Hello! Log in or Register   |  Help  |  Donate  |  Buy Shirts See all banner ads | Advertise on TheSamba.com  
TheSamba.com
 
Will I be tall enough to reach Pedals
Page: 1, 2  Next
Forum Index -> Bay Window Bus Share: Facebook Twitter
Reply to topic
Print View
Quick sort: Show newest posts on top | Show oldest posts on top View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Sherrie Landriault
Samba Member


Joined: October 07, 2017
Posts: 4
Location: Sudbury
Sherrie Landriault is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Oct 07, 2017 6:59 pm    Post subject: Will I be tall enough to reach Pedals Reply with quote

Hi! I am 4'9" and would like to buy a type 2 bus and wondered if there are any other tiny drivers out there and whether or not I will be able to reach the peddles to drive. I live in Sudbury Ontario and am about 5 hours away from anyone selling a bus to try it out. I don't want to drive the 5 hours to find out I'm too small to reach! Is there anyone out there that can help me out? Thanks!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Classifieds Feedback
Wildthings
Samba Member


Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 50248

Wildthings is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Oct 07, 2017 7:03 pm    Post subject: Re: Will I be tall enough to reach Peddles Reply with quote

I would suspect that you would need to add pedal extensions. An automatic transmission model would help, but they are pretty rare.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
KentABQ Premium Member
Samba Member


Joined: September 11, 2016
Posts: 2406
Location: Albuquerque NM
KentABQ is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Oct 07, 2017 7:23 pm    Post subject: Re: Will I be tall enough to reach Peddles Reply with quote

NYCynthia is 5', and drives hers with no problem.

I wish I had snapped a picture of the day she was reinstalling her engine at Robbie's place...
She was standing up, legs straight, bent at the waist, and had her head at the back of the engine, installing bolts. The rest of us would have been in pain trying to install them, but she just leaned in as if it were made for her. And maybe it was!
_________________
-Kent-
1976 Riviera, 1.8l FI chrome yellow VAN - "Chloe"

"I must say, how can you be in a bad mood driving this vehicle full of vibrant color.
Cars of today are so bland in comparison. It's like driving a celebration!"
---WildIdea

Bus ownership via emoticons:
Very Happy Shocked Mad Sad Embarassed d'oh! Pray Brick wall Pray Dancing Dancing Dancing ---williamM
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Tcash
Samba Member


Joined: July 20, 2011
Posts: 12844
Location: San Jose, California, USA
Tcash is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Oct 07, 2017 8:26 pm    Post subject: Re: Will I be tall enough to reach Peddles Reply with quote

Welcome to TheSamba!
Click on link
Buyers Guide
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Abscate Premium Member
Samba Member


Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 22552
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
Abscate is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Oct 08, 2017 3:33 am    Post subject: Re: Will I be tall enough to reach Peddles Reply with quote

Can someone help,Sherrie out by putting the seat forward to,the most forward notch and then measuring drop,from front seat edge to clutch and brake pedals?

SHerrie...my mother drove ours with 6 kids at 4 feet 13 inches tall just fine.

Of course, now she is 90 and drives a Golf stick so she might be a tough act to follow. VW Sales guy couldn't find reverse to back it put, so she barked 'get out of the seat sonny, I'm running out of life here."

Someone else with a Bay in TO can perhaps give her a test drive, too??
_________________
.ssS!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Oilspot11
Samba Member


Joined: July 31, 2014
Posts: 135
Location: Green Mountain Falls, Colorado
Oilspot11 is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Oct 08, 2017 2:06 pm    Post subject: Re: Will I be tall enough to reach Peddles Reply with quote

I'm 5-6 and the bus is the most comfortable vehicle I've ever driven. HTH
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Ernie Punkin
Samba Member


Joined: August 31, 2014
Posts: 84
Location: Hawaii/B.C. Canada/Seattle
Ernie Punkin is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Oct 08, 2017 3:45 pm    Post subject: Re: Will I be tall enough to reach Peddles Reply with quote

Welcome Sherrie!

I'm 5'1" with a short lower torso and do just fine in a 77-79 bus.

Actually you are a good height because you'll have perfect headroom and a near perfect view out the front window.

I wear low cut hikers with a bit of tread and I push the seat forward all the way. Because you sort of sit over the steering wheel it's easy.

It might help to use a small lumbar pillow or an ergonomic back pillow if necessary. You certainly have lots of options to take up an inch of so of slack behind your back if necessary.

I strongly consider that you re-build the front seats, unless they've recently been replaced with like-new seats. I put re-built and re-covered original Vanagon seats in my bus and the firm seating made driving very comfortable. Mine were from GoWesty but they may not offer them right now. Upon touching them they felt rock hard and I was worried about comfort, but they were perfect for long drives, and it was critical for me as a shortie to have a firm solid surface to "push off" from in order to operate the pedals well. The Vanagon seats have a bit of shape to the sides to help cradle you in the seat whereas original bus seats had a flat surface. Again, Vanagon seats that are re-done with very firm foam seats might be best.

