No, not how to fit it out

Find me a van. What has all the mod cons and comfort, can remove half the seating so I have the following critera:
- 2 seats in front
- 2 seats in the back on the same side
- 240cm free behind the passenger seat to put in racks to hold boards etc

Kia Carnival looks perfect but may be too short and I can't measure one, I keep scaring away the asian tourists when I ask

Anyone?

(Sure I could retro fit seats into anything but I don't wanna modify except for removable racks, want to fit in in garage too, and have some comfort so please no suggestions of high roof 7m long versions of a Merc Sprinter etc. Needs to be factory)

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Mark _australia said..
No, not how to fit it out

Find me a van. What has all the mod cons and comfort, can remove half the seating so I have the following critera:
- 2 seats in front
- 2 seats in the back on the same side
- 240cm free behind the passenger seat to put in racks to hold boards etc

Kia Carnival looks perfect but may be too short and I can't measure one, I keep scaring away the asian tourists when I ask

Anyone?

(Sure I could retro fit seats into anything but I want to fit in in garage too, and have some comfort so please no suggestions of high roof 7m long versions of a Merc Sprinter etc. Needs to be factory)

VW Multivan will give you two rows of removable rear seats and 240cm (just) behind front seat.


If you want longer cargo space get a VW Caravelle, basically a long wheelbase VW Transporter with multiple rows of removable rear seats.

I spent a while looking around and, like them, love them or hate them, I decided on a Delica. I've seen 8 in one day (including mine) at windsurfing spots on the Swan.

So far my experience has been good.

I only wanted the 8 seater with a second row bench seat that rotates every which way. I took out the passenger side 3rd row seat. With all seats in they fold sort of flat for a queen size bed. With 3 boards, 7 sails and foil its about half full.

It's a 4WD with high/low range and a diff lock. It's basically a luxury mini-bus on a Pajero.

(The hater queue forms to the right)

Im with Pacey, multivan will cover those requirements, mod cons and comfort, 240cm behind passenger seat as long as you don't have a long legged front seat passenger. I put boards behind driver seat and 240 is the max. Easy to move rear seating config around and have the 2 seats behind each other.

I've driven several different vans through work (VW, Toyota, Kia, and Hyundai) and the iLoad tradesman van is way ahead for me. Feels and drives like a normal modern car, quiet, heaps of power, lots of cargo space, great fuel economy (diesel is a must), cheap to service, cheap parts (I've only had to change the starter motor and battery in 8 years). It is a (very comfortable) bench seat in the rear but comes out easily.
Each to there own but if/when mine dies I'll be getting another one for sure.

Toyota Tarago, Very comfy to drive.

Got 7 seats which can be configured as you wanted, I get two boards with one rear seat folded down and some sails etc underneath the others, drives well too.

Hyundai Imax , pull rear seats out and single slider behind driver, that was my set up until i grew up and got a real van:) Think there is some pics of mine here on line.

The best part is the double seat in the rear slides forward and you can then get a mattress behind it also

VW multivan is also a winner especially with the fancy bed storage/camp accessories available --- ref to to Dezza :)

The Elgrand fails your test as its 220 to 230 behind the passenger seat.

I think you are going to find it difficult to find a van that fits your requirements unless you go for a cab forward van or a van that's longer than 5m.

I love the Elgrand as it drives very comfortably and fits what I need in, but I guess you need to get the tape measure out for the iLoads or the VWs to check them.

Has anyone got measurements on the LWB Delicas? The LWB is noticably longer than the SWB, but I still think it would be marginal for length.

I remember driving an iLoad and loving how it drove, but that one had a cage in it and I had to fit the 260cm board diagonally anyway.

I guess if you are after a recent van, with the specs you are after, there are not many to choose from.

Mine is low roof SWB so the nose of my 245 board is level with my hip when driving. I think the LWB is 400mm longer, maybe 2.4m behind the passenger seat.

