Description
New & Improved! October 2025
Fitting a swivel to your VW Transporter driver’s seat?
As is often the way in the world of campervans, it’s not quite as straightforward as you might think. The main issue is that the handbrake (even when released) sits higher than the metal seat base in your van.
If you fit a swivel on top of the seat base, it will crash into the handbrake when you try to rotate the seat - and that’s a problem!
Realistically, you have three options to get around it:
Option 1: Use a RIB swivel
These driver’s side swivels include a pair of 20 mm spacer bars that raise your swivel and seat slightly higher. The extra height is just enough to clear the handbrake.
However… your seat will now be around 45 mm higher than VW originally designed. You may also need to remove the handbrake’s plastic trim to gain a few extra millimetres of clearance.
Option 2: Fit a handbrake lowering kit
These are typically supplied by the swivel manufacturer. By removing your handbrake and refitting it at a lower height, you create space to rotate your seat without hitting the lever.
However… most handbrake mods look a bit rough, as the plastic trim no longer fits properly, and the lever often ends up sitting at an odd angle.
Option 3: The Kiravans Solution
We’ve developed what we believe is the perfect handbrake lowering kit.
- New vacuum-formed plastic trim cover for your handbrake bracket
- 4 mm steel bracket to eliminate flex
- All nuts, bolts, and cable protection included - installs in 10 minutes
- Compatible with all swivels on the market - including the Double Seat Swivel
If you’re using a RIB driver’s swivel with our kit, you can remove the spacer bars and drop your seat height by 20 mm - a perfect setup.
Compatibility
This handbrake lowering kit is designed for left-hand drive VW Transporter T5, T6, and T6.1 models.
It’s intended for use with the standard rubber floor mat. If your van has an extra layer of carpet (for example, in Caravelle models), the plastic trim may not fit as neatly.
Downloads
There are no downloadable files.
DELIVERY - 8.50 EUR
Kiravans' straightforward delivery pricing - a flat fee of 8.50 EUR, for Zone 1 & 2 countries regardless of the quantity of items you purchase. (Zone 3 countries are priced at 12 EUR.)
This transparent approach means that you only pay for the first box, whether you buy one item or twenty items! We believe in fairness and honesty, and our delivery pricing reflects that by not hiding costs within our product prices.
Not sure what zone you are in? Check here.
Kiravans provide a comprehensive 'No Quibble Returns' policy. You can return any purchase up to 90 days after purchase, for an exchange or full refund.
We only ask that you follow any manufacturers' recommended maintenance advice and use-by dates. Read our full policy here >
Payment & Security
Your payment information is processed securely. We do not store credit card details nor have access to your credit card information.
Kiravans is the leading online retailer of campervan conversion products. We have been designing, making and sourcing top quality kit for over 16 years.
Our warehouse is in the Netherlands. We are proud of our fast deliveries and there's no import duties or tariffs to pay - just a hassle free shopping experience!
Read the Kiravans full story here