You can work with a used parts source for the Vanagon seats and then have them freshly re-built and upholstered at an upholstery shop. Matching like-original fabrics are available on-line, or you can also buy seat kits that include padding, covers, etc.

I also like the previous suggestion to consider an automatic so you can focus on just the brake and gas pedals.

Hope you "go for it" and welcome to bus world. Feel free to PM me if you need more info.
_________________
1977 Westfalia "Happy"
Bye Bye 1979 Westfalia ERNIE the REI Bus
-----
Ion Pod Trailer
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Sherrie Landriault
Samba Member


Joined: October 07, 2017
Posts: 4
Location: Sudbury
Sherrie Landriault is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Oct 09, 2017 1:10 pm    Post subject: Re: Will I be tall enough to reach Peddles Reply with quote

Thanks for the warm welcome and feedback! I did travel the 5 hours to try it out and I was too small to reach the clutch... We made some pretty fun video footage- with me in my high heels trying to reach and I was still a bit too short and my tummy was hitting the wheel with a lumbar pillow. Have you ever heard of putting extensions on the gas, clutch, and brake peddles? Is it at all possible? If not I will look for an automatic. Have you ever seen an automatic type 2 bus? I am so sad! I have wanted one of these since I was a child! I sure hope I can make it work!

Last edited by Sherrie Landriault on Mon Oct 09, 2017 1:19 pm; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Classifieds Feedback
airschooled
Air-Schooled


Joined: April 04, 2012
Posts: 12684
Location: on a bike ride somewhere
airschooled is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Oct 09, 2017 1:12 pm    Post subject: Re: Will I be tall enough to reach Peddles Reply with quote

Sherrie Landriault wrote:
Thanks for the feedback! I did travel the 5 hours to try it out and I was too small to reach the clutch... Have you ever heard of putting extensions on the gas, clutch, and brake peddles? Is it at all possible? If not I will look for an automatic. Have you ever seen an automatic type 2 bus?


Anything is possible with a good weldor and a little cash. Wink
_________________
Learn how your vintage VW works. And why it doesn't!
One-on-one tech help for your Volkswagen:
www.airschooled.com
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website Instagram Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Sherrie Landriault
Samba Member


Joined: October 07, 2017
Posts: 4
Location: Sudbury
Sherrie Landriault is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Oct 09, 2017 1:22 pm    Post subject: Re: Will I be tall enough to reach Peddles Reply with quote

Excellent! I will try to find a welder!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Classifieds Feedback
Wildthings
Samba Member


Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 50248

Wildthings is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Oct 09, 2017 1:35 pm    Post subject: Re: Will I be tall enough to reach Peddles Reply with quote

Sherrie Landriault wrote:
Thanks for the warm welcome and feedback! I did travel the 5 hours to try it out and I was too small to reach the clutch... We made some pretty fun video footage- with me in my high heels trying to reach and I was still a bit too short and my tummy was hitting the wheel with a lumbar pillow. Have you ever heard of putting extensions on the gas, clutch, and brake peddles? Is it at all possible? If not I will look for an automatic. Have you ever seen an automatic type 2 bus? I am so sad! I have wanted one of these since I was a child! I sure hope I can make it work!


Welded on pedal extensions would be the best, but as a temporary measure you can just buy crimp on extensions.

Yes there are automatic buses out there, they account for maybe 10% of the total bus population. You will probably want a bus with power brakes as well. I think power brakes started with the '71 model year but am not sure. Others will surely chime in. The automatic started in '73 I think, not sure on that either.

The collision protection was upgraded with the '73 model as well, for myself at least that is an important consideration.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
dobryan
Samba Member


Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16468
Location: Brookeville, MD
dobryan is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Oct 09, 2017 3:46 pm    Post subject: Re: Will I be tall enough to reach Peddles Reply with quote

My '71 had power brakes and I believe that was the first year for them, front discs too. Very Happy
_________________
Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25 and Peloquin TBD

"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson

MD>Canada>AK>WA>OR>CA>AZ>UT>WY>SD
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620646

Building a bus for travel in Europe (euroBus)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=695371

The Western Syncro build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=746794
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Abscate Premium Member
Samba Member


Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 22552
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
Abscate is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Oct 09, 2017 3:57 pm    Post subject: Re: Will I be tall enough to reach Peddles Reply with quote

1971 was the first year for power brakes but they can be added to earlier Bays. I think Cynthia's Bus had that mod done by Samba Awesomes...

Pedal extensions can be added easily and are a good solution if God made you to look out for smaller things.
_________________
.ssS!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
67ctbug
Samba Member


Joined: January 24, 2016
Posts: 3619
Location: CT
67ctbug is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Oct 09, 2017 5:36 pm    Post subject: Re: Will I be tall enough to reach Peddles Reply with quote

Abscate wrote:
VW Sales guy couldn't find reverse to back it put, so she barked 'get out of the seat sonny, I'm running out of life here."

