Removing the Modesty Panel..Pros and Cons?

[grantgoold]

Looking at removing the modesty panel in the stepwell of my MCI9. Would like to get opinions from the group. Pros and Cons.

Thanks in advance.

Grant

[buswarrior]

Sure, why not? All the new equipment is without to gain more room for the entry way.

It will leave your shifter and parking brake control out in the open, unless you move them elsewhere.

Not insurmountable to a busnut!

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[grantgoold]

I am actually talking about the modesty panel that is on the passenger side of the stairwell and usually used by the copilot as a foot rest. I have already removed the panel behind the driver's seat.

Grant

[JackConrad]

We removed that panel in our MC-8. This allows the co-pilot seat to be further forward (with a slide-out foot rest in the stairwell), so she is more beside me rather than sitting further back on that side. Makes conversation easier while traveling. Of course, my poor hearing doesn't help either.  Jack

[Runcutter]

Grant, unless you're going to cover the stepwell (removable/retractable/hinged cover), I'd reconsider. 

I'm putting that modesty panel back in my 4107, using one from a scrapped bus.  My reasoning is that it provides a handrail at the steps, entry and exit.  More importantly in my thoughts, though, is that it will prevent a fall into the stepwell, and provide something to grab, use for balance, when the passenger gets up while the vehicle is moving.  I think it's inevitable that Phyllis will decide to get up, right when some donkey pulls in front of me and I have to hit the brake.  If I'm sitting there while she's driving, I want the physical barrier between me and the yawning chasm of the stepwell.  We have two, first class airline seats up front, one on each side of the aisle.  I'm not fond of sitting on the right, without that panel, even with the bus parked.

In any moving vehicle, I always feel more comfortable moving around, when there are plenty of handholds nearby.  As I've gotten older, I find that I always use the handrail when I'm climbing or decending stairs/steps.       

If you have other handrail options, or you are covering the stepwell while the bus is in motion, then this thought wouldn't apply.   

Arthur

[Bussman84]

Interesting thought Arthur had, I have removed mine and just figured the seat would swivel around and who ever would be sitting there would be on solid ground BUT.... what if they are on there way up as that "donkey" pulls out? Sure enough they are going to wind up in the step well I am not going to put mine back in but...my skoolie has a platform that lays down to cover the step well when going down the highway pull it up slide it behind the drivers seat when parked works really well for what it does might be an idea? 

Billy

[desi arnaz]

i would like to have one for my 4106  any extras?

[TomsToy]

I'm still in the planning stage but what I plan is a hinged platform to cover the step well at the drivers floor level and a swivel chair that will lower to the correct height for the drivers floor when facing forward and raise to the correct height when turned toward the back.  I plan on leaving the grab bar on the right side of the step well going up, I think that will suffice.

[gus]

Neither of my buses has stepwells covered for forward seating. This is not a good idea from a safety standpoint since it makes one arrive at the accident scene sooner.

My 4107 seat is in front of the wheel well but the 4104 is to the rear. My copilot likes the farther back one best. I looked for a modesty panel for my 4104 for a long time because they look so cool, but never found one.

I've never quite been able to see the point of having that seat so far forward, visibility from a bus is so great there is no advantage - especially since the farther forward the hotter it gets in hot, sunny weather weather.

[artvonne]

Neither of my buses has stepwells covered for forward seating. This is not a good idea from a safety standpoint since it makes one arrive at the accident scene sooner.

  Can you explain your thoughts here better? Ive seen several Buses with fold down step well covers/floor. The only thing I see as an issue is possible escape.

[happycamperbrat]

Neither of my buses has stepwells covered for forward seating. This is not a good idea from a safety standpoint since it makes one arrive at the accident scene sooner.

My 4107 seat is in front of the wheel well but the 4104 is to the rear. My copilot likes the farther back one best. I looked for a modesty panel for my 4104 for a long time because they look so cool, but never found one.

I've never quite been able to see the point of having that seat so far forward, visibility from a bus is so great there is no advantage - especially since the farther forward the hotter it gets in hot, sunny weather weather.

Im not real familiar with all the different types of buses yet, please tell me (or better yet someone show me a picture) about the 4104 driver seat being behind the wheel well??? I googled for an image but cant find it..... Sounds like a serious safety issue (meaning GOOD)

[gus]

What I'm saying is I can't come up with even one good reason to have the front passenger seat right at the very front of the bus. In a front collision this is the last place you want to be. Covering the stepwell is a lot of work making getting in and out of the bus a nuisance and making it less safe.

My wife likes the one on the 4104 best which is behind the wheel well.

The 4107 is just ahead of the wheel well but behind the stairwell so there is no blocked stairwell safety issue. One day I will probably move it more aft.

Both these setups provide as good visibility as one could want and plenty for back seat driving as well!!

Happy camper seems to be confused, I haven't seen anything about driver's seats posted!! Most driver's seats are in front of the wheel well, but on the other side!!

[happycamperbrat]

Yup! Iz confused..... I thought YOU were talking driver's seat! I had a good time last night and posted a few strange things that I regret in the next day 

[MEverard]

My passeger seat is on top of the wheel well which puts my wife right up to the stairwell. I am going to put a panel in so she can have a magazine rack behind it, or a cup holder, or a place to rest her book on while she reads. I also have an upper cabinet that the PO put right up to the stairwell. I am not going to hit my head on the corner anymore.

Mike