Bench seat positions

[nishby]

I'm trying to figure out which seat configuration will be best for my family (three kid and a dog). I'm leaning toward the double bench seats, but I haven't been able to find much info on the forum regarding the middle seat.

Does the middle seat slide fore and aft? Also, I know that the seats fold flat, but do they have intermediate positions (45deg?) or is it simply up or down?

Also, still wondering if anyone can recommend a good rustproofing shop and a good car audio shop in the Vancouver area.

Cheers,
Shane.

[konadog]

The middle bench does indeed face both forward and back, though the seat itself does not slide. The backrest is released with a little lever and then arcs over the seat to click in place at the opposite side. The back of the backrest then becomes the part one leans against and there is a set of belts for either position. The backrest does have intermediate positions inbetween upright and flat. We have two dogs but no kids and would absolutely NOT want captain's chairs. With kids, though, I'm not sure I would be so emphatic. Most of the members here with kids seem to favour the chairs and as a passenger in both a captain's chair and a bench seat, I have to say the chairs are WAY more comfy and roomy. We don't plan on having kids though, but always will have dogs, so I'm a bench-seat guy all the way!

[delicat]

Seatbelts configuration with the captain chairs is better suited for kids, as long as you have a post August '91 model with the shoulder belts.

With the bench I think you only have lap belt and the jump seat by the sliding door doesn't have seat belts at all and are not known to be very solid (I've seen one all twisted after an accident just from the impact force...)

I have 2 kids and the captain chairs rock!

David

[nishby]

Thanks guys,

That's a handsome pair of k-nines you have, Konadog.

Just for clarification, what I'm wondering is whether either bench back has an adjustable angle.

I'm thinking not, but I want to be sure as it is a factor for those long trips when the kids fall asleep in the back.

As great as the captains chairs seem, the dynamics change when there's three kids instead of two (ie. who gets to sit in them).

Also, the ability to flatten the bench seats into a bed is appealing for camping as well as a bike hauling mod that I plan to do.

[loki]

Thanks guys,

That's a handsome pair of k-nines you have, Konadog.

Just for clarification, what I'm wondering is whether either bench back has an adjustable angle.

I'm thinking not, but I want to be sure as it is a factor for those long trips when the kids fall asleep in the back.

As great as the captains chairs seem, the dynamics change when there's three kids instead of two (ie. who gets to sit in them).

Also, the ability to flatten the bench seats into a bed is appealing for camping as well as a bike hauling mod that I plan to do.

I don't know about the middle one but the back one is adjustable to just about any angle from 90 to 180 degrees.

[konadog]

Yes, the backrest on the middle bench does have intermediate positions inbetween upright and flat

[DelicaMark]

My rear bench slides and splits so you can fold down one or two or all three seats. Not all vans have this...I really like it. If you need more room in the back you can always remove one or both of the captain's chairs too. I took out the passenger side captain's chair so I could get the car-seat into the rear bench easier for our baby. The other captain's chair is usually right to the front and facing the back, which gives lots of room and can still seat 4 people in the back...and a dog in behind the rear bench.

-Mark

[nishby]

Thanks for the feedback guys. That answers the question beautifully.

Hey konadog, here's a pic of Winston, who has become an integral part of our buying decision.

[konadog]

An attractive looking devil is Winston! I like the poka-dot freckles on his chest! Hey, as you're a dog guy and fairly new here, you may not have seen this thread with some good deli-dog shots: http://www.delica.ca/forum/how-many-del ... +have+dogs
Good luck on the hunt for your bus! [edit for spelling]

[nishby]

Thanks, great thread. There are some fine looking dogs in the club...and some fine looking vans. Judging from one of the pictures of your dog, I'm assuming he/she got her name from the Kona bikes you ride?

I ride a Kona A, amoung others. And no that's not a typo, it's really a Kona A. Single speed, dual suspension, XC beauty. Only made one season...and only a handful at that.

Cheers.

[konadog]

I ride a Kona A, amoung others. And no that's not a typo, it's really a Kona A. Single speed, dual suspension, XC beauty. Only made one season...and only a handful at that.

Niiice! I'd love to have a ride like that - For sure my next bike will be at least rigid, if not single speed. And yeah, we called dog Kona after the bikes because running along side a bike is his absolute favourite thing! I took him for a 15.5 km ride the other day (on my "Kona Dawg") averaging 18.5 km/h with a top speed of 40 km/h. Pretty standard stuff. The little poodle X, Nellie-dog is learning too. Dogs love bikes, 'cause us bipedal humans can actually keep a decent pace when riding. I walk with the two of them every morning as well as the afternoon ride, and it's pretty ho-hum by comparison. Important position practice and there are more sniff and mark stops, but ya know they would both rather be running! Road, single track, it don't matter, just so long as there is a bike involved!
He's in the "travel-mode" zone

konabike.jpg (48.68 KiB) Viewed 3541 times

And just to keep on the bench seat topic - dogs like them too - "just wake me up when we get there and you're ready to ride!"

kona-bench.jpg (54.76 KiB) Viewed 3562 times

[flyfishn]

I have not purchased a Deli as of yet, but I have 3 kids ranging from 2 months - 7 years. I have worn out this site learning about these vehicles. I will be choosing the capt. chairs. To have seperation between siblings is the only way. My eldset (boy) sits in the back of the mini- van now and loves it.

Now about the reclineing back rest, I am not sure if that is at all safe for your kids. I believe the seat belts would not work properly in this position and is something I would at this point not recommend.

[skaguy]

I have three kids, boys 7, 12 and 13 and a 92 super exceed with captain's chairs and we fit in very nicely. When it's just me and the kids (most of the time) I 1 kid up front, and 2 in the middle row and the rear folded forward. When there are two grown ups the kids need a little help to decide who will sit where (I never fail to be amazed at what kids can fight over!). On a recent long trip they all seemed very comfortable and all made use of the recline option wherever they were sat, but we had the discussion about not reclining too far because the seat belts still need to be safe.
I have no experience of the bench middle seat but would have no inclination to choose that option over the captain's chairs.

Good Luck!

Rick