Is your 2 rail Ocean a 4-seat or 5-seat vehicle?

[acer]

As some people might know, I have just bought a new Ocean. Today's issue:

The V5 arrived in the post today. It lists my vehicle as having 5 seats. I have two rails and 4 seat belts, so I think that I actually have 4 seats and this is what I ordered. When arranging my insurance (prior to collection) I therefore advised my insurer it had 4 seats. The specification sheet for my VIN shows "Number of seats FS5 5 seats".

Does anyone know what is going on here?

 

[WelshGas]

As some people might know, I have just bought a new Ocean. Today's issue:

The V5 arrived in the post today. It lists my vehicle as having 5 seats. I have two rails and 4 seat belts, so I think that I actually have 4 seats and this is what I ordered. When arranging my insurance (prior to collection) I therefore advised my insurer it had 4 seats. The specification sheet for my VIN shows "Number of seats FS5 5 seats".

Does anyone know what is going on here?

The Ocean, not 4Motion, can have a maximum of 5 seats, the 5th seat a removable Option.
It is of no significance. You can fit the extra seat if needed.
If the V5c had said 4 seats then you would have had to get it amended with DVLA if you wanted to fit the 5th seat.
You could tell your insurance but I would be very surprised if there was any alteration in premium.

 

[Kayleigh]

As above, it’s not significant. My 4-seat Beach says 7 seats on the V5c although to do this I would need to install a 3-seat bench and two single seats, which although possible is highly unlikely.

 

[acer]

Thanks guys. I was confused because my old 5.1 SE shows four seats on the V5, even though it had three rails.
My new two rail ocean however is noted as five seat.

 

[pluc99]

Thanks guys. I was confused because my old 5.1 SE shows four seats on the V5, even though it had three rails.
My new two rail ocean however is noted as five seat.

I don't see how you could install the extra seat with only 2 rails.

 

[acer]

I don't see how you could install the extra seat with only 2 rails.

That is what has confused me

 

[secret lemonade drinker]

You can't you need three rails for five seats and four rails(Beach) for seven seats. If your a caravelle you can have six rails for a folding table but that is just silly!

 

[TripleBee]

The Ocean, not 4Motion, can have a maximum of 5 seats, the 5th seat a removable Option.
It is of no significance. You can fit the extra seat if needed.
If the V5c had said 4 seats then you would have had to get it amended with DVLA if you wanted to fit the 5th seat.
You could tell your insurance but I would be very surprised if there was any alteration in premium.

Not entirely correct.
You can only install the 5th seat if you have 3 rails.
If you order your California without the optional 5th seat, it comes with 2 rails. Then it's impossible to install a 5th seat, unless you install the 3rd rail.

Mine also says 5 seats, but I also only have 2 rails, so 5 seats not possible.

 

[acer]

My log book arrived yesterday. Mine also shows 5 seats.

...and you have 2 rails?

 

[johns6809]

...and you have 2 rails?

Yes..2 rails the same as yours.

 

[secret lemonade drinker]

Probably a VW person told DVLA that an Ocean can have a maximum of 5 seats and a Beach can have a maximum of 7 seats, and that is what they are working to.
My Beach had 5 seats when supplied but the V5 said 7.
For a while in the past all Oceans came with 3 rails. Now they don't. You can take all the seats on rails out but you don't have to tell DVLA when you do, similarly you don't have to tell your insurance, I expect all your insurances work on the same DVLA information and think you can have a maximum of 5 whether it is the truth or not

 

[acer]

Thanks all, this is becoming a bit clearer now and you've put my mind at rest.

 

[TrevEC]

Funnily enough I only noticed my V5 classified my Ocean as having 5 seats, when there are only 4 (but I do have 3 rails).

 

[TripleBee]

Funnily enough I only noticed my V5 classified my Ocean as having 5 seats, when there are only 4 (but I do have 3 rails).

My 2 rail, 4 seater is also classified as a 5 seater. Don't worry, if you put in a 5th seat, you are still legal on the road.

 

[California Rob]

I have 5 seats in my cali but when i took delivery the log book said 4 seats i simple corrected it on the log book and sent it back to dvla they sent back the new log book stating 5 seats.

 

[Alexlex85]

Can another 2 seater bench be installed in a 2 rail t5.1.

Would removing the mattress setup allow the original bench to move further back? I'm just thinking about the odd rare occasion when the inlaws need bringing along to the airport.

Just for reference mine is the SE with 4 seats and belts and showing as 5 seater on v5

 

[Kayleigh]

In theory you could install another bench. There might be a few bolts in the rails that prevent the bench sliding fully backwards that need to be removed. The logbook should be able to be changed, however, the biggest problem is access. For this reason I would suggest it is not an allowable configuration.

 

[andyinluton]

Can another 2 seater bench be installed in a 2 rail t5.1.

Would removing the mattress setup allow the original bench to move further back? I'm just thinking about the odd rare occasion when the inlaws need bringing along to the airport.

Just for reference mine is the SE with 4 seats and belts and showing as 5 seater on v5

No you cant, you end up with zero legroom and overweight.
Believe me I tried everything when we got our first Cali as we had 4 children, there were two ways to make a 4 seater into six if you had 3 rails.
You can change the front passenger seat for a double & use a single 5th seat. Or you can slide the bench right back & use two single seats staggered which is what we ended up doing.
With just the two rails I'm afraid you are stuffed.
We did even look at getting the removable T4 2 seat 2nd lightweight bench adapted for a T5 but it wasn't feasible.

 

[Kayleigh]

No you cant, you end up with zero legroom and overweight.
Believe me I tried everything when we got our first Cali as we had 4 children, there were two ways to make a 4 seater into six if you had 3 rails.
You can change the front passenger seat for a double & use a single 5th seat. Or you can slide the bench right back & use two single seats staggered which is what we ended up doing.
With just the two rails I'm afraid you are stuffed.
We did even look at getting the removable T4 2 seat 2nd lightweight bench adapted for a T5 but it wasn't feasible.

Oh yes I hadn’t considered the weight in my answer. Those benches are heavy! It would be possible to get a rail installed though I presume.

 

[Roger Boeken]

Oh yes I hadn’t considered the weight in my answer. Those benches are heavy! It would be possible to get a rail installed though I presume.

5th seat would be illegal because of overweight. Every seat counts for person 75kg + 10kg luggage per seat + 10kg luggage per meter vehicle. This add to 475kg .. without the weight of the extra seat. That is why there are only 2 rails and no 5th seat option on some models like 4mo ocean t6.1.

 

[Alexlex85]

No you cant, you end up with zero legroom and overweight.
Believe me I tried everything when we got our first Cali as we had 4 children, there were two ways to make a 4 seater into six if you had 3 rails.
You can change the front passenger seat for a double & use a single 5th seat. Or you can slide the bench right back & use two single seats staggered which is what we ended up doing.
With just the two rails I'm afraid you are stuffed.
We did even look at getting the removable T4 2 seat 2nd lightweight bench adapted for a T5 but it wasn't feasible.

Hi Andy,
Thank you for your response. How do you go about fitting a single 5 seat since the two rails are so far apart? Does the single 5th seat only secure on one rail only?
Cheers,
Alex

 

[andyinluton]

Hi Andy,
Thank you for your response. How do you go about fitting a single 5 seat since the two rails are so far apart? Does the single 5th seat only secure on one rail only?
Cheers,
Alex

Im afraid you would need to get the 3rd rail fitted, from memory its about a £750 job.

 

[Alexlex85]

Im afraid you would need to get the 3rd rail fitted, from memory its about a £750 job.

With that in mind I guess its staying as it is. Thank you