Removing platform to drivers seat

[Dockle-Doo]

I need feedback please. I’d like to install a new drivers seat and also have my subfloor go all by the way to the pedals. This would mean removing the platform that the current drivers seat is mounted to. Is this structurally a bad idea? Do i have to have that platform? Has anyone else removed it and what kinds of seats have you installed? I’m looking at Mercedes sprinter seats.

 

[desrtdog]

I need feedback please. I’d like to install a new drivers seat and also have my subfloor go all by the way to the pedals. This would mean removing the platform that the current drivers seat is mounted to. Is this structurally a bad idea? Do i have to have that platform? Has anyone else removed it and what kinds of seats have you installed? I’m looking at Mercedes sprinter seats.

Totally doable and should not be an issue with regards to structural integrity. May be an issue with regard to the replacement seat you want to install from the standpoint of mounting holes, but you should be able to overcome that.

I pulled all of the subfloor up in my bus - all the way to the front. Required me to remove the driver's seat, as well as the heater and control panel on the left side of the seat. Laid down replacement flooring, and reinstalled the same seat, but instead of mounting the seat bolts through the floor again, I used some of the L-Track that the passenger seats were mounted to...bolted that to the floor, then attached the driver's seat to that - so easier to take out if needed in the future.

 

[Dockle-Doo]

That sounds fantastic! Are you able to send me some pictures of it by chance?

 

[desrtdog]

Here are some pics of the demo and build up of the floor - Sorry, but I do not have a close-up of the L-track and seat mounted to it, but can take one next time I go up to the bus:

Seat removed and heater panel cover off:


Before removing the seat, I went under the bus and spray painted the four mounting bolts so I knew where they were when I installed the new flooring...

With heater core/blower removed:

(Note original plywood flooring is still in place.)

After removing original floor and priming/painting the base metal:


Before covering the front floor with 1/2" plywood, I put a layer of Kilmat down for a slight noise and thermal barrier. I also bolted 2 pieces of the L-track (about 12" or so each) to the floor using the original seat bolt holes, and cut out slots in the new plywood to accommodate these...Did this to avoid getting too much rise on the seat when reinstalled. This is the L-track I used:

this came from the overhead and was used to secure the wheelchair shoulder belts...I also had a boat load of flanged L-track like this:

...which is what the passenger seats were bolted to, but did not want to chance the clearance below the flange matching the plywood thickness.

Hope this gives you some ideas...not sure what your bus is or how the seats were mounted, but I have a bunch of the flanged L-track if you need any...just not a lot of the track fasteners (last pic above), but they are available on eBay or I think Amazon...

 

[nikitis]

Why'd you remove the heater? No more defrost. Are you planning on having the Mrs' sit where the heater was?

 

[desrtdog]

Why'd you remove the heater? No more defrost. Are you planning on having the Mrs' sit where the heater was?

Nah - heater is back and works fine...just removed it to get the floor out from under it, then reinstalled once new floor in...did not want to have to cut around it to get the cockpit floor out...

 

[Dockle-Doo]

The brackets for the seats are what I’ll be installing for the passenger seat. I was concerned removing the frame the seat is mounted on would make the integrity of the seat weaker in the event of an accident.

 

[desrtdog]

The brackets for the seats are what I’ll be installing for the passenger seat. I was concerned removing the frame the seat is mounted on would make the integrity of the seat weaker in the event of an accident.

A pic of what you've got and or plan would help to visualize it a bit better. That said, I believe if you mount the new seat in a similar fashion to the existing one - that is bolted through the floor with appropriate strength hardware - you should be fine.

Also, as a side note, I installed a jump seat on the right side of the bus immediately behind the front door...Bolted L-track to the floor for that one too, and installed the seat on the L-track...here's a pic:

 

[nikitis]

I need to figure out something like this. I want the Mrs. to be close while driving on trips, but there's not a ton of room in the dognose bus of mine for it. This may be what I need to do.

 

[Dockle-Doo]

That is wonderful!