Captains chair thoughts and comments?

[Newbies]

We're building a short bus from a Chevrolet G30/Campell and are thinking about replacing the original driver's seat with a conversion van captain's chair. When I look at it, it's not clear whether there's room to be able to swivel it around to face the rear. Has anyone else done this and, if so, what lessons can you pass on?

Thanks!

[sdwarf36]

Yes-do it. I LOVE my fluffy $65 CL seats. Get ones with 2 arm rests. And depending on what your needs are, they come with or without a seat belt mounted right to the seat. And of course a swivel base.
On my Ford -with a wide dog house- You can do it with a little shuffling. It might be flip seatback all the way up/slide seat forward/ok now swivel/face seat backwards + slide back. I only do it once when i set up camp=and undo once so its not a problem. On the drivers side I usually turn it 90* sideways-the passenger I can go almost full backwards.

[bry899]

I was also looking into this.
You could buy a swivel base and use your own chairs, I also watched a youtube video where they made their own swivels.

[Jessiekij]

hey! did you go through with this? any tips for how to mount the seat to the floor? i had to replace my driver's seat and bought two matching captain's chairs... will it suffice to screw the seat mount directly to the floor? I don't necessarily need them to swivel

[thebrandon]

I would use at least Grade 5 bolts and make sure they go through the metal floor into a cross-member. Same thing with the seat-belts if they are separate.

[Mr4btTahoe]

No screws... bolts.

If you cant hit a supporting member under the floor... you need something under the sheetmetal floor to spread the load out. Large washers or flat bar connecting multiple bolts together. I'd personally use 4-6 3/8" grade 8 bolts, washers, locks, and nuts. A few pieces of 2" flat stock 1/8" thick that will be used to sandwich the sheetmetal floor between the seat base and the flat stock.

Can get flat stock at almost any hardware store in short lengths.

If you are in an accident, you dont want to pull the bolts through the floor. An incredible amount of force is created from a 50mph-0mph sudden stop so build accordingly.

On that note.. very doable and not difficult.

[cadillackid]

there are washers sold as "seat belt washers". for this purpose.. the seat itself wont take much force in a crash as long as neither part of the belt is anchored to the seat itself..
-Christopher

[Tedd]

Originally Posted by sdwarf36

Yes-do it. I LOVE my fluffy $65 CL seats. Get ones with 2 arm rests. And depending on what your needs are, they come with or without a seat belt mounted right to the seat. And of course a swivel base.

sdwarf36: Could you explain a bit more about the seats you are using?

What are "CL seats"? Where did you get them? Does the back recline a bit? Swiveling bases and folding arms are cool but not a need for me

The driver's seat in my 2000 GMC BB Shorty is REALLY horrible. I'd love to replace it with something more comfortable ... and the $65 price tag is pretty cool.

Don't waste a post suggesting an air ride seat ... I just cannot afford one.

[PNW_Steve]

Originally Posted by Tedd

sdwarf36: Could you explain a bit more about the seats you are using?

What are "CL seats"? Where did you get them? .

Seats found/purchased on Craigslist.

[Tedd]

Originally Posted by PNW_Steve

Seats found/purchased on Craigslist.

Well that's a help. Thanks.

[Robin97396]

It wouldn't be that expensive to get a used air ride seat. Watch the scrap yards. Buses are junked relatively often.

The bus driver air ride seats aren't perfect either, but I understand they can be retrofitted with the swiveling captain's chairs while still using the air ride seat base.

[Twigg]

Originally Posted by Robin97396

It wouldn't be that expensive to get a used air ride seat. Watch the scrap yards. Buses are junked relatively often.

The bus driver air ride seats aren't perfect either, but I understand they can be retrofitted with the swiveling captain's chairs while still using the air ride seat base.

That's the solution I want.

With a rear engine I can mount a second seat up front, and I'd like them both to swivel to face the living area. Mine has an Air-Ride seat.

[Robin97396]

That's the best solution I've heard of for being able to actually utilize the front seating area while parked. That's my intention also. Several people here have successfully gone this route.

My OEM air seat is adequate for driving, but it doesn't rotate so I feel that's wasted space while parked. All in time.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by thebrandon

I would use at least Grade 5 bolts and make sure they go through the metal floor into a cross-member. Same thing with the seat-belts if they are separate.

That's what my last two buses used, grade 5.