Apparently the handling on the LWBs is a bit weird,

Thanks guys, I wondered about Multivan, and yet to measure a Carnival so nice to know the former is 240cm clear
So definitely one option, maybe two after I find a stationary Kia with no tourists inside and can measure :)

Sorry fellas no Hyundai as I need two rear seats behind diver (ie: 3 rows....) and too many timing chain, 'box and turbo and/or fuel pump horror stories.

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Pacey said..

Mark _australia said..
No, not how to fit it out

Find me a van. What has all the mod cons and comfort, can remove half the seating so I have the following critera:
- 2 seats in front
- 2 seats in the back on the same side
- 240cm free behind the passenger seat to put in racks to hold boards etc

Kia Carnival looks perfect but may be too short and I can't measure one, I keep scaring away the asian tourists when I ask

Anyone?

(Sure I could retro fit seats into anything but I want to fit in in garage too, and have some comfort so please no suggestions of high roof 7m long versions of a Merc Sprinter etc. Needs to be factory)

VW Multivan will give you two rows of removable rear seats and 240cm (just) behind front seat.


If you want longer cargo space get a VW Caravelle, basically a long wheelbase VW Transporter with multiple rows of removable rear seats.

I borrowed me dad's VW Multivan to pick up a board many years ago. A *Board Carve.

It did not fit in the back. Out by 1 cm. Really.

Try before you buy.

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evlPanda said..

Pacey said..

Mark _australia said..
No, not how to fit it out

Find me a van. What has all the mod cons and comfort, can remove half the seating so I have the following critera:
- 2 seats in front
- 2 seats in the back on the same side
- 240cm free behind the passenger seat to put in racks to hold boards etc

Kia Carnival looks perfect but may be too short and I can't measure one, I keep scaring away the asian tourists when I ask

Anyone?

(Sure I could retro fit seats into anything but I want to fit in in garage too, and have some comfort so please no suggestions of high roof 7m long versions of a Merc Sprinter etc. Needs to be factory)

VW Multivan will give you two rows of removable rear seats and 240cm (just) behind front seat.


If you want longer cargo space get a VW Caravelle, basically a long wheelbase VW Transporter with multiple rows of removable rear seats.

I borrowed me dad's VW Multivan to pick up a board many years ago. A *Board Carve.

It did not fit in the back. Out by 1 cm. Really.

Try before you buy.

Are you sure it was a T5 Multivan? Sounds to me it was a T4.

Mate of mine had a F2 Stoke which is 250 in length. Didn't fit in the T4 by just a couple of cm's. But it did fit easily in the SWB T5 I had.

There's also an option of getting an LWB Transporter. You get an extra 40 cm of loadspace and a better driving van.

+1 T5 LWB transporter drives nice plenty of room for most sized boards. Provision for 2 seat middle seat. I fit my 9.8 ft Sup on a diagonal angle with still plenty of leg room for the front seats.

^^^ But doesn't have two rear seats behind each other (3 rows....) though?

If you are in the new van market, test drive a 2020 hiace crew van

I replaced the front passenger seat with a bench seat and put two after market removeable seats behind the passenger seat in my SWB T5. Could seat 5 people and my gear in it.

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Mark _australia said..
^^^ But doesn't have two rear seats behind each other (3 rows....) though?

VW Multivan is short wheelbase, has 2 rows of seats behind driver
VW Caravelle is long wheelbase, has 3 rows of seats behind driver, for example www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/east-perth/cars-vans-utes/2018-volkswagen-caravelle-7h-my19-tdi-340-lwb-white-7-speed-auto-direct-shift-wagon/1253653715

My LWB VW Transporter T5 (2008) could fit a 9'5" Naish Manna in behind the passengers seat on the floor! It was Long!!!!!

Possibly worth a look at one of these. Just remove a few seats. Length of load space - specs say 2.5m
The people mover version has the advantage over the van version of full lining in the rear and interior lights everywhere. Used ones also typically have a LOT less KM's on them than the Vans.


s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/assets.i-motor.com.au/ldv/brochure/2019-vehicle-brochures/12264-LDV_Spec_Sheet_LDV0097_v6.pdf

^^ Cool another to consider

Pacey, Caravelle in link only has a rear bench seat, so can't achieve seats down one side like I want.

