I just bought a 2015 TC LWB wagon a few weeks ago. I'm planning on taking the winter to convert it into a comfy weekender for MTB trips. I want to retain the ability to carry a few passengers, but I definitely don't need to be able to haul 7 people. Mountain bikes are already riding on a RockyMounts swing-away hitch rack.
My first plan was to remove the third row and, in their place, install some drawers for a pull-out kitchen. On top of that would be a bed that would slide out over the folded 2nd row seats. All it would really leave room for in "camping mode" would be room to sleep.
After doing some more research and watching more videos, I'm realizing that it would be nice to have the ability to hang out inside the van and maximize "living space." I'm wondering whether anyone has removed only the second row of seats and left the third row intact. My idea would be to put a kitchen setup just behind the driver+front passenger seats, leave the third row seats as a place to sit and hang out but also to be used for legally carrying passengers with seat belts. To sleep, you'd fold the third row down and slide out a bed platform (potentially stored behind third row seats)?
I have yet to take measurements to see if my idea is feasible, but I wanted to see if anyone has done something like this that I could pull inspiration from. If not, is there some major obstacle that I'm not considering?