Why is the multiflex board on a hair trigger!?

flymartin · Aug 22, 2023

Just back from 3 weeks touring and the van has been splendid. But why oh why is the handle for folding the multiflex board so sensitive? Every time I’m loading up the space under the board if I so much as touch the handle (or just hit one of the folding supports in either side) it triggers the board to fold down.. with the mattress and all sorts of other stuff on top of it, I have to unload a little, reach in from above, and reset the the MFB. So much pointless effort!

Is there a reason why it has to be so sensitive? And has anyone found or invented a lock-out feature to stop it folding unwantedly?

Brodger3 · Aug 22, 2023

Another newby question froKm me - how do you take the multifex board out. What is the technique. I tried and gave up

matt-k918 · Aug 22, 2023

flymartin said:
Just back from 3 weeks touring and the van has been splendid. But why oh why is the handle for folding the multiflex board so sensitive? Every time I’m loading up the space under the board if I so much as touch the handle (or just hit one of the folding supports in either side) it triggers the board to fold down.. with the mattress and all sorts of other stuff on top of it, I have to unload a little, reach in from above, and reset the the MFB. So much pointless effort!

View attachment 113366

Is there a reason why it has to be so sensitive? And has anyone found or invented a lock-out feature to stop it folding unwantedly?

I feel your pain. Used to happen to me all the time. I ended up cutting a couple of lengths of dowel and cable-tieing them to the folding hinges to stop it happening. Not the most hi-tech solution but it works and can be easily removed if I ever need to fold the board (which I have never yet needed to do in 7 years of ownership!)

Ch1pbutty · Aug 22, 2023

Just watch the loaded height under the release handle; plastic storage boxes will help as provided you don’t load over the lip of the box,
It won’t interfere with the MFB.

flymartin · Aug 22, 2023

matt-k918 said:
I feel your pain. Used to happen to me all the time. I ended up cutting a couple of lengths of dowel and cable-tieing them to the folding hinges to stop it happening. Not the most hi-tech solution but it works and can be easily removed if I ever need to fold the board (which I have never yet needed to do in 7 years of ownership!)

Good idea - thanks - will give that a try unless anyone comes up with an even better one..

flymartin · Aug 22, 2023

Ch1pbutty said:
Just watch the loaded height under the release handle; plastic storage boxes will help.

Thanks, I do have a couple of euro boxes that fit perfectly across the space between the rear bench and the MFB. But there’s 10-12 cm of clearance above them and so I slide things on top of them, and those things trigger the MFB fold.

I feel VW is penalising me for failing to maintain Teutonic minimalism and Ordnung in my boot space!

paul_f · Aug 24, 2023

I also got fed up with it - cut this piece of wood to jam it open after i trapped my finger in it!

dripster · Aug 24, 2023

paul_f said:
I also got fed up with it - cut this piece of wood to jam it open after i trapped my finger in it!

View attachment 113483

I anticipate Brandrup soon selling one made out of titanium for £100...you should patent that quickly!

temporarysecretary · Aug 24, 2023

dripster said:
I anticipate Brandrup soon selling one made out of titanium for £100...you should patent that quickly!

jimmywease · Aug 26, 2023

Brodger3 said:
Another newby question froKm me - how do you take the multifex board out. What is the technique. I tried and gave up

I’ve done this a few times (3 seat bench Beach) and it is a bit awkward. I think last time, I dropped the bench seat backrest fully forwards; unfastened the multiflex; tilted the multiflex forwards and rolled it up and onto the bench seat; slid the bench seat forward. Now the multiflex is upside down, on top of the bench seat (which is in in ‘table mode’) and ready to slide lengthways through the sliding door.

As you carry it up the driveway and into the house, you can enjoy the various perils of unexpected sudden flap folding, trapped fingers and damaging your doorframe with the rearmost metal multiflex leg.

flymartin · Aug 27, 2023

Brodger3 said:
Another newby question froKm me - how do you take the multifex board out. What is the technique. I tried and gave up

I’ve never done it but I did stumble across this video which seems helpful:

jimmywease · Aug 31, 2023

flymartin said:
I’ve never done it but I did stumble across this video which seems helpful:

I previously used this method, but found it a bit tricky to do alone, without banging the van trims and windows, hence my 'controlled rollover method' above.
Obviously if I'm in a hurry (for a divorce), I'll ask Mrs Wease pop out and help with this method in future!

Perfectos · Sep 2, 2023

To make removal of the multiflex board easier, move the seat as far forward as possible, undo the base frame fixings fully, lift the MFB up slightly so the fixings come out of the channel, now lift the whole MFB up, to clear the internal side trim and turn through 90 degrees. (Helps to have an assistant due to the weight