Regardless of what size van you have, many people can often find it a little lacking in space and sometimes a little claustrophobic. One great option is to add swivel bases to the front seats, which then opens up the cab space into the rear of the van. Let’s face it; the cab seats are usually the most comfortable, so you might as well use them while you’re relaxing in your vehicle.
Regardless of which van you have, there are swivel bases to suit most. The most important thing is choosing a safe swivel. In the unfortunate case that you find yourself in an accident, you don’t want to be flying through the windscreen attached to your seat. The other important factor is choosing a swivel that doesn’t rattle, as it’s those little squeaks and rattles as you’re driving along that can drive you insane!
After many years of fitting various swivel bases, we have a particular German made swivel base, which is fully TUV approved, rattle free and most importantly, fully crash tested. They are also fully serviceable, so in the event of a squeak appearing it’s easy to sort.
Exploria have our swivel bases manufactured in German to our specification. We have gone to this length due to, not being happy with any other of the other swivels available on the market.
Exploria swivels are low profile only adding around 25mm to the overall seat height. Maintaining a comfortable seating and driving position. Rise and fall adjust on a factory seat can also be used once the swivel is installed.
The clearance under the seat base is reduced slightly so this does need checking if you have items installed or are thinking off putting such items chargers and a leisure battery into this space. There is still plenty of room and we do regularly install 110Ah leisure batteries, DC to Dc chargers and other audio items like sub-woofer under our swivels. They just need to be in the correct size and in the right layout.
With eccentric pivot point Exploria swivels are easy to operate. This makes it possible to turn the seats without crashing into B-pillars and causing any damage to seat or pillar plastics. With minimal practise you will be an expert in no time and swivelling the seats round in one turn with no problems.
The swivels are secure and don’t give that disconcerting rocking which can be experienced on other brands swivels.
The central pivot point is adjustable if needed. Generally, though we find these are a fit and forget item which will keep performing for years and years with no issues.
For safety reasons the swivel will only lock into position when in the driving position facing the front of the vehicle.
Exploria VW Transporter swivels are not handed so fit either the drivers or passenger’s side.
To install the factory seat is removed from the factory base. The swivel is then turned though 45 degrees before install. The swivel is then bolted on top of the factory base with the provided bolts. The front threaded studs on the factory base will then stick proud of the swivel and prevent the swivel turning. This means the install required these studs to be trimmed flush with the base. This is the same on the passengers and driver’s side.
On the driver’s side the handbrake needs to be lowered to allow the swivels to pass over the top when the handbrake is in the off position. A handbrake adapter bracket can be used but this is not a neat solution. It isn’t something we would recommend or want to supply or install. In our workshop we remove the factory handbrake mount and reweld it back on at the bottom of the base. We then tighten the handbrake, trim the plastics to suit and line the side of the seat base to finish of nice and neatly. Once completed it is hard to spot the modification to the untrained eye.
For the rear seat base plastic trim panels to fit with the swivels, we trim away the top edge so they tuck neatly under the rear of the swivels base plate.
