Two vs three seat bench

impossibledreamer · May 9, 2023

I’ve read a lot about the advantages/disadvantages of the two-seater vs three-seater bench in the Beach, but we are still having a difficult time deciding.

Our main considerations:

-We don’t currently have kids, but are planning for up to two.
-It will be our only car, but we don’t need a car for daily commuting. We either work from home or live a short bike ride from work.
-We live in a city, so most of our errands are within walking distance.
-We would likely only use the car for weekend day trips, the random picking up/dropping off of large items, and of course camping.

It seems like a given that we’d take the 3 seater, since it would be our only car and we live in a city. Almost every California that we see around here is a 3-seater and I know it’s probably more practical. However:

-I’m not keen on how much space the top foam pad takes in the backseat.
-I keep thinking about how convenient the side storage would be on the 2 seater.

I’m just wondering if anyone else is in a similar situation, as in the Beach is you only vehicle, but you don’t use it for daily driving. Which bench did you go for and do you have any regrets with your choice?

RockinNRollin · May 9, 2023

I'm not sure I see the argument for a 3 seater; if you're planning on having no more than two kids, the two seater (I assume a Coast/Surf/Ocean?) will have more (organised) storage for camping with plenty of space? The other thing (and someone will have to step in as I'm not sure), I would imagine the seats are narrower on the 3 seater than they are in the 2 seater; modern baby seats are HUGE so probably an easier fit on a 2-seater bench (and given, in the UK at least, child seats are mandated until the child is around 11 years old, so you're likely to have two seats in there for quite a while).

As a practical vehicle, a 2-seater Ocean has more storage capacity than any car so you won't be suffering there either.

Georgeo · May 9, 2023

I went for the two seater. I thought about the number of people I would likely ever carry and thought 4 if I needed to carry 5 more often then buy a seat. The van is also my daily drive and used every day. I do find the very flat bench seat great for creating a bed no need for special sculptured mattress on the other hand it is not the most comfortable seat for travelling as there is no side support, but children will be in their own seats. Given a choice again I would go for the two seats again just very practice with the long shelf down the side.

Barbara · May 9, 2023

If you want to carry any really large things you may wish to take out the seat. The 3 seat bench is very heavy, the 2 seat will be too but not as heavy. If you can remove the side storage then you will have a long area for long bits of wood for example. It may be worth considering if you want flexibility as well as numbers of seats.

I have the 3 seater bench and it was nice for sleeping on but now it sits in the garage as we also have 2 extra seats as ours was a 7 seater. I now have to sleep up top but the inside is more flexible.

Ch1pbutty · May 9, 2023

There are pros & cons for both. What works for some might be a downside for others.

3 seater is more comfy for sitting in as seats are moulded (same as Caravelle) rather than being flat like an ocean.

3 seater gives more storage under the MFB in the boot as it sits higher than the 2 seat bench; major upside is that you fit a decent 35l fridge under the MFB which can be combined with a slide out boot tray and deep storage boxes; when pushed forwards & dropped, it gives you a huge van like space for eBay furniture purchases etc!

2 seater gives a flatter sleeping area as folds in same way as Ocean (seat is the same), so does not require a specialised mattress to even out the bumps from the seatbelts etc. You gain storage space but lose a seat, so more a case if the storage space works for you - ie - what will you actually store in there.

Forgot about taking the bench seat out…ok it’s possible but super heavy!

Just depends on what your priorities are.

BeagleMum · May 9, 2023

impossibledreamer said:
I’ve read a lot about the advantages/disadvantages of the two-seater vs three-seater bench in the Beach, but we are still having a difficult time deciding.

Our main considerations:

-We don’t currently have kids, but are planning for up to two.
-It will be our only car, but we don’t need a car for daily commuting. We either work from home or live a short bike ride from work.
-We live in a city, so most of our errands are within walking distance.
-We would likely only use the car for weekend day trips, the random picking up/dropping off of large items, and of course camping.

It seems like a given that we’d take the 3 seater, since it would be our only car and we live in a city. Almost every California that we see around here is a 3-seater and I know it’s probably more practical. However:

-I’m not keen on how much space the top foam pad takes in the backseat.
-I keep thinking about how convenient the side storage would be on the 2 seater.

I’m just wondering if anyone else is in a similar situation, as in the Beach is you only vehicle, but you don’t use it for daily driving. Which bench did you go for and do you have any regrets with your choice?

There isn’t a right or wrong choice, it’s really is down to personal need of what you want from the vehicle.
We choose a 2 seater rear bench over the 3 as we didn’t need 5 seats, for us the 5 seater just felt like a people carrier whereas the 4 seater with its additional space felt completely different. We really appreciated the extra space the 2 seater gave, plus the storage box is incredibly handy.
The 2 seater converts into a much larger bed.
The 2 seater was absolutely the right choice for us.

Ch1pbutty · May 9, 2023

BeagleMum said:
The 2 seater converts into a much larger bed.

2/3 seat have the same size bed, both full width.

Borris · May 9, 2023

It all comes down to flexibility.

If you are confident that your future family plans will involve just two children then either will do a good job. But beware, experience has taught me that all it takes is a little bit of hanky panky and you'll be needing a three seat bench.

