Replacing cab seats June 17, 2017, 09:28:01 pm We are considering new seats for our '92 MB. The passenger side is OK, but the drivers seat is well broken down so we seem to be falling toward the door when driving. I am going to investigate the possibility of having it rebuilt, or of replacing it (and the passenger to match). The last information I can find here is 14 years old, and Andy's Eurotec replacements he used on Gertie seem to be off the market now. Has anyone changed out the seats 💺 in a vintage LD? I am seeing Flexsteel and some offerings at Discount Van that may work. Thanks.
Re: Replacing cab seats Reply #1 – June 18, 2017, 01:32:43 am Paul,I had a Thunderbird that had a drivers seat doing a similar thing. As I sat down, the left corner of the back would cave in and loose support.I took it to a local upholstery shop and they welded the seat's back bracing and that was that. Inexpensive fix for me. An upholstery shop may provide you with the same support.Good luck with yours.Kent
Re: Replacing cab seats Reply #2 – June 18, 2017, 07:32:20 am Check Craigslist or Ebay. Often there are up fitters that have new seats removed from custom vans.
Re: Replacing cab seats Reply #3 – June 18, 2017, 09:15:11 am Paul,The seats in my '78 Landcruiser sagged to the point that sitting in them was like sitting on an open bucket. I took them down to a small upholstery shop and the guys rebuilt both seats with new springs in the bottom, new foam and new cloth covers to match the interior (vinyl is just to hot and sweaty in the desert) for $350. It was money well spent. I liked it so much that I had them do the back jump seats so everything matches. $500 to do the whole rig.One nice thing about living so close to the border with Mexico is that we have small shops where the owners have been doing upholstery down in Tijuana for most of their lives and then move up here and continue their business. The relative proximity to Tijuana keeps the price down, as well.HaroldHarold
Re: Replacing cab seats Reply #4 – June 18, 2017, 09:47:08 pm Thanks everyone. I will indeed get a quote on rebuilding the seats, as recommended. Our local upholsterer can do. Yes, we have one here. On the other hand, it may take a trip to go somewhere with more resources than our little town. The car club folks will have some recommendations for shops I am sure. Looking around, it appears Flexsteel is the best option for replacement, and I have found the model most similar to what the Mothership installed originally. But alas, not the fantastic upholstery they initially installed. After reading the Flexsteel website about their seats, I am worried that I will never want to stop for the night because they are so astonishingly ultra super ergonomically uber comfortable. Just what I need to fully enjoy the "RV luxury lifestyle" I deserve.
Re: Replacing cab seats Reply #5 – June 18, 2017, 11:37:27 pm Quote from: paul banbury - June 18, 2017, 09:47:08 pmLooking around, it appears Flexsteel is the best option for replacement, and I have found the model most similar to what the Mothership installed originally. I just took a look at the Flexsteel website and the Class C bucket seats look very interesting. Have you been able to get a quote for replacement from any of their vendors? Some of the on-line stores have a range of $475 and up depending on options, cloth, etc.
Re: Replacing cab seats Reply #6 – June 19, 2017, 02:40:17 am Not so far, this project has a 1 year timeframe. I have been looking at dealers other than Camping World to quote this. There will be a comparison to the seat reconditioning during this timeframe.
Re: Replacing cab seats Reply #7 – June 19, 2017, 07:57:55 am What type of seat do you want? The reason I ask is that I've had Flexsteel in a large class A and an ISRI seat in another one. The ISRI is similar to Recaro. The difference being the Flexsteel is soft like a recliner and the ISRI/Recaro are hard but much more supportive. They would be similar to the seats in a BMW. On a long days drive I found the ISRI seats more comfortable. There are other brands marketed mainly to OTR truck drivers that are similar.OTOH if I could find a nice set of used seats like in my 2011 Tahoe and if they would fit I'd use those. I've made many 3-4 day driving trips in the Tahoe and found them very comfortable. But in the LD, especially like the MB you have limited adjustments you can make. I find that changing the seat recline occasionally during the day helps. But on our recent 1800 mile trip home while my wife followed me in the Tahoe the factory seats did ok. But always room for improvement....
Re: Replacing cab seats Reply #8 – June 19, 2017, 08:40:43 am I agree about the Tahoe seats. My 2004 only has 120,000 miles but the seats have held up well so far and are very comfortable. Not sure how they might fit in a LD cab though.
Re: Replacing cab seats Reply #9 – June 19, 2017, 11:43:59 am Thanks for that tip Foliver, I will extend my search for ISRI seats, so far I can only find heavy equipment, OTR truck, and bus (also class A) seats available from them in the US. I am looking for a replacement that is a direct fit, and passes NHTSA standards so I don't need to worry if insurance coverage will be voided. We don't use th swiveling feature of the LD seats, as the MB makes that useless. In the old E350 cab there is little enough room, so a seat that is less bulky is a benefit. Firm like a Recaro or Mercedes Sprinter is better. I think I will start looking at light truck seats too. Thanks for the tips!
Re: Replacing cab seats Reply #10 – June 19, 2017, 11:48:07 am Quote from: paul banbury - June 19, 2017, 02:40:17 amThis project has a 1 year timeframe. We must be cut from the same cloth! My important projects are on index cards. One is marked distant future and another is marked in the next life. We haven't finished many of those projects especially those on the last index card. And we running out of time on top of everything else. What can I say ... life in the slow lane does that to a person. 1 Likes
Re: Replacing cab seats Reply #11 – June 19, 2017, 12:23:41 pm Quote from: paul banbury - June 19, 2017, 11:43:59 amI am looking for a replacement that is a direct fit, and passes NHTSA standards so I don't need to worry if insurance coverage will be voided. Thanks for the tips! I'm assuming you are referring to either bodily injury coverage, personal injury protection and/or medical coverage contained in an auto/rv policy. Bodily injury coverage is liability coverage which only applies to third parties. The other two are first party. Insurance coverage would not be denied or excluded because a seat doesn't pass NHTSA standards. You can take your chairs out and put in folding chairs and coverage would not be excluded. It wouldn't be smart but it wouldn't be excluded or denied.Jim 1 Likes
Re: Replacing cab seats Reply #12 – June 19, 2017, 12:30:39 pm Thanks Jim. Since our seat belts are not mounted to the seat in any way, the replacement options are wide open, as long as I can find/make an adapter plate, and the seat fits.
Re: Replacing cab seats Reply #13 – June 19, 2017, 12:31:14 pm Quote from: Jim & Gayle - June 19, 2017, 12:23:41 pmInsurance coverage would not be denied or excluded because a seat doesn't pass NHTSA standards. You can take your chairs out and put in folding chairs and coverage would not be excluded. Well, that increases the possibilities.Top 10 Best Selling Folding Camping Chairs Reviews 2017So many choices.Larry 2 Likes
Re: Replacing cab seats Reply #14 – June 19, 2017, 01:04:17 pm Quote from: Larry Wade - June 19, 2017, 12:31:14 pmWell, that increases the possibilities.Top 10 Best Selling Folding Camping Chairs Reviews 2017So many choices.LarryWhy stop there? This would be my preference!https://www.hayneedle.com/product/grandcaribbeanloungehammockchair.cfm?source=pla&kwid=Hammocks%20iprefer&tid=CHN02-6&adtype=pla&kw=&lsft=adtype:pla&gclid=Cj0KCQjw7J3KBRCxARIsAPMXNVKrpU6vxdqA2TYXz8Ho1XqPhwuuE5pkfzszNPOqpPaBfOvWV56LRlkaAlf3EALw_wcB
Re: Replacing cab seats Reply #15 – June 19, 2017, 03:31:29 pm The hammock/lounge puts the driver in a position much like a LeMans LMP1, Formula 1 or an Indy Car, so I suppose it must be a good idea, no? Those 500 mile days will be a half day's work, and think of the girls! 1 Likes
Re: Replacing cab seats Reply #16 – June 19, 2017, 09:42:39 pm "Check Craigslist or Ebay. Often there are up fitters that have new seats removed from custom vans."I second that recommendation. I recently picked up a brand new 2015 Ford passenger seat for a hundred bucks from a Craigslist seller. It had been removed from a new van when the owner refitted it for wheelchair accessibility.
Re: Replacing cab seats Reply #17 – June 21, 2017, 09:52:10 am Quote from: paul banbury - June 19, 2017, 03:31:29 pmThe hammock/lounge puts the driver in a position much like a LeMans LMP1, Formula 1 or an Indy Car, so I suppose it must be a good idea, no? Those 500 mile days will be a half day's work, and think of the girls!Sadly at my age about all I could do is "think"
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