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Mark _australia said..
^^ Cool another to consider

Pacey, Caravelle in link only has a rear bench seat, so can't achieve seats down one side like I want.

So you want 3 rows of two in the back or just two? The caravelle has two rows of two behind the driver, plus a third row of three seats. If you take out the rear bench seat you still have two rows of two seats, which I'm assuming can be configured to one side (but dont quote me on that)

2 ppl in front
2ppl in back but behind each other to get all one side free for gear

In Europe we have the Transporter Multivan edition. Most of these have 2 seats on the second row and a bench on the third row. The bench is easily removed as are the seats. The seats can then be placed behind each other since the Multivan floor has several options of placing several rows of seats or benches or a combination of both. I think the caravelle editions have the same longitudinal slots in the floor. Maybe an option to get 2 spare seats.

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TheTank said..
In Europe we have the Transporter Multivan edition. Most of these have 2 seats on the second row and a bench on the third row. The bench is easily removed as are the seats. The seats can then be placed behind each other since the Multivan floor has several options of placing several rows of seats or benches or a combination of both. I think the caravelle editions have the same longitudinal slots in the floor. Maybe an option to get 2 spare seats.

Cool
when I look at Multivan I might have a look at Caravelle then, if there are factory attachment points I don't mind bolting stuff in...... I just have to leave it factory so can't modify

I have a very small wheel base sprinter which is not that common. Its wider than most vans and I sleep cross ways. Also its low roof so fits in places but at 175cm I can still walk around with neck bent over. All my boards fit on one side which leaves plenty of clearance due to van width for walking around and i have a kitchen on opposite side to boards. Some van come with rear seats but all bolt mounts including seatbelt mount are in my van which never can with rear seats. So aftermarket seats or any vito, sprinter rear seats fit. These short wheel base ones are used by postal service so most 2nd hand are reddish colour.

Or buy a lockable trailer :-)

I have one :)
Trying to not have to tow to Perth every time I buy big blocks of styro and sheets of corecell..... and not have to plan ahead when two kids need a lift and all the gear is in the car.......

:)

In the US we have none of those VW and Toyota vans. Costs to get EPA certified for emissions, for one model, is in the billions, with a b. Crazy.

So, we have the MB Sprinter and Metris, the Ford Transit, the Dodge Ram, and still the full size Chevy. My old 2003 long wheel base tall roof Sprinter 3500 is still going strong. It is set up as a RV with bed in front so we can sleep in it without having the empty out our windsurfing gear first.

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Mark _australia said..
No, not how to fit it out

Find me a van. What has all the mod cons and comfort, can remove half the seating so I have the following critera:
- 2 seats in front
- 2 seats in the back on the same side
- 240cm free behind the passenger seat to put in racks to hold boards etc

Kia Carnival looks perfect but may be too short and I can't measure one, I keep scaring away the asian tourists when I ask

Anyone?

(Sure I could retro fit seats into anything but I don't wanna modify except for removable racks, want to fit in in garage too, and have some comfort so please no suggestions of high roof 7m long versions of a Merc Sprinter etc. Needs to be factory)

Got to measure a late model Kia Carnival today. Have similar but somewhat different needs to yours and have been considering a Tarago or current shape Carnival as much prefer a van that drives like a (bigger) car with all the mod cons and comfort.

Distance from inside of tailgate to rear of front passenger seat (at seat height) is 232cm, this with the seat slightly forward but leaving enough leg/knee room for me at average height of 178cm. There may be room to slide the nose of one board under the seat which is a 40cm wide x 12cm high opening, though after reading your most recent post in this topic then would hardly fit a 2.4m long block of styrofoam in there! The width between the RH seat cushion of third row seat to side trim next to LH rear wheel arch is around 70-72cm.

Nah thats sounding pretty good Gaz.... seat forward a smidge and most boards under 230, longer one on top rack jusssttt pokes over top of passenger headrest..... stryo gathering trips just need to put it on the diagonal.....
Might be a winner

BTW yes same thinking as you, drives like a car not a tradie van with velour, and a lot cheaper than euro stuff.