Club 80-90 Forums

Some advice from those with swivel seats please.

Looking at the Sportscraft bases (like this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/142969667265).

Does the drivers seat actually swivel 180 degrees, or does it clash with the steering wheel?

Just want to check it will actually work before splashing the cash....

Cheers

Usually with driver's seat swivels there is a certain amount of jer-jer-jiggling needed with sliding back and forward, folding forward and handbrake off no matter what vehicle they are fitted into.

As far as I can see drivers swivel is pointless in a camper. It only serves to match height of passenger swivel seat.
Gimick added to make your camper look good in sales brochures.

Never used mine

might work in a homebrew camper with nothing behind the seat.

And also the difference in height is very noticeable.
On my camper I can only just get my legs between seat and standard wheel. If you were a chunky monkey you may struggle.
My tin top without swivels seats are much lower.
Both with standard seats.

completely different driving position. Not sure which I prefer but a I think the lower position is more comfy. This higher position you get a better view.

itchyfeet wrote:As far as I can see drivers swivel is pointless in a camper. It only serves to match height of passenger swivel seat.
Gimick added to make your camper look good in sales brochures.

Never used mine

might work in a homebrew camper with nothing behind the seat.

My T6 driver swivel seat is part of the bed - definitely not a homebrew . His sig only says Caravelle so assume it is still the basic van. ( People tend to assume that everyones vans are converted to campers.)

I know nothing but always believed that a swivelling driver's seat was illegal in the UK? Where did I get that from?

As above, I have a caravelle. Rear row of seats removed and large storage area created.

Middle row of three left in, where the kids sit.

Table for the kids that stretches across the van for picnicking type duties. If both front seats swivelled we could keep a better eye on the monsters and it would all be a bit more socialable.

Don't want to drop over £300 on swivels though if the drivers side only gets as far as the steering wheel before stopping!

this is mine, seat back in the most upright position ( which is probably not very comfy) and headrest touching door it's not at 90 degrees, maybe just do 90 with headrest off not sure.

But the question is - will it face the back? Doesn't look like it is fully backwards to the rear of the van.

Wouldn't work with the drivers side i know but on our passenger side seat i slide the seat right off the rails backwards then simply turn it round facing the back and slide it on again into this position. I made this possible by taking out the four capscrews securing the seat base to the upper frame then used 4 spacers approx 6mm between the base and frame to give just enough clearance so the seat will slide on backrest first from the cab area. Cuts down on alot of weight of a swivel base as well.

itchyfeet wrote:this is mine, seat back in the most upright position ( which is probably not very comfy) and headrest touching door it's not at 90 degrees, maybe just do 90 with headrest off not sure.

Thanks itchyfeet, but as oldie says is it possible to actually get it all the way round - looks like it would get stuck on the steering wheel??