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Topic: Relocating Pilot Seat (Read 932 times) previous topic - next topic

Relocating Pilot Seat

I have replaced my Flexsteel cockpit seats with Villa seats. The Villa seats were considerably larger than the Flexsteel seats. In spite of this, the Villa Cockpit seat fit in the same footprint of the Flexsteel seat (after drilling two new holes in the Villa baseplate).
 
However, the Villa, being bigger in all dimensions, places it too close to the wall to let it swivel around to face the rear of the coach. Also, it is a little close to the steering wheel to be very comfortable on a long trip. I am thinking about drilling four new holes to relocate it slightly. It looks like two inches towards the center will let it rotate, and one inch further from the steering wheel will allow for more comfortable seating.
 
Has anyone else done this before? Did you run into any problems?
 
I have some thin stainless steel sheets, like used in some commercial restaurants as wall covering. I am thinking of using it to cover the old holes. With caulking, it should keep wet stuff out of the coach (not to add strength).
 
All suggestions and advice about accomplishing my objectives, eagerly solicited,
 
Thank you,
 
Trent
Trent and Jean Eyler
2000  U295  4003  WTFE  ISC  350
Build#5603 MC#17385

Re: Relocating Pilot Seat

Reply #1 –
Will it clear the couch if you move it to the rear?
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Relocating Pilot Seat

Reply #2 –
We replaced the couch with two recliners; there is plenty of room.
 
Trent
Trent and Jean Eyler
2000  U295  4003  WTFE  ISC  350
Build#5603 MC#17385

Re: Relocating Pilot Seat

Reply #3 –
I do not know the "internals" of the area the front seats mount to.  So, do not know if there are structural members in the current location and if so if it is a plate (vs box beam in that location) that would offer sufficient strength in a slightly different location.

Aubry at MOT would likely know. 

If this becomes an issue, you would certainly use a steel plate in the wheel well to transfer stress of the new location to the OE beams.

BTW, I did a mechanical inspection on a coach yesterday-- they installed new seats and left the old holes totally open/unsealed-- wow. Yup that is on the list.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Relocating Pilot Seat

Reply #4 –
off center position of the seat with regards to the steering wheel ay also cause some annoyance.

Tim Fiedler

Sure Start Soft Start - home of SureStart soft starters TCER Direct - home of Generac Approved Aluminum and Copper TCER Composite cable generator-gas-prod - home of X-Riser Gas Risers for PE installation Call me at 630 240-9139
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Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna P337
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)

Re: Relocating Pilot Seat

Reply #5 –
Foretravel switched mine form Villa's to Flexsteel under warranty, with a note about couch and mounting mods needed. No details on the receipt about how it was done.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Relocating Pilot Seat

Reply #6 –
Just though of another "how is the seat mounting area reinforced":  From underneath (top of wheel well), use a strong magnet to determine where the metal/reinforcements are.  That will tell you how Foretravel designed the structural reinforcement for mounting the seat.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Relocating Pilot Seat

Reply #7 –
No reinforcement is obvious, either on top, or on the bottom. I did have to drill some new  holes for the copilot seat. Once I got through the plywood subfloor, the holes went right through the rest of the bottom sandwich with ease. There were oversized washers glued (?) to the bottom of the coach.

I do have a box of those small, strong magnets and will try them on the wheel well areas.

Thanks,
 
Trent
Trent and Jean Eyler
2000  U295  4003  WTFE  ISC  350
Build#5603 MC#17385

Re: Relocating Pilot Seat

Reply #8 –
To move the passenger seat rearward 4" in a SOB we had I used an oversized 1/4" steel plate that had six holes drilled in it as a cantilever .  Four of the holes matched the original mounting holes in the floor with the other two holes located 4" rearward.  I bolted the front of the plate into the front OEM floor holes and bolted the front of the seat bracket into the rear OEM floor holes through the plate.  I welded nuts to the bottom of the two remaining holes in the plate to accommodate bolts to hold the rear of the seat bracket in place.
 

Re: Relocating Pilot Seat

Reply #9 –
Forgot to say that the 4" was opportune as it was not only the distance between the front and rear seat mount holes, but also the perfect distance to relocate the seat.