DevillBelgium · May 9, 2023

impossibledreamer said:
I’ve read a lot about the advantages/disadvantages of the two-seater vs three-seater bench in the Beach, but we are still having a difficult time deciding.

Our main considerations:

-We don’t currently have kids, but are planning for up to two.
-It will be our only car, but we don’t need a car for daily commuting. We either work from home or live a short bike ride from work.
-We live in a city, so most of our errands are within walking distance.
-We would likely only use the car for weekend day trips, the random picking up/dropping off of large items, and of course camping.

It seems like a given that we’d take the 3 seater, since it would be our only car and we live in a city. Almost every California that we see around here is a 3-seater and I know it’s probably more practical. However:

-I’m not keen on how much space the top foam pad takes in the backseat.
-I keep thinking about how convenient the side storage would be on the 2 seater.

I’m just wondering if anyone else is in a similar situation, as in the Beach is you only vehicle, but you don’t use it for daily driving. Which bench did you go for and do you have any regrets with your choice?

If it where up to me I would go for the 2 seater for the Storage under the bench wich you get to be more practial.
But since we are talking about a Beach I would be in the same position.
3 is more practial, More Seats for the Kids to transport.
More Space for Sleeping (which is a Hughe difference if you compare to a Coast/Ocean)
It is just something you must decide yourselfs.
The argument of the comfort matress taking up space can be ignored sice you do not need it/can leave it home when needed.

Simbo · May 9, 2023

I have a two seater Ocean, we have two kids. Every now and then we miss the option of carrying extra people, kids friends etc. We wanted to add an extra seat but our van is a 4 motion and those don't have the extra seat rail that you need for the extra seat so you can't do this. If seating flexibility is important. Get a 2wd as opposed to 4wd.

B J G · May 9, 2023

I'm not advocating one of these but it seems a good halfway option between a Beach and the Ocean.

ACTIVE | Play. Stay. Everyday. — Adria Mobil

With the new Active Multi-Purpose Camper, you can really play, stay and use it every day.

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Chrismatheson · May 9, 2023

impossibledreamer said:
I’ve read a lot about the advantages/disadvantages of the two-seater vs three-seater bench in the Beach, but we are still having a difficult time deciding.

Our main considerations:

-We don’t currently have kids, but are planning for up to two.
-It will be our only car, but we don’t need a car for daily commuting. We either work from home or live a short bike ride from work.
-We live in a city, so most of our errands are within walking distance.
-We would likely only use the car for weekend day trips, the random picking up/dropping off of large items, and of course camping.

It seems like a given that we’d take the 3 seater, since it would be our only car and we live in a city. Almost every California that we see around here is a 3-seater and I know it’s probably more practical. However:

-I’m not keen on how much space the top foam pad takes in the backseat.
-I keep thinking about how convenient the side storage would be on the 2 seater.

I’m just wondering if anyone else is in a similar situation, as in the Beach is you only vehicle, but you don’t use it for daily driving. Which bench did you go for and do you have any regrets with your choice?

We bought a 2 seater and have 2 kids, (7mo old and 6y old) the two car seats thing is real. I’ve never managed to comfortably fit any adult in ANY car in between 2 modern car seats.

The flexibility as mentioned above is awesome. I regularly take out the side pod or read MFB to carry cargo.

The flat seats mean we just use a boring old dunelm mattress topper and it’s nice and comfy

Richi · May 9, 2023

Hi. We bought 3 seats bench Beach. Never thought about 2 seats bench. We’ve got only one child but many times we need 5 seats as we take with us either friends or family. 3 seat bench is wide enough and will comfortably seats 3 adults. We also like full width of boot. But like other said it come to personal preferences.

TheDoc · May 9, 2023

Tricky! I’m a 3 seat beach advocate as i make use of the extra seat on occasions, I like the king size bed, the ability to configure the space how I want and spacing the boys apart helps to curtail the inevitable fighting! I’m sure some love the 2 seat beach but if I was in the 2 seat mindset I’d throw the ocean into the decision mix. Probably doesn’t help you much I know!

Beachfamily22 · May 9, 2023

We have the two seater and love it! For our family of three, the main benefits over the three seater are:
1. The under bench drawer. It's cavernous and fits all our non coolbox food items.
2. The side cupboard. Again, really nice storage and the ridgemonkey 10l water carrier fits perfectly inside, meaning we always have easy access.
3. The ability to sit up in the downstairs bed.
4. The ability to use the inbuilt stove with the bed down.
5. Ability to easily climb into boot area to grab something from a bag. Ok, not a biggie but I do it surprisingly often.
6. The general feeling of space.

I'm sure there are plenty of things people prefer about the three seater too. The storage shelf is slightly higher in the three seater version, but we haven't had any issues yet with the lower version.

