7 seat Beach bed

[Amarillo]

Converting my Beach from 5 seat camping mode to 7 seat MPV mode, I decided to play around with the options for making the lower bed with all five rear seats. For size reference, the mattress photographed is 150 x 200 cm.

Remove all five headrests

#1 short bed: shortened multiflex, bench seat in table mode.






#2 Medium bed: extended multiflex, bench seat in table mode






#3 Long bed: shortened multiflex, bench seat in bed mode






There are, of course, other ways to make the bed. You could make an ultra long bed by removing part of the floor rails to push the single seats further forward, and then make the #3 bed but with an extended multiflex. Useful for giants.

Or you could leave out the multiflex altogether and make the bed with the bench in bed mode pushed fully back and the two single seats. I think this would make a useful size bed with plenty of cabin space.

 

[clarinetbcn]

Converting my Beach from 5 seat camping mode to 7 seat MPV mode, I decided to play around with the options for making the lower bed with all five rear seats. For size reference, the mattress photographed is 150 x 200 cm.

Remove all five headrests

#1 short bed: shortened multiflex, bench seat in table mode.
View attachment 45758

View attachment 45759

View attachment 45760

#2 Medium bed: extended multiflex, bench seat in table mode
View attachment 45763

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View attachment 45762

#3 Long bed: shortened multiflex, bench seat in bed mode
View attachment 45765

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There are, of course, other ways to make the bed. You could make an ultra long bed by removing part of the floor rails to push the single seats further forward, and then make the #3 bed but with an extended multiflex. Useful for giants.

Or you could leave out the multiflex altogether and make the bed with the bench in bed mode pushed fully back and the two single seats. I think this would make a useful size bed with plenty of cabin space.

In the short and medium beds, you can install the headrests on the two captain's chairs backwards, to help support the mattress without losing floor space.
Edit: You can also do this taking the larger headrests from the first row, which are interchangeable and support the mattress better.

 

[2haw]

In the short and medium beds, you can install the headrests on the two captain's chairs backwards, to help support the mattress without losing floor space.
Edit: You can also do this taking the larger headrests from the first row, which are interchangeable and support the mattress better.

I do this when in fully loaded stop over mode.

Bench seat & Multiflex right forward.
Boot fully loaded with everthing including 2no 16” girls bikes and my sons full size mountain bike.

Fold bench seat backrest forward. Reverse headrests. Fold out mattress over MFB and seat back with headrests supporting end and sleep diagonally with one child. Missus, son and other daughter upstairs. Everytime I’ve done this I’ve had a great nights sleep.

 

[clarinetbcn]

I do this when in fully loaded stop over mode.

Bench seat & Multiflex right forward.
Boot fully loaded with everthing including 2no 16” girls bikes and my sons full size mountain bike.

Fold bench seat backrest forward. Reverse headrests. Fold out mattress over MFB and seat back with headrests supporting end and sleep diagonally with one child. Missus, son and other daughter upstairs. Everytime I’ve done this I’ve had a great nights sleep.

Very interesting variation, good for keeping bikes inside. However, this thread is about making the bed with 7 seats in, so just to clarify, you do this configuration with the two second row chairs out?

 

[2haw]

Very interesting variation, good for keeping bikes inside. However, this thread is about making the bed with 7 seats in, so just to clarify, you do this configuration with the two second row chairs out?

Yes. Sorry.

 

[clarinetbcn]

Yes. Sorry.

Don't be, you've given me a new idea about seat configuration, just wanted to call out @Amarillo 's original topic.

 

[Amarillo]

I had the opportunity this morning to explore the Beach Bed option with no multiflex.







The bed would be about 176cm long. There would be a gap of about 10cm between the tailgate and the end of the bed that would swallow pillows. If that gap could somehow be plugged you'd have a 186cm bed. I didn't try it with a mattress on top, but it looked like the bed would be particularly uneven, especially at the single seat end. This wouldn't matter too much if your feet were at that end.

 

[2haw]

Couldn’t you leave the headrests in place and they would plug the majority of the gap?

