VW California T7, Central Seat for night bed

[LUMINA86]

Dear Californians,
hi from Andy.
I just wanted to post this message for future california t7 beach camper users.
Before buying the california beach camper I was struggling online trying to understand if the lower bed could be used without the central seat.
Somebody know this?
That's because I don't want to change the position of the central seat everytime I stop somewhere for sleeping. And also because, even if its not so heavy, but in the long run, could be painful for my back (IMHO).
The VW dealer didn't know this information. So I wrote directly to VW Germany.
They answered me an email with a signed document, you can find attached in german. I translated with google here:
I'm getting the new California this week so I will try and figure out if they said the truth! so for now, this is just a not verified information, but from VW official.

Here is:

Volkswagen AG • Kundenbetreuung • Brieffach 9051 • 38436 Wolfsburg • Deutschland

Thank you for contacting Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. Please excuse the long processing time.
We are pleased to inform you that the middle seat is not required for the use of the bed base in both the California Beach Tour/Camper and the Coast/Ocean.
We wish you happy holidays and a good start to 2025.
We are happy to answer any further questions or suggestions you may have.
Best regards,

Mario Meyer, Angelika Dalchowa

I hope that this can be useful for somebody like me.
Bye!

 

[thatsnotmynaim]

Yes I have the beach and confirm the same, it adds nothing and is not required, as you say it’s a bit of a pain, although you could leave it reversed and folded flat as a table for travel and general use and then just push forward and upright for when the bed is required, but it does take up quite some space and almost get in the way. Not sure when they didn’t make it so it can be left and folded flat like the other two. I do wonder if anyone will make an aftermarket table that can go where a removed central seat goes that is height adjustable and uses the rails.

 

[Kemper-van]

It’s very strange and impractical if you want to use the new Beach with 5 passengers (e.g. family with 3 kids).
If I read correctly, you have to lift up the middle chair every time you switch between driving and sleeping if you’re with 5.
Why didn’t VW simply use the same mechanism as on the left or right seat for folding down??

 

[LUMINA86]

Yes I have the beach and confirm the same, it adds nothing and is not required, as you say it’s a bit of a pain, although you could leave it reversed and folded flat as a table for travel and general use and then just push forward and upright for when the bed is required, but it does take up quite some space and almost get in the way. Not sure when they didn’t make it so it can be left and folded flat like the other two. I do wonder if anyone will make an aftermarket table that can go where a removed central seat goes that is height adjustable and uses the rails.

Thank you!
Yes a little table could be useful!

 

[ElsJan]

Hi, I'm also looking to buy a Beach Camper and this was one of the questions I had, so thank you for the answer.
But I have a related question: Could an owner of a T7 Beach please check for me what the available space is under the mattress when the middle seat is removed (height-width)? Thank you !

 

[thatsnotmynaim]

Hieght is about 44-45cm, the seat base lifts up slightly to make it flat / parrallel to floor when the backrest is laid flat, width is about the same, so ~44cm, depth is quite deep at 100-120cm..

 

[Aldoi]

FWIW I found a Dometic CFX5 35 fits really well in this space with the bed down. The CFX5 45 was just a little too high though (discovered the hard way).

 

[umphrey1012]

FWIW I found a Dometic CFX5 35 fits really well in this space with the bed down. The CFX5 45 was just a little too high though (discovered the hard way).

Thanks for this! This is what I have and really wanted to know how it'd fit, but had resigned myself to just "waiting until pickup and seeing" even though I was finding it hard to do.

 

[ElsJan]

Thank you for your answers! I will probably go for a T6.1, i did a test drive in a T7 and it drives great but compared to my T6 it feels quite a bit maller on the inside, not so much a minivan as a car.

 

[WelshGas]

I presume the middle seat has a built in seat belt.
What about the outer 2 seats, do they also have built in belts?

 

[Aldoi]

I presume the middle seat has a built in seat belt.
What about the outer 2 seats, do they also have built in belts?

They do yes

 

[thehildys]

Hi, I'm also looking to buy a Beach Camper and this was one of the questions I had, so thank you for the answer.
But I have a related question: Could an owner of a T7 Beach please check for me what the available space is under the mattress when the middle seat is removed (height-width)? Thank you !

I have fit a fridge under the bed in the space of the 5th seat which I removed and stored separately as we don’t need it.

View attachment IMG_6103.jpeg

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View attachment IMG_5986.jpeg

 

[thehildys]

I have fit a fridge under the bed in the space of the 5th seat which I removed and stored separately as we don’t need it.View attachment 142430

View attachment 142431

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[thehildys]

The fridge is a CFF35

 

[vanfitz]

If happy with a smaller fridge, this low height fridge could also fit in a pull out tray (space mate or home made equivalent) to the right of the beach kitchen, under the stowed table, I think? https://www.amazon.co.uk/Alpicool-P...rvan-20°C-20°C/dp/B08BXR7BWP?tag=unique09f-21
How do Alpicool fridges compare to Domestic to explain the price difference?

There may also be room for water alongside that in tailgate too. If you commit to the tailgate kitchen concept in the Beach as your main cooking option, it starts to make quite a bit of sense. (Who wants curry splatter inside anyway?). You can move fridge forward during journeys. Given how configurable the kitchen and seats would be for different missions, it seems a great option. And the bed is big!

 

[thatsnotmynaim]

Can you get a space mate for a t7 beach?!

 

[WelshGas]

Can you get a space mate for a t7 beach?!

Probably. Do one for the Ocean T7.

