Buddy seat < hostess seat > MCI # 9 ?

[Nineforever]

Just wondering did MCI produce a buddy seat < hostess seat > in 1981 for the MCI # 9 ? is there a aftermarket available ? i would like to leave the drivers area and stairwell looking original if possible .
Thank you

[Bill 340]

we found them  years ago BUT extremely expensive. we finally found a new  movie theater seat, had to buy two so we had arms on each side, don't remember the price but I remember it was cheap, might not have been new, but looked like it. worked great because when you get up it folds automatically, and was real comfortable. still leaving plenty of room to enter and exit,,

[thomasinnv]

Depending on what you want to spend, you can find some really nice flex steel captains chairs for under $400. Or go to a wrecking yard and look at some of the vans with captains chairs. the flexsteel and similar are really nice because many have the seatbelts built into the base and they can be turned around and used in the living space for seating when not driving down the highway.

[luvrbus]

I built a cabinet with a hostess seat from a 727 plane with the seat folded up inside the cabinet with the door closed and the door was the area that covered the stair well area in the down position when up and stored most people never knew I had co-pilot seat 

good luck

[TomC]

The manufacturers of step vans (Morgan-Olsen for instance) makes DOT approved jump seats with seat belts that mount in the stair way to the side door.  Might consider doing it the approved way, rather then a theater seat.  Not that it isn't a bad idea using a theater seat, just thinking of the ramifications of what the insurance company would think if discovered if you got in an accident.  When it comes to sitting that close to the windshield, no matter what seat you use, always have a seatbelt on it.  Good Luck, TomC

[Boomer]

I have a brand new never used hostess seat removed from a Prevost if you are interested.

[Nineforever]

Very much intrested Boomer .... would it be fairly straight forward to install in a 9 ....... what kinda money looking for
Thanks Dave

[Boomer]

As far as I know MCI never made a hostess seat for MC-9's.  The tour guides usually sat in one of the front seats. The Prevost seat assembly I have is part number 363900P and includes the seat belt and arm rest.  It folds up into a real low profile.  As of the last Prevost parts price book I have (2007) the seat assy. sold for $1,722.85.  You can have it for 200.00 US plus shipping.  The four special bracket mounting bolts would have to be made or ordered from Prevost Parts. The mounting points on the back of the seat are about 14-17" apart (vertically). Overal height is 28" and width 14". You can mount it in two different height positions. It's a quick change seat and if specced on a new coach usually had a stowing mounting bracket in the bay for when it was not needed. To afix it on a MC-9 modesty panel you would have to structurally enhance the modesty panel and make some brackets.  Not a big deal if you are handy at fabricating.  I'll try to post pictures here, if it doesn't work give me your email and I will email pictures.  Thanks.

[robertglines1]

Boomer: just curious was it for a H or XL?

[Nineforever]

I would like to purchase here is my email davewilson@northernexposure.co will wait for your reply

[Boomer]

I don't remember which model it was for, we operated both.  I think the seat was common to both H and XL.

[buswarrior]

I will only warn you once...

You may have romantic ideas about a buddy seat in the stairwell...

But the person who you think is going to sit in it, WON'T.

I don't know how you are going to be able to make a comfortable seat, both in adjustments for seat back, and somewhere to put your feet, in the stair well of an MC9, that anyone will sit in for any length of time, and then never again.

And if they are at any height at all, they will be in the way at every corner you come to to see down the street.

Nothing wrong with maintaining the stock modesty panel and putting the co-pilot into a swivel chair with the whole corner equipped with nooks and crannies and cup holders.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[Mex-Busnut]

Here is the picture of my hostess seat, which came with the bus (not an MCI, of course).

However, let me make another suggestion, in case somebody doesn't want to spend kilobucks for one. In our skoolie that we use with our youth group, we are planning to add a fold-down seat taken out of a club cab pickup. These usually come with two fold-down seats behind the main seats. Just another option to check into.

[junkman42]

I really need a buddy seat!  I can just imagine My mother in law backseat driving from that position!  Oh please someone install one in My coach!  Maybe with a James Bond type arrangement a switch to blow the door and seat perhaps it is a viable plan.  LOL John L

[Mex-Busnut]

I can just imagine My mother in law backseat driving from that position!

LOL John L

John:

In your case, you might install her seat on one of those luggage racks that mount on the trailer hitch.