Seat upgrades out of another vehicle for T2 Bay window Bus FAQ

[Saunter]

Why couldn't I find this forum subject? I had to start a new one. Anyone try aftermarket Jeep seats? They're easy to find, cheap, and look nice.

[tristessa]

[inhabor]

Here are my seats.

[Convoy]

A topic started here (I believe) about the stock seats being a tad high for us tall folks. Some have gone to Sport seats and maybe used the Vanagon camper seats (swivel type) to lower your seating height. But if you're one of the few that are above 6'4"+ those options may still not be the best possible solution. On a stock seat the sitting posture gets a bit uncomfortable as one contorts ones posture into a slouched neck tilted leaning forward position. It gets painful on long trips. I believe the baywindow bus has the potential to fit us tall guys better, but what's the best way? I still think the stock seat looks the best from any other aftermarket seat so what can be done to the stock seat.

So I began by taking off my driver seat cover to expose all the springs and seeing what modifications can be down. Chopping springs doesn't seem possible and I had no luck from my google searches to find shorter replacement springs.

That's when I thought the guys that "tub/lower" their bus have to deal with a higher seat. So what do they do?

The search began on the web. I ran into many threads talking about modifying the stock seats, but never found a picture of an actual seat modified....... until the other day. I stumbled upon this glorious picture from Volks world. It appears to be 2 1/2"-3" in uncompressed height.

So how'd they do it?? Just foam and perhaps a some sort of underlying carriage to support the foam?? I wonder because that looks like a great solution for us tall guys.

[pantone149]

I was given a nice pair of 81 Vanagon Westy seats (brown "leatherette") to install in my 73 Westy. Since I did not want to destroy the existing seat tracks in the bus, I took the 73 seats, cut apart the frames, and bolted to the 81 seats. It took a heck of a lot of work, but the seats slide up and back as they should, lock in place, recline OK, and they are comfy. The biggest downside was the labor and the fact that the seat cushions are taller than the original seats. I'd look for seats with a shorter seat cushion, like maybe from a Miata or other small car. I'd think you still have to do a lot of custom work if you want to maintain reclining and sliding.

[Tcash]

[vwible]

My bus is a 1970 passenger walk-through with the high bulkheads behind the stock low-back seats. I really don't want to cut them out to accommodate other seats, due to the safety protection from shifting loads, and wanting to keep the main body shell intact.

Main problem I'm trying to solve is on the passenger side, the shoulder belt runs across the neck of shorter passengers (co-pilot wife). Suggestions for seats that might work are appreciated.
_________________
1970 Tin Top Walk Through Bus

[Tcash]

http://www.newtoncomm.co.uk/cars/vw-camper-van/mod...ight-hand/

Captains Chair

Reclining Seats

[Vova]

[danfromsyr]

2011- 2015 Chrysler or Dodge 2nd Row Stow n Go Bucket Seats

town & country Stow and go seats are the current hot ticket in the vanagon front butt comfort.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6...p;start=20

small car has the seats & adapters if you want one stop shopping.

here's a great post with images.

[Tcash]

Those are nice looking seats. I like how they are bolstered slightly to hold you in.
Thnx for posting
Tcash

[vwwestyman]

I originally posted this stuff in the Vanagon forums.

[Vova]

Got some Vanagon seats for my 78'. They are a little wider and taller than the original seats. I think I am going to keep mine and do a foam base to lower the seat a little since I am 6'3".
Anybody in the Bay Area want some nice seats?

_________________
1978 Westfalia
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=663529&highlight=vova
Bay Area VW owners on Face Book
https://www.facebook.com/Bay-Area-VW-Owners-1464253410267781/

[webwalker]

Ok,

An update from the field. I took some measurements just so that we're all talking about the same thing (the first step to sanity when trying to compare apple to apples) because just because someone is 6'4" doesn't mean they have a long torso: They may just have legs like a stork and thus have 'no problem' with standard height Bus seats.

So here are some actionable numbers: In a passenger bus with a headliner in good condition (original loft, not hanging like grandma's stockings) the distance from the center of the base of the seat pillar to the headliner is 41-3/8".

Let me clarify that: the base level is not the depression in the middle, but the level rim the seat belt bolts to and that the seat tracks are welded to. That's the absolute lowest you could possibly take a seat if it were as thin as a shadow. From that point at the middle of wheel arch straight up to the headliner is 41-3/8" which is the important vertical measurement because it is the delta between your butt and this imaginary plane that constitutes how tall your torso can be and you still fit in the vehicle.

It looks like the Miata or the Town & Country seats are where the action is at for a seat that is naturally low. Now for the hard question to answer: measurably HOW LOW?

Marshall
_________________
"Consistent maintenance with quality products is the cheapest warranty you'll ever need."
1977 CE1 Transporter Deluxe, Subaru EJ22, Skills Cooling, Steedle HD 091 w/ GuardT .82 4th
Click to view image

[nhcamper]

So I picked up a handful of town and country seats and plan to make a universal conversion plate that will slide into the stock rails.
I have a need for this myself so I figured others might too.
While I am at it I will also engineer a bracket for a Dodge truck "center console seat" and a stow and go jump seat base so I can fit 6 people comfortably in my westy and I can remove the jump seat and console seat when in "camp mode"

I will be fabricating some items but I know I can make them cheaper if there is an interest. I dont need any hard commitments. Just send me an email or text is you's be interested. I will do the CAD work anyway and I have a friend that has a metal shop.
I will make 20 or so of these slide in seats with the adapter attached. Engineering the jump seat adapter bracket will be involved but I'll take it on if others want it.

I am also going to sell my green plaid "recovered vanagon" seats- with heaters and plaid armrests too! They served me well but the family is growing so its all about functionality now.

Send me a PM or email if you are interested. Peter@Ideapoc (dot) com

[AJPinVT]

Just had my Vanagons done over the winter by a local upholstery shop.

[KentABQ]

[vwwestyman]

[AJPinVT]

The fire extinguisher was there when I got the bus. Just a couple of self-tapping screws but it's held up fine.

And Dave, thanks for pointing out the cot brackets!

[nhcamper]