Passenger seating (Navigator seat)

[AdamKnox]

I finished building the couch on the passenger side of the bus, and we took our trip. Now we realize that this setup won't work for us. So, it looks like we are back to construction.

What I am asking is for ideas about a captains chair setup. I've seen some videos about what others have done, and this looks like the direction we are going to next. It always seems that others have gotten one from a person that they know, so...

Where I am looking for your voice is where you have gotten (or will get) the chair.

I have been watching Craigslist, but nothing has come up yet, unless I want to purchase the whole van it is attached too.

What would you all recommend for a supplier for this? I need to get the rotating base as well as the chair.

Thanks all!

 

[magnakansas]

What I did

I bought a seat from a 2004-2007 Chevrolet pickup truck. Cloth, built in baby seat latch points, reclines. Lumbar adjustment, seat base has electric tilt/rise/fall. And built in seat belts. Headrest and one arm rest. I have purchased five so far…ranging from $40 to $75 Each.

Swivel seat mount, used from salvage motor home $35

Four pieces of 1/4” by 2.5” - might have been 3” cold rolled steel about 17” long.

Four 1” bolts with nylock nuts and fender washers grade 5

Seven 3/8” x 1 1/2” grade 8 bolts with 16 hardened washers and nylock nuts.

Two pieces of steel are bolted to the seat… going left - right

Two pieces are bolted to the swivel base going front-back.

I then set the seat on the base. The four pieces of steel now form # Where the steel crosses -tack weld the assembly

Remove the bolts. And weld the seat pieces together. Keep in mind, a crappy job and you could help hurt a person.

1” bolts are for mounting the base to the floor.

I cut part of the truck side of the wire harness so I could wire into the seat with a neater clean job.

William

 

[DoubleO7]

Where is "Bay Area"?
San Fran?

Anyways, I bought two all leather captain seats from a couple that bought a fullsize conversion van. They were converting it to a camper and these were the second row seats. Complete with factory swivel pedastals.
I used one on my commercial lawn mower for an extra cushy ride.
Will sell the other one cheap in perfect condition that has been in climate controlled storage.
But I am an hour north of Tampa Bay (another bay area).

Anyways, try looking for vehicle conversion places or the aftermarket conversion seat manufacturers. They might sell seconds?
Check any motorhome manufacturers in hour area for surplus seats maybe.

 

[AdamKnox]

Thank you Double O7. Bay area is San Francisco area. Trying conversion outfitters has been a dud. I haven't hit RV shops yet.
Too bad we are not closer. Thanks for the offer though!

 

[AdamKnox]

Great breakdown and details. I'll start adding those to my search string. I was avoiding building a base, but this may be where I have to go/do. Cheers!

 

[Oscar1]

Hello Adam
I found my passenger seat at a scrap yard specializing in semi trucks. It's from a 2018 Kenworth, it's air ride has heat and has a built in swivel base. The seat manufacturer is Paccar. The complete assembly including the seatbelt was about $350. I had to cut down my front wheelwell a few inches to build the mount and keep the line of sight below the top edge of windshield.

 

[Rucker]

Thank you Double O7. Bay area is San Francisco area. Trying conversion outfitters has been a dud. I haven't hit RV shops yet.
Too bad we are not closer. Thanks for the offer though!

I'm pretty near you , in Sacramento. I looked for months to find a decent swivel passenger seat, nothing under about four hundred bucks. I finally bought a pair of van seats for $80 but still can't figure out how they could mount in the bus.

I finally just repurposed a Sienna tumble seat (the kind that lock in on four hooks). Welded up a solid base for it to snap in to, then welded that to a swivel base off Amazon (about $115). Don't buy the cheap swivels used for fishing boat seats. I used 1" square steel tubing to fabricate the setup, took forever.

The tumble seat did not have an integrated seat belt, so I bought one out of the local pic 'n pull.

The seat is bolted through the floor with half inch grade 8 bolts. Looks and feels solid.

 

[musigenesis]

Do these swivel seats lock in place facing forward while driving? Seems like spinning free might be bad news in an accident.

 

[Rucker]

Do these swivel seats lock in place facing forward while driving? Seems like spinning free might be bad news in an accident.

Here's the locking base I used:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B082DKSB23/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Very strong, locks in the forward position.

 

[Oscar1]

Yes the Paccar swivel locks solid in place in the forward or backward position. The big sell for me on this seat was how short the whole unit with the swivel integrated, most air ride bases seem very tall.

 

[Meathead]

Audi A4 passenger seat. Found on Facebook marketplace $85. I have everything hooked up but the heat. I need to get an attenuator for that. No swivel - on top of wheel well.

Good luck!