We recently installed a swivel base for the passenger seat in our 2015 TK, and it went so well I thought I'd share some tips with the group in case anyone else is wondering how to do this. We used to have a '93 Sportsmobile with a swivel base already installed, and have been wanting one in our Lazy Daze ever since. I'm happy to report that this is a relatively easy upgrade that two people can easily accomplish.
0. Order the swivel base from Sportsmobile (http://www.sportsmobilestore.com/ford-swivel-seat-base/) -- this is the one that actually fits. It's worth the extra cost compared to the "cheap" ones which have misaligned holes and other problems. As far as I can tell, this particular swivel base is sold only by Sportsmobile, but obviously it will fit any Ford van from the early 90s to the current model.
1. Watch this extremely helpful video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdwLsRF47-Q) for some basic information on removing the OEM seat from the base, and removing the seat base from the cab. The seat isn't especially heavy (at least the standard cloth seat in the '15 model anyway), but it's big and bulky, so a helper will make it easier to remove and reinstall the seat.
2. IMPORTANT: There's a wire harness for the seatbelt tensioner that has to be disconnected before you can remove the seat from the seat base. Follow the instructions in the video carefully and don't just yank it apart.
3. Also important: You will need a TORX T55 socket to remove the bolts holding the seat base to the floor of the van cab. You will probably need to get this from Sears, as Harbor Freight didn't have them. You'll also need a couple of wrenches for the other bolts. Make sure you have a clean surface to store the seat once it's out, so it doesn't get dirty.
3. Once you have the seat and the original seat base out, unclip the seat belt tensioner wire harness from under the front of the seat so it can be routed around the back. This will allow you to revolve the seat without having to detach and reattach the wires or add an extension.
4. Put the swivel base in position and loosely fasten the bolts to hold it in position. You'll need to cut the carpet away so there's enough threads to fasten the bolts properly. Use a Sharpie to trace around the bottom of the seat base where it meets the carpet. Sniffing the Sharpie is optional, but don't get carried away and get all light-headed or you'll cut yourself in the next step.
5. Use a utility knife to (carefully) cut the carpet away where the seat base will sit. Count your fingers before AND after this procedure. Miraculously, this is one area where the Mothership didn't use a gallon of mil-spec adhesive to stick the carpet down.
6. Take the wire coming from the floor and position it straight back towards the rear of the coach.
7. Possibly optional, but worth the extra trouble: Use something on either side of the wire to act as a spacer between the seat base and the floor, to avoid pinching the wire.
8. Lower the swivel base into position and tighten the bolts.
9. Reinstall the seat on the new base, routing the seat side of the wire to the back, and reconnect it to its other half.
10. Throw out or recycle the OEM seat base. You won't need it, and even if you do, there's sure to be a junkyard nearby with a good selection.
Rotating the seat after installation is straightforward, but takes a couple of steps:
1. Return the seat back to the upright position (yeah, we've all heard that announcement), then move the seat all the way forward. You might want to do this from outside, with the passenger door open.
2. Pull the unlocking lever on the seat base (it starts out on the left side of the seat) and move the seat counter-clockwise. At some point it won't move any further, and you'll need to move the seat "back" to get it to go the rest of the way. Pay careful attention to the seatbelt tensioner wires to make sure they don't stretch or bind -- you may have to de-clipify it some more from the seat to free it up.
3. Depending on the model year, the arm rest may be a tight fit against the passenger door once the seat is facing backwards. Make sure not to hurt anything (or yourself) while closing the door. We'll probably just remove the armrest eventually.
Reverse the procedure before driving the coach again. It's (probably) illegal, and definitely unsafe to occupy the passenger seat while facing backwards when the vehicle is moving.
DON'T attempt to put the driver's seat on a swivel base. Just don't.
We've found that this instantly adds useful living space to our small coach. The passenger seat sits slightly higher than it did before, but that's not really a problem, and you gain some of that back by excavating the carpet during installation.
Why not attempt on the driver's seat? Our 1992 MB had swivel seats in both positions and while difficult they both swiveled and we appreciated them!
Interesting mod. However, I'm puzzled by "It's (probably) illegal, and definitely unsafe to occupy the passenger seat while facing backwards when the vehicle is moving." Infant car seats are designed to be rear facing, as it's deemed safer/reducing potential for neck injury in a collision as the head doesn't whiplash about quite so severely.
Alright, all you engineers & wizards, educate me on this. Thx.
Great article! I've added it to the LD Companion article on swivel seats.
The Lazy Daze Companion: Swivel Seats (http://lazydazearticles.blogspot.com/search/label/Swivel%20Seats)
Interesting mod. However, I'm puzzled by "It's (probably) illegal, and definitely unsafe to occupy the passenger seat while facing backwards when the vehicle is moving." Infant car seats are designed to be rear facing, as it's deemed safer/reducing potential for neck injury in a collision as the head doesn't whiplash about quite so severely.
Alright, all you engineers & wizards, educate me on this. Thx.
Basically with the seat turned backwards, the seat belt isn't going to protect you, and neither would the airbag. You would either need to add another lap belt (which my Sportsmobile had) or risk riding unbelted. Also, the whiplash would be far worse for an adult if hit from the rear.
