If we had to name one van we see more than any other, it would be the VW Transporter T6. It is the default base for UK campervan conversions, and because so many started as panel vans in basic spec, the seats are usually the last part of the van still saying "delivery vehicle" after everything else has been converted. A T6 seat retrim closes that gap with bespoke trim that matches the standard of the rest of the build. It is a spoke of our wider campervan upholstery service; everything below is specific to the T6.
Seat layouts on the T6
The typical T6 cab is a driver's seat with a double passenger bench, though single passenger seats and Shuttle or Kombi layouts are common too. We retrim:
- Cab seats: driver, single passenger and double bench, including the bench's folding centre backrest and its much-abused worktop surface
- Kombi rear rows and three-seater benches, with their fold and tumble mechanisms worked around, not fought
- Rock and roll beds: cushions and surrounds patterned to sit flush and match the cab
- Captain seat conversions, trimmed so upgraded swivelling seats look factory rather than bolted-on
- Matching armrests, headrests and grab handles where trimmed
Some T6 cab seats include seat-mounted side airbags; we identify these before patterning, because airbag seams must be constructed to split correctly on deployment. It is a detail worth asking any trimmer about.
How T6 seats age
T6s are newer than T5s, so the wear profile is different: less total collapse, more localised damage. The driver's entry-side bolster still scuffs first, base cloth wears shiny under constant use, and light-coloured trim in lifestyle-spec vans marks quickly. Many owners come to us not because the seats have failed but because basic-spec cloth undersells a van that now has a professional conversion behind the bulkhead.
What we actually do
New covers are patterned from your originals in our Wirral workshop, cut and sewn by hand under Craig (15 years a trimmer), then fitted with the foam inspected and corrected first. You choose materials, colours, stitching, piping and embroidery through our design service, so the cab, rear seats and bed can be planned as one scheme. Fitting is at our unit or via nationwide onsite fitting at your home or your converter's premises.
Choosing materials for a T6
Leatherette dominates T6 orders for good reason: sand, mud and coffee wipe off, and modern grains are hard to distinguish from hide. Leather suits T6s used daily as well as for touring. Fabric, including OEM-style cloths, keeps a factory feel or restores one. We will happily combine them across panels.
Ask about these while it's apart
- Heated seat pads under the new covers: a discreet switch, no visible change, and a warm cab in February
- Sports-foam upgrades for firmer bases and better bolster support on longer drives
VW T6 retrim FAQs
Some T6 cab seats carry seat-mounted side airbags, and covers over them must be made and fitted so the airbag can deploy correctly. We check your seat spec before patterning and construct the seams accordingly, so tell us your trim level when you enquire.
Will a retrim affect the side airbags in my T6 cab seats?
Yes: cab seats and bed cushions can be trimmed together in the same material, colour and stitch pattern, so the interior reads as one design rather than a collection of parts.
Can you trim my rock and roll bed to match new cab seats?
Front seats only is a perfectly good starting point and a very common first job. We keep a record of your material and colour choices so the rear seats or bed can be matched exactly later.
Do you only do full retrims, or can I start with the fronts?
Get a quote for your T6
A few photos of the seats and a note of your trim level is all we need to come back with options and a written quote.
Request a quote