Opinions on Drivers cockpit seating geometry. Leg room for long trips?

[oldmansax]

I need some information on leg room and knee angles on various buses.

I have a bum right knee. It only bends 31 degrees. The main reason I sold my MC7 was it hurt to drive it more than a few hours. So what I want to know is, are there any coaches with different driver seating geometry or are all of them about the same?

I know a 4104 and an MC7 won't work because I have had both of them. The Bluebird Wanderlodge I have now works but just barely, mostly because it has a tilt steering column. I can't set in my wife's Chrysler Town & Country either.

Here is the setup:

When I sat in either of my old buses, my right heel was not on the floor on the accelerator. It would hit the pedal about 2 inches up. If I run the seat back and down so that my heel was on the floor and the knee angle comfortable, I was too low and too far away from the steering wheel. I thought about modifying  my MCI when I had it but don't want to get into the legal hassles. It would probably never be an issue but I'm not going to chance it.

Buses and 18 wheelers generally set like a kitchen chair; back straight up and knees at almost 90 degrees. Luxury autos and sticks and staples RVs tend to set like a recliner; back laid back some and legs extended.

I only have experience with old MCIs, GMs, and Wanderlodges. This group of folks collectively have probably driven everything available.

What say you guys? Is there an older coach around than sets like a recliner? Or has a long reach tilt wheel? Or both?

TOM

[bevans6]

I have the same problem - my right knee has tendon damage and can't stay bent for a long time.  I am going to look at moving my seat back several inches and tilting the steering column.  I haven't looked to see how to do it yet.

Brian

[86102A3]

From looking at my 102a3 manual, it was available with a tilt wheel. Mine has the straight shaft so I do not know how much the wheel tilted. Good luck to you in finding a bus to fit your needs.

[Tikvah]

This is the tilt steering in my 102A3.  Forgive the mess

[86102A3]

I am having tilt steering envy... Do you find you use the tilt?

[Jim Eh.]

I have a back issue that causes pain down my right leg when travelling for any distance in my Ford 3/4 pick up. It has tilt steering as does my MC12. The difference is that in the pick up the tilt mechanism is right at the wheel changing only my arm angle whereas in the bus it is more of a column tilt changing the angle at my hips. I have not put on any significant miles on my bus yet but I can see it being a godsend to change the angle of my leg to torso.
I am not sure if the tilt in the bus is to aid in seating or to aid in a comfortable driving position. I would assume it would not be hard to shim the column rearward (can't see any real legal issues on that one) but it would make getting in and out of the seat a little more difficult as you would probably have to deflate the air bag before getting out to make it easier to get back in. There was one seat maker (nope, can't remember which semi truck they were used in) that their design would deflate the seat automatically without any weight on it making access a lot easier.

Another note from my wife .... don't chinz out on the seats since we will be seated for extended periods of time. Very strange my wife saying to spend more money than originally allotted, it's not like they are shoes or anything  

[Ed Hackenbruch]

 My 5A had a block of wood attached to the bottom of the go pedal for your heel to rest on. The PO put it on and i used it until just a month or so ago. Took it off and like the stock angle much better. If anything i think for me an angled piece on the top of the pedal might even be a little better.

[oldmansax]

Thanks all for the info so far. I can see I need to hunt up some newer MCIs & bribe somebody into letting me check the seat out.

Any more opinions? How about you Eagle and Provost guys?

TOM

[eagle19952]

Thanks all for the info so far. I can see I need to hunt up some newer MCIs & bribe somebody into letting me check the seat out.

Any more opinions? How about you Eagle and Provost guys?

TOM

me my 38-40 inch waistline and my steering wheel are intimate, there is no recline,no tilt and no variety.
i do have a fancy motorhome style electric seat... hardly ever touch the switches..
anyone with a high driver eagle would probably have the versatility you wish for...

[robertglines1]

I have a Bolstrom (sp) seat that is fully adjustable.  Up down (change angle in leg) air control on side does all this plus tilt steering column, Inflatable lumbar. Tilt on seat cushion and adjustable angle on back.   Bob

[solodon]

Hi, I'm not speaking from experience but the first thing that comes to my mind is to possibly move the pedals to a better location.  Raise them, move them, forward or back, whatever it takes.

HTH,

[Tikvah]

Yes, I use the tilt.  I also recently installed an air throttle - best investment ever for my bus!  I found the stiff push was hurting my back on long drives.  Just completed a thousand miles with almost no pain.

[solodon]

I just looked at the pictures again, and the tilt mechanism looks a lot like what I've seen on some school buses.  May be a source???

HTH, Don

[Iceni John]

I just looked at the pictures again, and the tilt mechanism looks a lot like what I've seen on some school buses.  May be a source???

HTH, Don

I have a TRW tilting & telescoping steering column, can't remember the exact model number now, which with the fully-adjustable air seat gives a lot of positions.   Definitely go see what your local wrecking yard has from a Blue Bird or Thomas pusher:  school buses with underfloor storage bays are often better equipped overall because they are used for longer trips than the usual daily school runs, so they often have better creature comforts.   Another thing  -  is your seat angled slightly to the right of the steering column to avoid hip or knee pain?   If not, that may be also worth considering.

John

[solodon]

check ebay.........161050739009.  Out of a 2000 International truck.

HTH, Don