TheDoc · May 10, 2023

Agree - lots of storage in the 2 seater - I’m jealous of the drawer for sure. I believe another plus of the 2 over the 3 is that the bed is lower so it should be easier to sit up in bed. In the 3 seater there is less headroom.

babble · May 10, 2023

I have three kids (and and no partner) and we have the 2 seater. I have a 4 motion with the extra seat option, which I use if needed. The side storage comes out in two parts on mine in seconds, and I can then even add a sixth seat. I love the downstairs living space in both the 2 and 3 seater. I love the bed. Honestly I think they are both great. I suspect 3 seater might resale better.

You can convert from one to the other for a few £k of course. (Although there might be some problems with paperwork) Maybe less in fact. The basic insides are the same.

BeagleMum · May 10, 2023

Beachfamily22 said:
We have the two seater and love it! For our family of three, the main benefits over the three seater are:
1. The under bench drawer. It's cavernous and fits all our non coolbox food items.
2. The side cupboard. Again, really nice storage and the ridgemonkey 10l water carrier fits perfectly inside, meaning we always have easy access.
3. The ability to sit up in the downstairs bed.
4. The ability to use the inbuilt stove with the bed down.
5. Ability to easily climb into boot area to grab something from a bag. Ok, not a biggie but I do it surprisingly often.
6. The general feeling of space.

I'm sure there are plenty of things people prefer about the three seater too. The storage shelf is slightly higher in the three seater version, but we haven't had any issues yet with the lower version.

Totally agree, we loved our 2 seater.

babble · May 10, 2023

I'm up in the Pyrenees right now, and the 2 seater has a lovely lounge feel to the interior, with one of my daughters sitting on the side bench. All the food and utilities are stored in the under seat drawer and in the storage under the side bench. Love it.

impossibledreamer · May 11, 2023

Thanks everyone. I think you’ve successfully convinced me to go with the 2 seat bench. We are buying the van primarily for camping so it makes sense to prioritize the space rather than the seating capacity. And I can always replace the seats it if our lifestyle changes and we have the need to carry more people on a regular basis.

BeagleMum · May 11, 2023

impossibledreamer said:
Thanks everyone. I think you’ve successfully convinced me to go with the 2 seat bench. We are buying the van primarily for camping so it makes sense to prioritize the space rather than the seating capacity. And I can always replace the seats it if our lifestyle changes and we have the need to carry more people on a regular basis.

I think you’ll be delighted with the 2 seater, it’s a great vehicle.

BugglePopples · May 11, 2023

I originally liked the look of the 2 seat version but went for the 3 seater based on possibly having another kid in the future.

The beach is a great vehicle either way you will love it!

paul_f · May 12, 2023

If you think you might want to swap, a 2 seater is a better choice. The three seat beach is the same as is used in the caravelle (although different trim), so is more readily available second hand

Georgeo · May 13, 2023

paul_f said:
If you think you might want to swap, a 2 seater is a better choice. The three seat beach is the same as is used in the caravelle (although different trim), so is more readily available second hand

Don’t forget they are higher than a 2 bench so the flexi board supports will need changing.

CarolynTBeach · May 13, 2023

impossibledreamer said:
I’ve read a lot about the advantages/disadvantages of the two-seater vs three-seater bench in the Beach, but we are still having a difficult time deciding.

Our main considerations:

-We don’t currently have kids, but are planning for up to two.
-It will be our only car, but we don’t need a car for daily commuting. We either work from home or live a short bike ride from work.
-We live in a city, so most of our errands are within walking distance.
-We would likely only use the car for weekend day trips, the random picking up/dropping off of large items, and of course camping.

It seems like a given that we’d take the 3 seater, since it would be our only car and we live in a city. Almost every California that we see around here is a 3-seater and I know it’s probably more practical. However:

-I’m not keen on how much space the top foam pad takes in the backseat.
-I keep thinking about how convenient the side storage would be on the 2 seater.

I’m just wondering if anyone else is in a similar situation, as in the Beach is you only vehicle, but you don’t use it for daily driving. Which bench did you go for and do you have any regrets with your choice?

Hi. I was ready to sign up to an ocean having van envy of my neighbour’s across the road, but went for a 7 seat beach tour instead. Similar to you we live in a city and it’s our only vehicle. We’ve two kids, they don’t always want to sit right next to each other, so the space in the middle works. Extra 2 seats stay in storage but they are handy when taking extra family and friends about. Get yourself a pull out drawer under the back seat. Game changer. The dometic fridge lives there permanently and all the other coming/camping equipment sits on it too. The comfort mattress is just there, so we work around it. You can cook under the tailgate if no awning, we have a drive away one and the factory fitted roll out too. But if necessary, you can pop the roof and cook in the van like the ocean and coast. Just do it on the integral table. For us the beach tour offers the best of both worlds. 2 adults, 2 teenagers and a dog. Had it a year and absolutely no regrets. Enjoy

Two vs three seat bench

impossibledreamer

RockinNRollin

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Georgeo

Barbara

Ch1pbutty

BeagleMum

Ch1pbutty

Borris

DevillBelgium

Simbo

B J G

ACTIVE | Play. Stay. Everyday. — Adria Mobil

Chrismatheson

Richi

TheDoc

Beachfamily22

TheDoc

babble

BeagleMum

babble

impossibledreamer

BeagleMum

BugglePopples

paul_f

Georgeo

CarolynTBeach

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