RE: minivans with bench seats

campingboaters · Sep 28, 2003, 07:05 PM

Does anyone have a new(er) minivan that has bench seats that fold flat to make a bed?

My parents have a 91 Dodge Caravan with this option. They would hate to lose this option IF they buy a new minivan, but their current van is getting tired and it s no longer reliable. They travel cross country for a month every year and some nights just sleep in the van instead of pitching their tent.

I just started my search (for them) and have not gotten to any dealerships yet. The websites don t say the bench seats fold flat, but that might be standard on them so why would they say it?

Maybe I ll just talk them into putting the big bucks out for a VW Eurovan camper. I m not sure you can even order that model in the US and I m not convinced of the Eurovan reliability, BUT that model has a pop-up top with a double bed!

Thanks for any help.

wynot · Apr 08, 2003, 02:12 PM

campingboaters

QuoteMaybe I ll just talk them into putting the big bucks out for a VW Eurovan camper. I m not sure you can even order that model in the US and I m not convinced of the Eurovan reliability, BUT that model has a pop-up top with a double bed!

It s available, $30,000+. Not too many dealerships carry it.

I don t think our Ford Windstar s seats folded flat, except for cargo.

Gatsmommy · Apr 08, 2003, 03:53 PM

campingboatersOur Sedona s fold half way, but not flat where you could sleep on them. It sounds like you re parents might be ready to upgrade to a conversion van, or better yet one of those van s that are pretty much made into a motorhome. My folks have on and love it, Especially for long trips. I d like one, but it s a little small for more then 2 people.

birol · Apr 08, 2003, 04:15 PM

campingboatersAs far as I know only two minivans do that, Honda Oddyys and 2004 Toyota Sienna. The third seat just disappears flat onto the floor.

Birol

SactoCampers · Apr 08, 2003, 04:27 PM

birol

QuoteORIGINAL: birol

As far as I know only two minivans do that, Honda Oddyys and 2004 Toyota Sienna. The third seat just disappears flat onto the floor.

Birol

Actually, there s a third: the Mazda MPV.

But the question he asked was whether they fold to make a bed to sleep on. I know my rear bench seat folds flat, but I have captains chairs in the middle so I can t comment on the middle row. My instinct tells me they do since it would allow owners to put very long items in their vehicle (like plywood) without having to remove the seats.

But if I ever wanted to sleep in a van while camping, I would go with a Eurovan with Westfalia conversion. They can also pull a popup with it too: 4400 lb towing capacity. Overnights in the Westfalia and longer than that in the popup.

birol · Apr 08, 2003, 09:27 PM

SactoCampersWell, I saw some vans like that at the RV show, now that you put me straight, I think that s what she meant, they were like 80,000 K plus .. so I never thought of them till now .... jobless and all

tlhdoc · Apr 08, 2003, 10:06 PM

campingboatersIf they can t find a van that the seats fold flat, could they take the seats out and put an air mattress or cots in the back of the van for the trip? It might be an option.

Starcraft Dad · Apr 08, 2003, 10:53 PM

campingboatersHere is a link for a van motorhome. I know this is not what you are looking for but thought you might like to check it out. My retired neighbors just got one of these becuase they wanted a motorhome to drive across country to their " other " home in Baja California. They didn t want a full size motor home because of cost of fuel and they didn t need a big one.

I have to say, if I didn t have kids I would own one of these. They are beuatiful. But really only comfy enough for two people.

http://www.roadtrek.com/Default.asp

Gatsmommy · Apr 08, 2003, 11:45 PM

campingboatersThe roadtreck s are they type of thing I was talking about. My parent s are on their second one. They bought both of them used, but my dad, and BIL are both mechanics. 1st one was around $25K 2nd one was I belive around $35. But since they plan to live in it 6 months out of the year they upgraded to one that was a little bigger, and had a lot less miles on it. The newer one has a seperate bathroom. The old one had a casset toilet with a curtain around it, and an outdoor shower.

campingboaters · Apr 09, 2003, 07:49 AM

campingboatersThanks for all the RV suggestions, but my parents are VERY simple folk and technology eludes them, not to mention that this would be their primary car as well. I ve tried talking them into a camper or RoadTek-like van for their trips, but all the gadgets sent them into overload and then the price almost killed them! [

] Go figure. [

]

I talked to them about the VW Eurovan, but this is a vehicle they will be driving around all year and my Dad didn t want the fridge, stove, tables, etc with them all the time.

The next suggestion is maybe a Honda or Toyota (or any of the other ones out there) that have that dissappearing third seat. They aren t very tall. I wonder if they could make do behind the middle seats for sleeping a night or two. They have a " system" of storing all their stuff under the bench-to-bed seats in their minivan now and if they had to sleep on the floor of the van, they would lose all the storage space. All of us pop-uppers know the value of a good " storage" plan! [

]

Anyway, they are just very set in their ways and HATE to spend any money (not that I blame them). I think we ll go poke around some car dealers in search of the elusive bench-to-bed seats! [

]

Let me know if anyone finds any other options in a minivans!

GeneF · Apr 09, 2003, 10:41 AM

campingboatersThe only minivans that I know of that offered the bed option was the dodge and plymouth vans of the early 90 s era. This was actually offered as a seating option.

I don t think it is still offered as an option on a newer van but it might be worth checking out.

All of the seats can be taken out of a minivan and the floor would be fairly flat to put an air mattress on. Major problem would be where would you put the luggage?

birol · Apr 09, 2003, 11:23 AM

GeneFWe were looking at the windstar with DD one day and stated the same thing, an air matress on the back and we could sleep just fine there. We would have to take out all the seats except the first row of course. We considered one of those luggae thingies which goes onto the roof rack on top of the car to keep things in. I am sure we would be able to keep a few things in the minivan too, and it looked like a viable option !

Birol

luvourjayco · Apr 09, 2003, 01:13 PM

campingboatersIn order to get room underneath what about one of those framed air beds. They wouldn t take up any more room then the air mattress but would lift you up off the bottom of the van and give you space underneath. The air beds collapse down into a bag so wouldn t be hard to remove or store if unneeded. I know in our mini van there is just enough room for a double air mattress if we remove the seat but we do not have the extended version. The extended version would give you even more room. You may just have to remove the one seat and would be able to keep the other in.

tlhdoc · Apr 09, 2003, 09:52 PM

GeneF

QuoteORIGINAL: GeneF

The only minivans that I know of that offered the bed option was the dodge and plymouth vans of the early 90 s era. This was actually offered as a seating option.

I don t think it is still offered as an option on a newer van but it might be worth checking out.

All of the seats can be taken out of a minivan and the floor would be fairly flat to put an air mattress on. Major problem would be where would you put the luggage?

Ford Aerostars also had the bed option. We had one.[

]

jackgoesthepopup · Apr 09, 2003, 10:45 PM

campingboatersHave them just get a small popup.

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