M
Mike Maguire
Based on the older T5 SE ...
The frustration with the Cali being swb is that the rear board that makes up as part of the lower bed, when in situ prevents the 2 seater bench to be slid back far enough to both accommodate the 5th seat and have sufficient legroom for 2 of the 3 rear seats. So the board has to come out if using the Cali in 5 seat transporter mode. And it's not exactly a light weight to remove and re-insert, plus very handy for rear storage. Never tried storing it upright behind the bench seat when slid back … & handbook appears to advise against this.
So wondering if anyone has thought of making up a shorted version while still using the 4 existing fixing points? This would mean using suitably robust marine ply, the original rear draw bolt fittings and sturdy steel arms along the side edges ending in ball ends to sit in the 2 forward side mounts. This would allow a shallower rear board, still very useful for shopping or whatever and sufficient legroom all round, tho I have yet to place the rear seating further back to model the depth of the rear space remaining while having sufficient legroom & so as to judge if this is worth pursuing further!
The frustration with the Cali being swb is that the rear board that makes up as part of the lower bed, when in situ prevents the 2 seater bench to be slid back far enough to both accommodate the 5th seat and have sufficient legroom for 2 of the 3 rear seats. So the board has to come out if using the Cali in 5 seat transporter mode. And it's not exactly a light weight to remove and re-insert, plus very handy for rear storage. Never tried storing it upright behind the bench seat when slid back … & handbook appears to advise against this.
So wondering if anyone has thought of making up a shorted version while still using the 4 existing fixing points? This would mean using suitably robust marine ply, the original rear draw bolt fittings and sturdy steel arms along the side edges ending in ball ends to sit in the 2 forward side mounts. This would allow a shallower rear board, still very useful for shopping or whatever and sufficient legroom all round, tho I have yet to place the rear seating further back to model the depth of the rear space remaining while having sufficient legroom & so as to judge if this is worth pursuing further!