Replacing the Driver's Seat

Dave5Cs · August 26, 2021, 07:42:37 AM

We have the original MCI air ride National seat and it is comfy. We also have two Wide ride air Bostrums that we hate. No matter where you put them they are just not comfy at all.
My buddy Pops (Popcorn)sat down in ours and said just like I never got out of my coach I used to drive in California up and down the coast. He said he used to fill it up 1/2 way and that was it. to high to hard and to low you would bust your butt. He is right...

chessie4905 · August 26, 2021, 07:48:10 AM

Maybe the shock absorber is worn out or maybe a different one.

Dave5Cs · August 26, 2021, 07:58:02 AM

They were brand new and came with the bus never installed before. It is not the air ride part it is the seats they just don't feel comfortable even when stopped. Flexsteel I have sat in feel good when stationary but don't when moving and also don't last.

chessie4905 · August 26, 2021, 10:07:06 AM

my dad put a few hundred thousand miles on his 04. I mentioned getting a better seat for it. He said he wasn't changing the seat. He could drive 10 to 12 hours sitting in it without any back issues. I understood what he meant after I started driving it. They aren't pretty, but do the job. Had it recovered and added a black heavy duty fabric to seat and back area though.

Coach_and_Crown_Guy · August 26, 2021, 01:56:21 PM

I have to agree with the comfort of the OEM National Seats put in all GMC Coaches. I've got
untold years in all GMC's and I'll say categorically they are the most comfortable seats ever. I started on 4104's and ended in 4905's and even the MCI's 7,8,9's with them were still extremely comfortable. Like your Pop I drove them for 8 or more hours a day for days on end and never had issues. I got out of the bus at the end of the day feeling good and hardly fatigued or sore at all. I was younger then.... but that's another story.

Even today I find them still good solid and comfortable. One possible age related issue I've noticed with some is that the seat cushions seem to be hardening with age lacking the slight give as they hit bumps, and could probably use a good replacement foam cushion. Then again it could just be my butt, hard to tell. Still very good seats, in an air ride bus, NOT so much on a sprung Crown driving around on the disastrous roads and freeways here in Kalifornia, THAT isn't any fun and definitely requires an air ride seat, which I thankfully have in my two Crowns. Makes it tolerable. On the open road and a blacktopped smooth road nothing compares with the Crown handling, and ride, except maybe the Scenicruiser I owned and ran in service, THAT was the best bus ever made. Period. Truly awesome.

It's all such a personal preference thing that there isn't any truly correct and best solution, it's up to the individual and his bus, and it may require several attempts to find the one that works best. All part of the total Journey, and experience. But we all know that, Right??

luvrbus · August 26, 2021, 04:59:08 PM

I have a Villia seat it is very comfortable and the brake and throttle you can adjust with a button to your pleasure it makes it too easy and comfortable IMO and I don't care much for all the controls on the steering wheel either

Dreadnought · August 26, 2021, 05:47:27 PM

I got seats custom made. Although functionally a proper truck seat and/or Recaro seat makes more sense, I found that the mileage I aim to do even full timing could pander more to style. My seats are luxury RV specific made to my colour and trim requirements at Shop4Seats out of California.

Dreadnought · August 26, 2021, 05:48:45 PM

My seats have a massage function too, because I'm
Flash!