Date:         Sat, 3 Jan 2004 16:13:58 -0800
Reply-To:     Michael Snow <slowmachine@COX.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Michael Snow <slowmachine@COX.NET>
Subject:      Re: Swivel Seat Satisfaction??
Comments: cc: "J. Harvey" <jtharvey2@HOTMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <BAY99-F52hndLZpieYq0002a77e@hotmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed

J. Harvey wrote:
> I was wondering how well people like their swivel seats.
>
> I planned to install front swivel seat bases in my van today but I'm a
> little uneasy about cutting the battery compartment doors and the increased
> seat height.  Also, it looks like the swivel tracks put the seat about
> 1.25"
> closer to the windsheild.  In the archieves somebody mentioned the battery
> hold-down bolt is hard to get at.  Plus I've read some unappealing
> rotational slop stories.
>
> So, do you Westy owners like yours and do those who swapped swivels into
> their vans have any comments or suggestions?

In my opinion, the swivel is of minimal use for the driver.  Factory
Westfalia seat bases are smaller in length and height than the passenger
van seats to compensate for the height of the swivel mechanism and
enable rotation.  The non-swivel seats are so much more comfortable on
long trips that I am considering removing the swivel mechanism from the
driver's seat on my Westy.  The extra height caused by installation of
the passenger van seats on swivel bases makes little difference for the
passenger, unless their feet do not reach the floor.  For the driver,
however, installing passenger van seats on the swivel base makes an
uncomfortable reach to the clutch.  For reference, I'm 5'9" tall, 165
pounds.  My wife and I much prefer the larger passenger van seats for
the comfort.  When camping, we do like to rotate the passenger seat 180
degrees so it faces into the "living room".  Even with the authentic
Westfalia seats, the kitchen equipment restricts your options to
rotating the driver's seat 90 degrees.  This only makes sense if you're
trying to use the front Westfalia table between the front seats, which
we never do.  If I was choosing from all available components, I would
install the passenger van seats with adjustable arm rests on both sides
and put a swivel mechanism on the passenger side only.

Michael Snow
1982 Westfalia diesel
1986 GL
1987 Syncro GL