 

[Amarillo]

Couldn’t you leave the headrests in place and they would plug the majority of the gap?

Now why didn’t I think of that! It would give a brilliant bed of ~2 metres. And if the comfort mattress zips up nicely it could be made nearly flat.

Next time I have an opportunity I’ll try it out.

 

[samrossuk]

could someone please explain the difference between bench in bed mode and table mode as described above? Thanks! @Amarillo

 

[clarinetbcn]

could someone please explain the difference between bench in bed mode and table mode as described above? Thanks! @Amarillo

Bed mode: fold the back rest of the bench back to make a flat surface, which occupies a lot of space. Table mode: fold the back rest forward over the seat. If you do this with the bench and both second row captain’s chairs, you will have a flat base for extending the comfort mattress and still have floor space to stand/change clothes/use a compact WC.

 

[Camperfamily]

I remember stumbling upon this thread a few years ago, and before we had a Beach, and thinking it was ingenious.

Now I have a Beach and have more recently bought two captains chairs (use is subject to me updating with DVLA and insureco).

Thanks @Amarillo @clarinetbcn and @2haw for sharing your ideas; testament to the value of this online community.

 

[samrossuk]

Bed mode: fold the back rest of the bench back to make a flat surface, which occupies a lot of space. Table mode: fold the back rest forward over the seat. If you do this with the bench and both second row captain’s chairs, you will have a flat base for extending the comfort mattress and still have floor space to stand/change clothes/use a compact WC.

Thanks - alas I only have one spare seat. Tried to install it the other day on the middle rail which was an error! I believe it is best to put this behind the driver, which will mean slightly impeded entry but access to the gas cooker and also having a slightly longer bed one side (and I think it should work with full multiflex and bench in bed mode, thoughts?)

 

[PNEVan]

useful thread.. just bought a 2019 T6 cali 7 seater and trying to get my head round setting up the bed with a multiflex board without removing the rear single seats - Also scratching my head with the comfort mattress doesnt seam to fold back properly - Maybe I need to unzip something?

 

[Ch1pbutty]

It's better to take the 2 seats out, otherwise it leaves very little space to get dressed etc when the bed is down. Best bet if you need the 2 extra seats when camping is to get a pop up toilet tent, and stack the seats top of one another, (with half a foam exercise mat between them) when at campsite etc.

 

[clarinetbcn]

It's better to take the 2 seats out, otherwise it leaves very little space to get dressed etc when the bed is down. Best bet if you need the 2 extra seats when camping is to get a pop up toilet tent, and stack the seats top of one another, (with half a foam exercise mat between them) when at campsite etc.

I find that folding both the bench and the 2nd row captains chairs forward into table position and then spreading the comfort mattress over the top solves that problem: leaves much more space to stand and change than flattening the bench into bed position. Hat tip @Amarillo.

 

[clarinetbcn]

useful thread.. just bought a 2019 T6 cali 7 seater and trying to get my head round setting up the bed with a multiflex board without removing the rear single seats - Also scratching my head with the comfort mattress doesnt seam to fold back properly - Maybe I need to unzip something?

There are three ways of zipping together the comfort mattress depending on whether you are making up the short bed, medium bed or long bed with 7 seats (although I use the table method with 7 seats, leaves much more room for standing with the bed made up). It’s covered extensively with pictures in the manual, and California Chris also made a video about it. No functioning search function on the forum means I can’t find it right now, but I’ll take a look on YouTube.

 

[PNEVan]

Thanks - I looked in my Owners manual but no trace.. and now looking a the manual give I think I may have been given the wrong one?? - it doesnt mention Mutliflex board or matress - and looking more closely the pop top either .. "Owners Manual Transporter, Caravelle Edition 11.2018"

 

[clarinetbcn]

Thanks - I looked in my Owners manual but no trace.. and now looking a the manual give I think I may have been given the wrong one?? - it doesnt mention Mutliflex board or matress - and looking more closely the pop top either .. "Owners Manual Transporter, Caravelle Edition 11.2018"

In my original manual there is one for the Multivan and a separate book for the California equipment.