone who can do it.

Hi
I spoke to Colin this morning - apparently, he has been ill, but is now back at work.

If you haven't sorted something elsewhere, it might be worth ringing him on 07799 626310.