Date:         Wed, 28 Nov 2001 21:35:27 -0800
Reply-To:     developtrust <developtrust@HOME.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         developtrust <developtrust@HOME.COM>
Subject:      Middle front seat

Has anyone devised a solution for a middle seat up front between the driver
and passenger seat? is something quality made commercially?

Years ago when I owned a 1960 something air cooled camper van I fashioned a
middle seat so my date and I could sit close together & hold hands and such.
I simply placed a box on the floor with a cushion on top. In those days you
could slip a piece of plywood behind both front seats and it was held in
place by the cabinets behind.

My 1989 Vanagon has a cabinet behind now but the passenger side has the jump
seat, and now the arm rests are somewhat a challenge.

I made a prototype for my van that is adequate.  A piece of plywood resting
between the seats below the swivel plate and holes cut out for the hand
brake and seat belts. I place a removable brace under the center for support
to keep it from sagging when a person sits there. Cushions on top give it
sufficient height. A piece of plywood cut to fit rests against the arm rests
folded up for back support, but it is just a little awkward. I plan to put
thin padding on this plywood back cut from that blue 1/2 inch camping mat
you get at camping stores, but there is not much room for extra thickness.
The middle prototype seat back already sits a little forward of the bucket
seats.

I may do the box thing again later and I know a perfect solution will come
especially if group consciousness is part of the focus -- unless this
invention has already been done. The box idea would provide storage but the
plywood sheets taken apart can be stored behind the driver seat not more
than  1 inch thick.

Anyone have any ideas or suggestions? Prototype designs are always a bit
ugly but I will be happy to provide digital photos of my first efforts so
that anyone interested might add or improve upon the idea.

I want to create a low tech, low cost seat for traveling the long haul with
my sweetheart by my side. I loved the option when I was 30 years old in my
first pop top air cooled engine van. At 60 now I want to revisit, invent or
redo that middle seat.

I hope someone else has a creative mid willing to tune into this project.

William