Buying T7 California Beach Camper

[Malaroo978]

Hi Guys, long time camper user but not ventured into california territory until now. I'm very tempted by the T7 Beach - we have 3 kids so need the 5 seats. I'd love the hybrid version rather than the diesel - but obviously there's the seat issue. This is the closest thread I could find to answering this question! Can you add a 5th seat to the hybrid? Does anyone know yet/tried it? @stoobthealien Where did you get your additional seat from and how expensive was it? Thanks in advance!

 

[thatsnotmynaim]

Won’t you be overweight and illegal, potentially not insured etc, isn’t that why they remove it?

 

[Malaroo978]

Won’t you be overweight and illegal, potentially not insured etc, isn’t that why they remove it?

From another thread - someone compared the weights and the beach phev was 100kg lighter than the ocean phev. So I cant see the issue (provided that's accurate). But hence me asking the question! It was offered over in Europe - so I can only assume its not impossible or unsafe.

Ive just had a look directly at the brochure - I'm really surprised the payload is so low generally across the range. Circa 350kg on the phev and 450kg on the tdi.

The only way they manage in Europe is to remove the kitchen units. Which is a good layout for those who want flexibility above camping.

Unfortunately it looks like as a family of 5 it isnt a possibility. Its kind of putting me off it completely. Am I overthinking it? How do people manage with the 5 seater to not go over weight?

 

[Adam8374]

The middle seat is VERY annoying for camping. The t7 is a great camping vehicle for 4 people, but not ideal for 5....

 

[stoobthealien]

Hi Guys, long time camper user but not ventured into california territory until now. I'm very tempted by the T7 Beach - we have 3 kids so need the 5 seats. I'd love the hybrid version rather than the diesel - but obviously there's the seat issue. This is the closest thread I could find to answering this question! Can you add a 5th seat to the hybrid? Does anyone know yet/tried it? @stoobthealien Where did you get your additional seat from and how expensive was it? Thanks in advance!

I got it from a guy on Facebook - ex multivan seat - they are hard to come by though as the normal multivan ones don't have a seatbelt unless they are a middle. I paid £1400 for it

 

[stoobthealien]

Won’t you be overweight and illegal, potentially not insured etc, isn’t that why they remove it?

That would be my assumption - in my case (adding the 6th seat) I suspect VW don't offer it more because of the practicality aspect (having to remove the mattress, bed board, etc so was straightforward enough to get a DVLA change and insurance modification declared.

 

[Malaroo978]

Thanks both. Yes as both mentioned it would definitely be a problem with the total weight. I didnt realise there was so little payload in the California - but as mentioned they aren't designed for 5 people unfortunately.

 

[Gromit2012]

Thanks both. Yes as both mentioned it would definitely be a problem with the total weight. I didnt realise there was so little payload in the California - but as mentioned they aren't designed for 5 people unfortunately.

There's more in earlier models, and more space, and more seats possible! I love Beaches and the whole concept of them but I'm afraid I'm laughing from my T5 Beach owner's viewpoint at the T7 Beach, there's so many ridiculous things from compulsory mattress taking up room (can't make the downstairs bed without it) to having to take out the middle rear seat and turn it around to make the bed and then the back of it's just in the way - and that's before we get started on the compulsory kitchen in the UK. Is there a reason you're not looking at T6.1 / T6 / T5 Beach - they offer so much more?

 

[thatsnotmynaim]

Positive points of the T7 is fully independent and adjustable 5 seats, good for people with bad backs or long multi day journeys and also the flexibility to have it as either a 5, 4, 3 or 2 seater is nice. The drive is also better than our previous T6.1, it has more safety features (some annoying) and we get more MPG from what I thought was the same TDI engine. As others have said though it can be frustrating in ways and even though longer it seems to have less useable space!?

 

[Gromit2012]

Positive points of the T7 is fully independent and adjustable 5 seats, good for people with bad backs or long multi day journeys and also the flexibility to have it as either a 5, 4, 3 or 2 seater is nice. The drive is also better than our previous T6.1, it has more safety features (some annoying) and we get more MPG from what I thought was the same TDI engine. As others have said though it can be frustrating in ways and even though longer it seems to have less useable space!?

Interesting to hear your experience when you've had a T6.1 too. I guess the independent adjustment in the T7 is good for different individual preferences, and it's nice they seem to have made the seats a bit lighter and therefore easier to remove!

With a T5 or T6 Beach with the max number of seats you can get 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 so that's more flexibility than the T7... or with rear 2 seat bench, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6. Although I believe removing the rear bench, particularly the 3 seater, is a nightmare so I guess in the real world the T7 has more flexibility there... but then some of that is removed by the fixed unit in the back, while in the T5/T6 you can easily remove the multiflex board too. Much of the length gain in the T7 seems to be in the bonnet which is not so useful!

 

[Californication69]

Interesting to hear your experience when you've had a T6.1 too. I guess the independent adjustment in the T7 is good for different individual preferences, and it's nice they seem to have made the seats a bit lighter and therefore easier to remove!

With a T5 or T6 Beach with the max number of seats you can get 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 so that's more flexibility than the T7... or with rear 2 seat bench, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6. Although I believe removing the rear bench, particularly the 3 seater, is a nightmare so I guess in the real world the T7 has more flexibility there... but then some of that is removed by the fixed unit in the back, while in the T5/T6 you can easily remove the multiflex board too. Much of the length gain in the T7 seems to be in the bonnet which is not so useful!

I wonder if you can store some of the gear up front. Use it like a frunk.
I seem to remember on my 2 week ownership of the MV there was a cavernous space under the bonnet.
Could store non flammable equipment there ?
The Cobb, and errrr, not sure what else ?