Multivan T7 Ocean SpaceMate

Fitted the new T7 Space Mate, superb bit of kit, given the depth under the rear shelf is nearly a metre, this is a life (back) saver. Second photo is the frame from the inside. Also showing the new VW adjustable load rings which I use to strap down a couple of EcoFlow power banks side by side...

vwcaliforniaclub.com

 

[stoobthealien]

If happy with a smaller fridge, this low height fridge could also fit in a pull out tray (space mate or home made equivalent) to the right of the beach kitchen, under the stowed table, I think? https://www.amazon.co.uk/Alpicool-Portable-Refrigerator-Campervan-20°C-20°C/dp/B08BXR7BWP?th=1
How do Alpicool fridges compare to Domestic to explain the price difference?

There may also be room for water alongside that in tailgate too. If you commit to the tailgate kitchen concept in the Beach as your main cooking option, it starts to make quite a bit of sense. (Who wants curry splatter inside anyway?). You can move fridge forward during journeys. Given how configurable the kitchen and seats would be for different missions, it seems a great option. And the bed is big!

I don't like cooking inside so in full agreement - we have a caravan at the moment with plenty of indoor cooking options but I try to do everything outside for that reason, would rather keep the inside clean and smell free if possible!

I've been running an alpicool for 3 years, taken it to France in 30c heat, had it acting as a freezer when we toured Scotland to keep meal prepped stuff cold and it's been faultless. Have run it 24/7 over the weekend just off the battery in my car as well (it keeps perm live in the boot) and it's not drained it so much be pretty efficient.

 

[vanfitz]

Probably. Do one for the Ocean T7.

Multivan T7 Ocean SpaceMate

Fitted the new T7 Space Mate, superb bit of kit, given the depth under the rear shelf is nearly a metre, this is a life (back) saver. Second photo is the frame from the inside. Also showing the new VW adjustable load rings which I use to strap down a couple of EcoFlow power banks side by side...

vwcaliforniaclub.com

They do, it's on the website https://spacematetray.com/en-ie/pro...te-v3-drawer-for-beach?variant=55781928305015

However, for a similar price, I am imaging a removable unit with fridge, water, pantry and extra worktop space? All fitting under the stowed table? Too tight maybe? (On money and space!)

The German Space Camper T7 module does all that + cooker, but their stuff won't retrofit into a California Beach (I asked). However, with Cooker already in place, a bit of DIY (and/or spacemate) you might get to a similar end point. Would be a great product for someone to develop for Beach though.

SpaceCamper Modular T5 | T6 | T7 - Heckküche

Unsere Heckküche SpaceKitchen bietet alles, was man zum Kochen braucht. Der Primus Tupike Zweiflammenkocher ermöglicht viel Freiheit beim Kochen. Das integrierte Faltwaschbecken nimmt wenig Platz ein und ist auch portabel nutzbar. Ein Brausenhalter

spacecamper-modular.de

Makes me think the T7 Beach would work well for me. Imagining what could be done in van mode too with table and right seat(s) removed so opened up to full height/ length. Bikes, etc. You could slide all sorts up there in different scenarios.

 

[alissruby]

Not sure if this helps this discussion. I was also a bit miffed to always swap the seats around - to much work! So I built this thing (shelf and 'raiser') I now just collapse the three back seats forward and lay the mattress across. Not sure the damage I am doing but it works. We have three kids and Mom and Dad. T7 California Beach Liberty.

View attachment IMG_4531.jpeg

 

[RedWhiteMonkey]

Not sure if this helps this discussion. I was also a bit miffed to always swap the seats around - to much work! So I built this thing (shelf and 'raiser') I now just collapse the three back seats forward and lay the mattress across. Not sure the damage I am doing but it works. We have three kids and Mom and Dad. T7 California Beach Liberty.

View attachment 144845

We are two adults and two kids (9 and 6) in a T6.1 Beach. That works ok for us but I couldn't imagine three kids, is it not a bit tight?

 

[alissruby]

We are two adults and two kids (9 and 6) in a T6.1 Beach. That works ok for us but I couldn't imagine three kids, is it not a bit tight?

It is tight but the kids are all under 10 - so easy to please when it's time to sleep. I am hoping when they are older, I'll get the green light to get something bigger from the 'boss'.

 

[vanfitz]

Not sure if this helps this discussion. I was also a bit miffed to always swap the seats around - to much work! So I built this thing (shelf and 'raiser') I now just collapse the three back seats forward and lay the mattress across. Not sure the damage I am doing but it works. We have three kids and Mom and Dad. T7 California Beach Liberty.

View attachment 144845

Seems like a nice simple solution. I saw a number of the T7 Multivan retrofit bed modules use the chairs in the same way so I don't think it should be a problem. The spacecamper seems to do it: https://spacecamper-modular.de/product/spacelounge-t7-new-multivan-bett/?attribute_laenge=200.5+cm

 

[vanfitz]

I finally took delivery of my T7 Beach, a decision helped by info in this chat. Very impressed. Per above, I had been gathering materials for a removable pull out kitchen to fit alongside the built-in unit.

The 36 cm height is limiting but forces a lot of space efficiency. You can spend ages buying the right sized stuff, so if anyone wants a steer on items that fit, let me know.

I fit a 22L fridge, 20 litres of water, 1 kwh battery, air fryer, induction hob and still have some decent pantry storage left in there. Getting carried away, I put a worktop on it, hinged from the side to tie it all together and protect the battery.

Some photos attached in case it inspires others to improve it! It is not near as polished as the light in those photos make it look to be honest, but I hope gives great service.

 

[RedWhiteMonkey]

That's a great setup you made yourself there, well done. Its probably better that the one VW has stuck in there.