Passenger seat.

theoldprof · Mar 17, 2005

Driving solo in a cargo van, what are the pros and cons of removing the passenger seat and using that room for storage? My wife won't be going along. If I need to take a person along to drive me home from the repair shop, for example, I can use the bunk. Any ideas?

Thanks. :+ :+

RichM · Mar 17, 2005

I have seen several vans with the passenger seat removed. It seems to work out well as the drivers had put cabinets etc in that area.One guy even had his laptop bolted to the top of a cabinet.

X1_SRH · Mar 17, 2005

This is really a great question. I don't know of any regulation that prohibits removing the passenger seat, and have seen it done in several vans. It makes a great place for a fridge, and even an excellent location for a laptop if you are using onboard gps. I am interested in what our experienced EO van fleet has to say about this one!!!! Scott

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davekc · Mar 17, 2005

If I had a van and was running single, I would do it. Alot of unused space that could have many purposes.
Davekc

FlameMerc · Mar 17, 2005

I had a van and did just that. It worked very well. Gave me lots of storage, and I mounted a 9" TV/VCR on top for those days and nights of waiting for loads. My cooler sat next to it and I had my laptop?GPS on the cooler. It also give more room for changing clothes in the van if you need to. My wife made me some privacy curtains for the windows. It gives you the illusion of a lot more room in the van. Good Luck...Butch

LDB · Mar 18, 2005

If you go to www.edmunds.com and spec out a van one of the options is delete passenger seat with a money credit for doing so. If I were going to run van solo I'd probably do it and use that space for a storage cabinet/pantry toward the front and refrigerator just behind that with a nice large countertop about window high over them both to put my laptop/gps on. That should easily take care of your food needs for 10-12 days at a time I'd think.

Leo
truck 4958

Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.

mvbn1 · Mar 18, 2005

Funny thing, you bringing this up. I'm home for a couple of day, with the sole purpose of removing my passenger seat. Besides all of the great reasons listed above, I figure it will give me more dance floor space, so I won't keep hitting my head on the disco ball! :+

rode2rouen · Mar 18, 2005

There were two van expediters who came to the Ford shop where I last worked. Both had removed the passenger seats to allow for more useful work space.

One had his cabinet bolted to the floor and required drawers to be removed (along with their contents) to get to the bolts. The other had come up with a very simple but effective external quick release set-up holding his in place.

Care to guess which one was more enjoyable to work on when the doghouse had to be removed to service the engine??????

I appeal to all van owners regardless of brand.....think of your friendly neighborhood technician when considering this type of modification! Engine access is already very restricted, the easier it is for the tech to get to the engine the quicker repairs can be completed.

Rex

theoldprof · Mar 21, 2005

rode2ruin,

What you mean is the easier to get to the engine, the quicker the repairs, the less $$$ spent for the repair job? I like that.

:+ :+

rode2rouen · Mar 21, 2005

Prof,

That's exactly what I'm drivin' at!

Vans require that the dog house be removed to access the engine for service more involved than routine maintenance. Anything that restricts the removal of the dog house will add to the time required to facilitate repairs and as the time required increases, so will the final dollar ammount of the bill.

A little bit of planning when designing the layout of a passenger seat area modification or a between-the-seats set up will save the technician aggravation(sp?)/time and save YOU $$!!

If the tech spends .7hr. removing stuff to get the dog house out and another .7 putting the stuff back in place, your bill has just increased by 1.4hrs. At a labor rate of $65.00 per hour, that adds $91.00 to the bill!!

Rex

rollingstock · Mar 21, 2005

Hey all,

One thing to remember is the airbag. You will not want anything that could be contacted by a deploying airbag. Most trucks have a switch that disables the passenger airbag but I would still be aware of the distance that is in the fire zone for the bag.

Be safe and take it easy.

Bob

merkurfan · Mar 22, 2005

I removed mine this morning. Found 1 con already at about 11:30 pm... I fell out of the darn bunk! I guess it use to keep my butt on it, gonna hafta sleep the other way so the driver seat keeps me in bed I guess

theoldprof · Mar 22, 2005

Hey, rode2rouen,

Can you remember and describe the simple quickie release mechanism the one guy had for his front seat replacement cabinet?

Thanks, :+ :+

rode2rouen · Mar 22, 2005

Prof,

He had 4 stainless steel cam-lock levers mounted to the cabinet and a small (but industrial strength) receptacle for each lever mounted to the floor.
The receptacles were very low profile (about 1/2" tall).

It took about 30 seconds to unlatch and remove the cabinet from the floor.

I never did ask him where he got the latches, but they were very heavy duty, so I'd guess they came from an marine or industrial supply store.

Rex

mvbn1 · Mar 27, 2005

At least we don't "really" know who you are. Might want to keep this to yourself, if speaking about removal of you front seat, in person to someone. :+ :+ :+

Funny stuff! By the way, I'm putting this one in my book of crazy things that happen to all of us on the road!

theoldprof · Apr 7, 2005

Hey mvbn1,

Did you get your van seat removed? What kind of van do you have? What are you using for storage or whatever in it's place. Did you come up with any type quickie release for any cabinets?

Thanks :+ :+

mvbn1 · Apr 11, 2005

I'm glad you asked... The seat was removed, and I'm happy to report, that I haven't fallen out of my bunk yet, but that brings up a serious issue. With merkurfan's post, stating he fell from his bunk, I've been thinking, and I feel that this is a serious problem. I'd like to suggest that we cargo van operators get together and research a way to prevent this mishap from happening to any other cargo van drivers.

I suggest a telathon! I've already spoken with the operator of a small cable access TV station in Falls River, WA, and he's agreed to give us some airtime. I also have a friend who's a great public speaker, who wants to donate his time to MC the whole thing. His name is Tip Overman, and he's excited to help us out. I've also got a hot babe set-up to post the numbers on the tote board. Her names Irene Anfall, and she's a 11 1/2 on a 10 scale. I figure we can use all the monies raised for research and development, and maybe, just maybe prevent someone else from going through life falling from their bunk.

Well, what do you think??? }>

theoldprof · Apr 11, 2005

We might also check to see if we can get a government grant to study this problem. Any body out there have any info on obtaining governmant grants to study a serious problem? Is this a serious problem, or just a bunch of bunk?

Thanks. :+ :+

merkurfan · Apr 11, 2005

Hey.. Can we call it the Merkurfan Foundation??

By the way.. Those little studs Ford put in the floor to bolt the rear part of the seat to leave one heck of a mark! Perhaps we should also find us a lawyer to go after ford. I mean using a stud insted of a bolt through the floor? That is gross negligence. They should have known I would remove the seat

(of course I am joking)

One thing you have to be carefull of. If your van has a passangers side air bag there is probably a pre-tensioner on the seat for the seatbelt. Unplug that thing and the air bag light will likely come on. Of course, remove it from the seat, plug it back in and stuff it under your bunk and the light will stay off.

mvbn1 · Apr 13, 2005

>One thing you have to be carefull of. If your van has a
>passangers side air bag there is probably a pre-tensioner on
>the seat for the seatbelt. Unplug that thing and the air bag
>light will likely come on. Of course, remove it from the
>seat, plug it back in and stuff it under your bunk and the
>light will stay off.

Does this mean that if your in your bunk, and the "pre-tensioner" is stuffed under the bunk, that your protected by the airbag, while the vehicle is moving and the bunk is occupied?