Move VW T5/T6 Kombi Double Bench to Third Row

The Problem

The owner wanted to move the double bench from the second-row 2+1 configuration to the third row to create a living space between the swivelling front seats and the bench. They were unsure whether the move was physically possible, structurally safe, and whether the correct mounting hardware was still available. For UK owners there is an additional legal question: a TÜV approval is a German/EU standard and does not automatically satisfy UK type approval — confirm with the DVSA whether the altered seating arrangement requires an Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) inspection before the van is used on the road, and check that your insurer accepts the modification.

Solution

1. Identify your vehicle handedness and note the bench orientation before sourcing parts. In a RHD (UK) vehicle the double bench moves from the driver's (right) side in the second row to the passenger's (left) side in the third row; in a LHD vehicle the bench transfers directly.

   • In a RHD install the middle and outer seatbelt buckles swap sides — this configuration is TÜV-certified and covered under the approved installation from four-teile.de. Note that TÜV certification is a German/EU approval: it is not the same as UK type approval, so check with the DVSA whether your altered seating layout needs an IVA inspection, and confirm your insurer is happy with the change before using the van.

2. Contact Jan at four-teile.de to source the correct TÜV-certified underfloor reinforcement bracket set for a second-to-third-row transfer, as the original VW part (7H0803333A) is discontinued.

   • four-teile.de is a German supplier. Post-Brexit, UK buyers should expect to pay import VAT (and potentially customs duty) on entry, plus the courier's handling fee, and to allow extended delivery times compared with a UK order. Ask Jan for a landed-cost estimate and the commodity/HS code before ordering so there are no surprises at the door.

3. Source a third-row seatbelt kit if the van does not already have third-row anchor points — the correct part is the Reimo "3-Punkt-Gurtadaption VW T5 Kastenwagen - Set 2" (a 3-point seatbelt adaptation set; the part name is German only, so confirm the English-language description and current part number with a UK Reimo stockist, who can also advise on UK availability and a directly equivalent kit).

   • Third-row belt mounting positions are OEM locations, so no fabrication of new anchor points is needed.

4. Slide the double bench into the third-row position. On a SWB van the bench clears the wheel arch without any body modification.

5. Mark and drill 8 holes through the van floor at the correct mounting positions using the bracket template as a guide.

   • Treat every freshly drilled hole with rust primer immediately before fitting any hardware.

6. Fit the four-teile.de underfloor reinforcement brackets beneath the vehicle at the drilled locations to spread crash load in the same way as the factory configuration.

7. Secure the bench to the floor using OEM-style mounting bolts through the reinforced locations.

   • These are safety-critical, structural fixings. Tighten to the manufacturer's specified torque — confirm the correct figure for your bench bolts with four-teile.de or a VW dealer (verify torque figure before final tightening), and use new bolts where specified rather than reusing stretched fasteners.

8. Connect the bench-mounted seatbelts. For a RHD bench, swap the middle and outer buckles to the correct sides as per the TÜV-approved configuration; if retrofitting belts, install the Reimo third-row kit at the OEM anchor points.

9. Optionally, build a custom drawer unit beneath the bench — the raised third-row position creates enough clearance for useful underfloor storage.