Priceless Abscate Laughing
_________________
'67 Beetle L41
'74 Westfalia
'69 Plymouth "Adam-12"
'63 Ragtop
'73 914
'73 Dodge W200
'72 Dodge Wrecker
Go Cubs!
World Series Champions 2016
KentPS wrote:
...or the PO envied the terrorists' bus in "Back to the Future". Laughing

mukluk wrote:
He's fine, just waiting for the dragon in winklepickers to move out of his lane.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
pantone149
Samba Member


Joined: August 19, 2004
Posts: 1017
Location: Mt. Shasta
pantone149 is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 3:48 pm    Post subject: Re: Will I be tall enough to reach Peddles Reply with quote

Get some platform shoes. Popular in the 70's.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Wasted youth
Samba Member


Joined: July 06, 2012
Posts: 5134
Location: California's Hot and Smoggy Central Valley
Wasted youth is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 5:25 pm    Post subject: Re: Will I be tall enough to reach Peddles Reply with quote

If your feet comfortably touch the floor while sitting in a normal dining table chair, you should not have any issues. It's one thing to weld pedal extending rods on the clutch and brake pedals, yet a bit more involved adjusting gas pedal height.

Finding an automatic transmission bus only eliminates one pedal extension task. The brake and gas pedals will still need adjusting. Clearly, the platform shoes idea is the winner here. You will not de-value your bus with all that custom work. It's bad enough people clear-coat over rust... no need to make Rube Goldberg proud of you.

Edited for BAD BEHAVIOR...


Last edited by Wasted youth on Tue Oct 10, 2017 6:02 pm; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
busdaddy
Samba Member


Joined: February 12, 2004
Posts: 51050
Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
busdaddy is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 5:32 pm    Post subject: Re: Will I be tall enough to reach Peddles Reply with quote

Sherrie Landriault wrote:
.......and I was too small to reach the clutch...

Could you touch the pedal and move it 1/2 way down?, clutch pedals can be adjusted and the one you tried may have been set up near the floor.

Some blocks of wood bolted through the flats on the pedals each side of the shafts can add a few inches easily and is completely reversible later, I did that to a tractor for the kids years ago.
_________________
Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.

Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

Слава Україні!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
KentABQ Premium Member
Samba Member


Joined: September 11, 2016
Posts: 2406
Location: Albuquerque NM
KentABQ is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 5:37 pm    Post subject: Re: Will I be tall enough to reach Peddles Reply with quote

Wasted youth wrote:
Why do I feel like we are being trolled? Laughing

That's not a nice thing to say about our vertically challenged brethren and sistren. Wink
_________________
-Kent-
1976 Riviera, 1.8l FI chrome yellow VAN - "Chloe"

"I must say, how can you be in a bad mood driving this vehicle full of vibrant color.
Cars of today are so bland in comparison. It's like driving a celebration!"
---WildIdea

Bus ownership via emoticons:
Very Happy Shocked Mad Sad Embarassed d'oh! Pray Brick wall Pray Dancing Dancing Dancing ---williamM
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Wasted youth
Samba Member


Joined: July 06, 2012
Posts: 5134
Location: California's Hot and Smoggy Central Valley
Wasted youth is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 5:43 pm    Post subject: Re: Will I be tall enough to reach Peddles Reply with quote

Well... for gosh sakes! I didn't even make the connection. Shocked

However....

I seem to recall a National Geographic article from my childhood about a horse driving a car, but could not find it. Yet... there's always ingenuity:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yH23Om-awnY
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Sherrie Landriault
Samba Member


Joined: October 07, 2017
Posts: 4
Location: Sudbury
Sherrie Landriault is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 6:41 pm    Post subject: Re: Will I be tall enough to reach Peddles Reply with quote

Thanks for the feedback! I did make a funny video and platform heels were my solution to reaching the peddles but still I wasn't comfortable to drive it! I am going to check on whether or not the clutch can be adjusted and if not welding extensions onto the peddles will be the answer. It looks like automatics are out of my price range and being in Sudbury Ontario, there are not many automatic options... Thanks again for your help!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Classifieds Feedback
Display posts from previous:   
Reply to topic    Forum Index -> Bay Window Bus All times are Mountain Standard Time/Pacific Daylight Savings Time
Page: 1, 2  Next
Page 1 of 2

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

About | Help! | Advertise | Donate | Premium Membership | Privacy/Terms of Use | Contact Us | Site Map
Copyright © 1996-2023, Everett Barnes. All Rights Reserved.
Not affiliated with or sponsored by Volkswagen of America | Forum powered by phpBB
Links to eBay or other vendor sites may be affiliate links where the site receives compensation.