Getting the co driver lower and closer to the driver?

[someguy]

My SO mentioned that she would like to be lower, more forward and closer to me when traveling.   She doesn't like her seat so far up and back.   Any thoughts on getting the co driver down and forward ?

At least the driver sits higher in the MCI, compared to a Prevost H3-45.

[richard5933]

How many bus conversions have you driven or been in?

There are countless ways to accomplish this, and many involve custom making or custom mounting a seat for the passenger where his/her feet rest on a cover over the stairs. This will of course vary with the make/model of the bus, but there are endless ways to do this.

First decide which bus you'll be working with so you know the geometry you're working with.

[lvmci]

Get to see as many bus conversions you can, most busnuts are very friendly and will show you theirs. Come to a bus getogethers, a Rally, there's a big one in Quartzsite AZ mid January. Where do you live? Some may be nearby, lvmci...

[chessie4905]

On our 4905, the passenger sits slightly back from driver on passenger side.(because of entrance steps). I have a hinged panel that swings down from dash to close top of steps while in motion. It is carpeted to match floor and oak finished when latched up.

[someguy]

Come to a bus getogethers, a Rally, there's a big one in Quartzsite AZ mid January.

Careful what you wish for.
There is no way my bus will be ready.  And I'll be damned if I'm going to pull a 5er on road trip.  But if my bus is in a usable state... hmmm...

[richard5933]

Careful what you wish for.
There is no way my bus will be ready.  And I'll be damned if I'm going to pull a 5er on road trip.  But if my bus is in a usable state... hmmm...

Not required that your bus is ready to attend a rally, and there are (in most years) rallies all over the country. Some have attended pre-bus in VW campers, tents, and assorted other vehicles. Nothing like walking through dozens of conversions to help get the ideas flowing on what works and what doesn't.

[lvmci]

Some guy, you don't need to have a bus to look at everyones customizations, either at the inside or technical. More importanrly,  busnuts will tell you about mistakes or successes during their builds lvmci...

[someguy]

I was thinking of something like mounting the seat of the passenger chair directly to the 2nd level without a base, right by the stairs.   The passenger's feet would hang over into the stairwell.  Put in a temporary false floor in the stairwell when traveling.   

I've never seen this done before.  I've seen the sliding temporary floor, but in most installs the co driver is still well back and above the driver. 

I don't have to decide anything right now.  It was something that came up when discussing the purchase of a shell.

[richard5933]

There are lots of ways to crack this egg. You'd really benefit from getting out and seeing lots of conversions before deciding how to do things like this.

Here's how ours is done. Yes, we have a GM and not an MCI, and yes, it's a much older bus, but the basic principle is the same.

The foot rest on ours is permanently hinged at the front, and it goes up/down pneumatically.

Video was made by the previous owner to show to potential buyers. This is how it was set up from Custom Coach back in 1974.

https://youtu.be/0QCd779nAeI

[Van]

Now that is a slick set up. 

[someguy]

Here's how ours is done. Yes, we have a GM and not an MCI, and yes, it's a much older bus, but the basic principle is the same...

That is exactly what I am looking for.  Even better that is double wide.   Thank you so much for sharing that.  That is why I ask questions like this.

Now I wish my bus had a straight stairway instead of a curved one...

[richard5933]

Now that is a slick set up. 

Thanks. Quite comfy too - more of a small sofa than a co-pilot seat.

[someguy]

The passenger side of a 60/40 front bench seat from a Ford Superduty might work.  Probably about the right width.  Could use the matching driver's seat for the bus driver's seat.  Put it on an air base.

[richard5933]

Many other better choices out there - check out a truck (semi) salvage yard. Get a true air-ride seat if you want to go that route.

If you truly want the co-pilot to be as close to even with the driver as possible, you either are going to need a way to flip the seat base up or a way to slide the entire seat back. Otherwise the co-pilot will be sitting slightly behind the driver and not alongside.

[buswarrior]

There have been busnuts who put the co-pilot seat right beside the driver and then modify the stairs to turn and go up closer to the curb side.

With the curved stairway in the E/J, something interesting could be accomplished here?

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior