Community Forums

vsheetz · 12-03-2012, 11:31 PM

With the living room slide retracted - the drivers seat is restricted from sliding back very far and the seat back can't recline / is near vertical. I am a big guy and barely have enough room behind the wheel, much less able to be really comfortable.

Anybody else have this problem with thier coach?
Any thoughts or suggestions?

Thanks!

KSCRUDE · 12-03-2012, 11:54 PM

Mine is pretty tight also but I get by. Just be sure to have the seat far enough ahead before you move slide. Another six inches would of been great. I guess the only fix is a different rig, or to lose some weight.

Colorado Kay · 12-04-2012, 12:53 AM

Gosh, my problem is the 5 foot 1 and half inches of height that my daddy gave me. My next RV will have adjustable peddles and if I can find it, a massaging drivers seat for my back.

mgscott4 · 12-04-2012, 04:24 AM

I almost have the same problem. I tilt my seat back straight up, and push the seat as far back as I can get it, I can squeeze the seat back cushion into the slide. Then I can tilt the steering wheel to drive it comfortably.

George Schweikle · 12-04-2012, 06:19 AM

You are just another victim of the poor ergonomics on many motorhomes. Have you tried lowering the driver's seat?. This may provide more room under the steering wheel. Maybe even tilt the wheel up to a more 'bus driver' position. Of course, these adjustments won't help with the lack of seat back recline.

I have owned Italian sports cars since the 60's and always drive in the "Italian position", with arms somewhat extended, hands at the 9 and 3 o'clock position, and the seat back reclined to a comfortable angle. I absolutely can't stand the vertical back position you are stuck with and fortunately have sufficient seat adjustment on our Safari TREK to accommodate a good driving position.

A lot of American drivers sit straight and hunch very close to the steering wheel and, according to the NHTSA, are in danger of injury if the air bag inflates. Also, the popular "arm across the top of the wheel" steering position is said to be perfect to break an arm if the airbag inflates.

Ooops... Didn't mean to get on a soap box. As they say, there is always a different opinion...

Quote:

Originally Posted by vsheetz

With the living room slide retracted - the drivers seat is restricted from sliding back very far and the seat back can't recline / is near vertical. I am a big guy and barely have enough room behind the wheel, much less able to be really comfortable.

Anybody else have this problem with thier coach?
Any thoughts or suggestions?

Thanks!

JohnBoyToo · 12-04-2012, 06:36 AM

Hmmm, did you specify you where fat and needed belly room or tall and needed legroom as some posts assume

If legroom is the issue like with me in most vehicles,
I've always found that if I can't go back enough, I go UP to allow for more legroom...

for that other issue, well... let someone else drive ?!?

tpm64 · 12-04-2012, 07:28 AM

You all have missed the obvious solution: Drive with the slide out - that must be how the OP's motorhome was designed.

We have the oposite problem. My wife can barely reach the pedals. I need to relocate the seat forward, but I just have not had time yet.

Fiesta48 · 12-04-2012, 07:33 AM

Thinner seat/back? Different driver's chair?
OR On a lighter note: Drive with slide out? Cut off the bottom of the steering wheel? Use a bucket? Stay home? Less Wheaties? Extend the front end of the cab? There's always a solution!!!

Apoccia · 12-04-2012, 09:29 AM

Cut the wall of the slide and only put the slide out in nice weather

vsheetz · 12-04-2012, 03:16 PM

A bit of clarification to my original comments - while snug, it's not so bad as to be a deal killer for having the coach. The driving position is more upright than I would like to be really comfy. While loosing some weight and tilting the wheel up are good suggestions, they don't address the upright seating position.

A cutout in the slide wall is not that far off - as the center of the side wall is several inches recessed. However the seat back overlaps the inside upright when retracted by just a couple inches.

Probably the best suggestion is to let the wife drive more while I nap laid back in the co-pilot chair.

1940FRED · 12-04-2012, 03:51 PM

Try this, I assume you have a 6 way seat. move the seat forward and set the back down and raise the front up. This will allow the back to be at a angle and the front of the seat will give support under your knee area.
If not a 6 way seat then you should be able to put spacers between the seat bracket and bracket with longer bolts.
Best wishes

Submustang · 12-04-2012, 03:58 PM

On my former rig, the dinette was behind the driver seat causing much the same problem. Since the seat did not have much adjustment, I got a wedge shaped cushion that I placed on the seat under my thighs. It wasn't perfect, but it helped. If nothing else, it gives you some variety of seating positions that you would otherwise not get.