Why not attempt on the driver's seat? Our 1992 MB had swivel seats in both positions and while difficult they both swiveled and we appreciated them!
Newer ones have electrically adjustable drivers seats, making them incompatible.
Then again, the Sportsmobile Forum (http://www.sportsmobileforum.com/forums/f22/installing-driver-side-smb-swivel-seat-base-15708.html) suggests a driver side swivel is do-able with some modifications.
But not with the power seat:
The Ford Swivel Seat Base allows you to rotate your seat 180 degrees to face the rear of the van.*
The Ford Swivel Seat Base does not work with a power drivers seat.
The Driver's side Ford Swivel Seat Base does not work with a 4x4 van due to the location of the 4x4 shift levers. The passenger seat still works fine.
The swivel seats work for E-Series vans model year 1997-2014.
*Seat needs to be facing forward while van is in motion.
This a good write-up in removing the seats, useful for when working on the rear of the engine, such as when replacing the spark plugs. It is much easier to access the rear of the engine with the seats removed. With the right tools, a seat can be removed in just a few minutes.
The T/K is ideal for the swivel seat, having plenty of room to rotate. It provides additional sitting area and is a great place to read. Too bad the swivel bases don't work with most of the other floorpans.
Larry
Larry, do you know if it will it work in the 2016 T/K? We haven't received it yet so I can't go out and look at it to see if there's clearance behind the seat for it to swivel. But, we've had swivel seats in our VWs and in our RoadTrek, so we would love to add it if possible.
Thanks a lot,
Jim
Larry, do you know if it will it work in the 2016 T/K? We haven't received it yet so I can't go out and look at it to see if there's clearance behind the seat for it to swivel. But, we've had swivel seats in our VWs and in our RoadTrek, so we would love to add it if possible.
Not Larry, but there's no reason to think it wouldn't. Ford isn't gonna change the layout of the cab without a darn good reason. The only possible differences would be individual variations in how the cab was finished off at the LD factory.
Thanks so much for this tutorial. I bought a swivel base as soon as we got home from a NW LD outing, and installed it today. Very easy to do with your instructions and the video. I will have to remove the armrest, because it prevents full rotation and reclining. Also messed up the wiring, but I think I got that fixed. All in all, not too bad a job.
Raney Ellis
2012 Grey/white TK
Thanks for the great idea.
Just ordered the base.
We used to have a MB and my wife had the back as her space and I had the dinette area. Then we sold the MB and got a TK.
My wife still has the back, but now I have no place to call my own.
This solves that.
Ed
Ed said, " I have no place to call my own."
Since it's usually just me & the 4-Legged Alarm, I'd not given thought to the need for a Mancave. I love all the creativity on this site...there's always a solution & fresh way to look at things. ;D
. I will have to remove the armrest,
Raney Ellis
2012 Grey/white TK
When you figure that part out, please let me know. I just took a quick look and saw no way that just jumped out at me.
Thanks
Ed
Ed, I have no idea how applicable this is to others, but here goes. Mine is a 2008 MB. It has the cloth seats. The arm rests have a zipper at the back of the arm rest. If you unzip the cloth and peel it back, at the swivel point you will see a hex head bolt. Put a socket on it and unscrew it. That removes MY arm rest.
Ken F in OR
Thank you, Ken.
It's at the storage place now but I'll take a look. Sounds nice and easy.
Ed
Next seat project is to figure out a way to rig up a nice reading light.
Once swiveled, the seat will be in the shadow of the overhead bunk with all light coming from the front of the reader rather than over the shoulder.
Ed
Next seat project is to figure out a way to rig up a nice reading light.
Once swiveled, the seat will be in the shadow of the overhead bunk with all light coming from the front of the reader rather than over the shoulder.
I'm thinking a USB-powered LED light, plugged into a USB charger, plugged into the (former) cigarette lighter in the dash. Should be all you need, and draws minimal power.
Here's a random example from Amazon. (http://www.amazon.com/Daffodil-ULT05-USB-LED-Light/dp/B00BWU18S0)
I was thinking of maybe a 4LED power beanie. :D
Ed
Amazon.com: POWERCAP CUBWB-4553 4LED Beanie, Black: Sports & Outdoors (http://www.amazon.com/POWERCAP-CUBWB-4553-4LED-Beanie-Black/dp/B00HBW9ET8/ref=sr_1_13?s=outdoor-recreation&ie=UTF8&qid=1464394520&sr=1-13&keywords=Hat+light)
When you figure that part out, please let me know. I just took a quick look and saw no way that just jumped out at me.
Thanks
Ed
I peeled back the covering at the rear of the armrest to find the bolt that holds it in place. You need a T45 Torx driver or socket with that bit. Just unscrew the bolt and the armrest comes right off. There was a steel plate over the pivot point, which I left in place, put the bolt back in, along with the washer, and used some electrical tape to cover the washer and bolt.
Hi,
We have a 2004 26.5 MB, and I would just love a swivel seat. Do you think it will work even though the dinette is so close to it? I'd love to have a chair in the motorhome.
