on the road

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2-hour shakedown cruise bringing the bus back from getting a seat base installed,.. the driver's seat now moves rearward 2 feet, swivels 110 degrees, and raises up a foot or so, I lost a row of seats for clearance behind the drivers so she only carries 7 passengers now,
my first-time driving,.. liked how it went on the highway 70 mph, 2100 rpm, not sure gas mileage yet filled it for the first time (was on fumes) 80.00 fill up
now that it runs/starts reliably, I can get in and out of the driver's seat, I got a couple more (minor) issues to fix, and I will have a daily driver handicap bus.

just so I fit in here,.. the bus is getting an 18000 btu propane heater, a queen size air mattress, a 400-watt inverter, all of which will stow up over the driver's seat,.. so camping will be possible!:marshmallow: that and a 10 pack of those survival blankets, I cant hike out if stuck in winter weather,.. so I guess I better be ready to camp and wait for help

 

[Robin97396]

Congrats on the seating improvement.

May I suggest a quilt or two instead of space blankets. Mylar really isn't that warm.

 

[Rusty-SKO]

the driver's seat now moves rearward 2 feet, swivels 110 degrees, and raises up a foot or so,

Wow ! Nice. Post some pics, please.:Thanx:

 

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the seat

easy to get out of now

 

[Robin97396]

That's pretty cool. Is that air actuated?

 

[pbeggs]

nope,.. electric motors and screws/gears,.. much like a normal power seat.

 

[Robin97396]

Very clever. Your build IS proving to be very interesting. Thanks for documentng it so well.

 

[Rusty-SKO]

Thanks for the pictures ! :Thanx:


I am designing my "throne" now and am welcome to innovative approaches. Yours, however, looks complex for sure. The moving-back 24" caught my attention. That looks like a Commercial solution.

Serta lift beds, dentist chairs and massage tables are all good sources for actuators. Solar has also given us many chinese choices.

 

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it's a b&d industries transfer seat base,.. that one was 1500.00 for the part(used)
then another 1000.00 for professional installation. not cheap but vital for my use of the bus,.. I really enjoyed being able to drive today even if it was just to go to the dump.

 

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more seat pics

inside seat pics

 

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lift door operational

modified the handle on the lift door,.. I can now open the door from the inside (couldn't reach handle before) took my first solo trip!

 

[Rusty-SKO]

That is an interesting design- looks like they mounted a pair of linear actuators on the floor for the fore-aft motion. There must be some type of interlock-catch to secure the seat when driving, as those actuators are more for moving things, not securing against abrupt forces.:Thanx:

 

[pbeggs]

there are two screw type jacks that work the up-down part of the thing(by far the most robust part of the device (will pick up 700 or so pounds!)) the raise and lower part remind me of a miniature scissor lift, the fore-aft part is a single screw jack .. the rotate part appears to be a modified electric window motor.
the good thing about screw type jacks is when they stop,.. you are more likely to rip it out of its mount than move the jack. very solid feel to it,.. the bus will not go into gear without it being in the drive position it also added about 4" of rearward seat travel in the drive position if needed (will let you move seat up to 4" rearward while driving)