Thanks,
Eva
Hi,
We have a 2004 26.5 MB, and I would just love a swivel seat. Do you think it will work even though the dinette is so close to it?
Eva, We had a MB before our TK. Having just installed the base in the TK, I can't imagine it would work at all in the MB. It works in the TK because there is no wall behind the seat to obstruct the turning of the seat. There is a wall in the MB.
I think, at best, the seat *might* be able to swivel perhaps 90*.
Ed
I have owned a 1992 MB for sixteen years. Both cab seats swivel and I always swiveled them if parked for several nights. We recently gor a 2004 MB and I will definitely be looking for a swivel at least for the passenger seat.
Lisa
I thought I saw in this thread that some one had found an alternative to the Sportsmoblie swivel base and were going to report back when it arrived and they had installed it, but I can not find the post. Was there a report back on an alternative swivel base?
~Liam
Right here.
Ed
Swivel base install. 2015 TK (http://www.lazydazeowners.com/index.php?topic=28790.0)
I thought I saw in this thread that some one had found an alternative to the Sportsmoblie swivel base and were going to report back when it arrived and they had installed it, but I can not find the post. Was there a report back on an alternative swivel base?
~Liam
The source I used 6 years ago (they're still in business) on Larry's suggestion was www DOT discountvantruck DOT com Navigate to van bases, then Ford, and then '96+. The passenger seat base is $209, up from $189 when I bought mine. Totally satisfied with the product. -- Jon
Found it, Thanks Jon
Ford Van Seat Bases,driver,passenger seat bases (http://www.discountvantruck.com/rvvanseatbases/rvvanFordseatbases.htm)
Somewhere in this long exchange of comments, questions and answers about replacing an originally installed Ford cutaway cab front seat base that does not swivel, with one that does, is the question: "Why Not?"
There are several factors that may be important. Here are some:
Your front seats mounts are typically Ford and Department of Transportation (DOT) approved.
Ford Specifications for Front Seats for their Cut Away Chassis are provided and those specs are also DOT approved.
Your insurance companies really like the above two sentences and tend to not insure against accidents involving installations that do not comply with those sentences.
The geometry of the front seats include just how the seat belt pretensioner pyrotechnics operate. (Ford's total installation of same is approved through considerable testing.)
The geometry of Ford Spec controlled front seats include seat interface with one or more air bags as they deploy - almost always including the results of considerable air bag tests with approved seat dummy occupants. Those Ford seat pedestals are a part of those tests.
Notice the comments that seat pedestal companies add to their adds, like: For use on seat installations without Air Bags?
Notice the occasional statement regarding SAE standards? Not all are interchangeable.
How many of us are capable of replacing a seat pedestal that would comply with the government certified seat installation originally applied to your Ford Cutaway Cab Chassis and the published Ford standards that qualified Lazy Daze as an Approved secondary manufacturer that completes that Ford Cutaway chassis into a Lazy Daze?
If you cannot do that, you are taking on an immense amount of monetary, civil and probably criminal risk when you replace a Ford/DOT Approved seat base with one that is not so approved for that specific Ford Chassis.
But what do I know - my book learning occurred ages ago.
Why not ask your Ford Dealer, your state vehicle licensing department and your insurance company for their opinion?
Don McG, who wanted a swivel front seat and decided against it.
Somewhere in this long exchange of comments, questions and answers about replacing an originally installed Ford cutaway cab front seat base that does not swivel, with one that does, is the question: "Why Not?"
There are several factors that may be important. Here are some:
Your front seats mounts are typically Ford and Department of Transportation (DOT) approved.
Ford Specifications for Front Seats for their Cut Away Chassis are provided and those specs are also DOT approved.
Your insurance companies really like the above two sentences and tend to not insure against accidents involving installations that do not comply with those sentences.
I worked in property casualty insurance claims and to be clear the above statement is a myth. Your insurance company is going to insure and cover claims regardless of this modification. If this weren't the case then they wouldn't cover losses after you install a Banks System or make other modifications.
If this is a concern I would encourage you to read your policy. The exclusions to coverage are there. I have personally never seen or heard of such an exclusion. I never heard of or saw a claim denied due to some vehicle modification. Of course, if you decide to start hauling nitroglycerin or use the vehicle at the race track then we might have something to talk about. If you use your vehicle for business or as a taxi and haven't revealed that there might be an issue.
My comment also applies if your vehicle is overloaded which is another comment I have seen. While there may be issues that an injury attorney would be interested in your policy is still going to cover you.
If you have an at fault accident you are already liable for the damages caused by that accident and your bodily injury coverage and property damage coverage are going to respond to that loss. It will not be denied due to something like this. It will not void your comprehensive, collision or medical coverages on an auto/RV policy.
Jim
If you have an at fault accident you are already liable for the damages caused by that accident and your bodily injury coverage and property damage coverage are going to respond to that loss. It will not be denied due to something like this. It will not void your comprehensive, collision or medical coverages on an auto/RV policy.
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Thanks for confirming what I already presumed. We'll continue to enjoy our swivel seat! -- Jon