swivels seats- easy 'how to' please

[daisyduke]

only had new van a few days and i am probably being a bit dippy but really struggled to get the balance right with seat tilted and on right position on the forward/ back slider to get it to turn. Got to be easier than i made it surely? whats the trick to do drivers seat easily? even with the above sorted it still catches on the side plastic and has scrapped it not ideal

thanks in advance for any tips from those who have being doing this longer than 3 days

 

[Hotel California]

Swiveling the seat(s) should not catch any plastics whatever,
There is a tread on here about the plastic seattrim coming loose ...try to search the forum.
I just stand beside the Cali in the open door , pull the seat forward a bit , pull the lever and turn the seat arround . Only thing is the backrest must not be to far rolled out to behind...you must straighten the backrest up....

 

[WelshGas]

And don't force it. Drivers seat, as HC said above, but I also adjust steering wheel UP and IN and put door side armrest down, also handbrake off. However I have a DSG so you just put that in P.
Passenger side even easier.

 

[Hotel California]

Yes , i only swivel my passenger seat ....so for me the rightseat no steeringwheel in the way....the diversseat ( left for me) i have only turned once just to try .takes more effort indeed.

 

[daisyduke]

thanks i think steering wheel needs adjusting maybe but it was the twisting knob on seat that was catching...... will try again in daylight tomorrow and see if can get the knack sorted to avoid more scratches to plastic from the knob. Only thing i didn't do was steering wheel so hoping that simple adjustment make it all much smoother. thanks everyone for feedback

 

[GrannyJen]

It drove me nuts until I got it right.

For me, steering wheel pushed right in and up. Backrest folded down as far as it would go. Swivel the seat until dangerously near the pillar., Then slowly slide back on the runners until the backrest knob clears.

A few times and now I don't even think about it.

Well, I do, I have to think to turn it round again before driving off

 

[shaun5]

Steering wheel pushed in.
Handbrake off.
Outside armrest down.
Seat back pushed forward via knurled wheel.
Line up inner and outer black metal runners.(very important !)
Pull lever to turn.

 

[daisyduke]

yep that did the trick and made it a whole lot easier with steering wheel raised up! thanks folks

 

[shaun5]

Excellent

 

[Borris]

only had new van a few days and i am probably being a bit dippy but really struggled to get the balance right with seat tilted and on right position on the forward/ back slider to get it to turn. Got to be easier than i made it surely? whats the trick to do drivers seat easily? even with the above sorted it still catches on the side plastic and has scrapped it not ideal

thanks in advance for any tips from those who have being doing this longer than 3 days

Hello Daisyduke,
When we first got our Cali I also had trouble with swiveling the drivers seat but after a lot of fiddling I eventually came up with the following formula and it works for me every time:

1. After taking the appropriate precautions to prevent the vehicle moving, release the handbrake.

2. Wind the drivers seat back forward towards the steering wheel so that it is beyond the vertical and make sure the arm rests are as far down as they can go.

3. Whilst standing in the doorway at right angles to the vehicle, slide the seat until it lines up with the door pilar trim, as in the attached photo. You will see that the rear of the seat stitch line, the base of the seat back and the plastic seat base trim form an arrow shape. When standing a right angles to the vehicle the tip of the arrow should line up with the door pilar trim.


4. Swivel the seat slowly checking that it clears everything as it rotates. (You may need to make an adjustment to the steering wheel position although I haven't had to myself).

5. Apply the handbrake.

6. Adjust the seat and armrests to suit.

To return the seat to the driving position:

7. After taking the appropriate precautions to prevent the vehicle moving, release the handbrake.

8. Whilst standing in the doorway at right angles to the vehicle, wind the drivers seat back forward (towards the rear of the vehicle), so it is beyond the vertical and make sure the arm rests are as far down as they can go.

9. Slide the seat until the seat runner reaches the position detailed in the attached photos.


Notice how the rear of the hole in the seat slide runner lines up with the front edge of the base slide chassis.

10. Swivel the seat slowly checking that it clears everything as it rotates.

11. Apply the handbrake.

12. Adjust the seat and armrests to suit.

Whilst I have found that this works every time for me you may have to make some adjustments. I have arrived at this method because I personally didn't want to mark the vehicle or use tape. I don't know if it is possible to swivel the seat without being outside as I have never tried it. As I am sure that you have already discovered, swiveling the passenger seat is much less of an issue.

Good luck and happy adventures.
Paul

 

[daisyduke]

Paul thank yo so much for that- much appreciated do you know what i haven't even tried passenger side yet LOL maybe should as will give me faith can do drivers side better. gonna try in the morning with daylight to help

 

[Borris]

Paul thank yo so much for that- much appreciated do you know what i haven't even tried passenger side yet LOL maybe should as will give me faith can do drivers side better. gonna try in the morning with daylight to help

Your welcome. Let me know how you get on.

 

[CannellWalker]

The question is...
What do you use to stop the van rolling back off levelling ramps when you release the hand brake?

 

[WelshGas]

The question is...
What do you use to stop the van rolling back off levelling ramps when you release the hand brake?

You put it in gear, 1st if manual or P if DSG. I've got ramps but haven't used them yet.

 

[Borris]

The question is...
What do you use to stop the van rolling back off levelling ramps when you release the hand brake?

If you have a DSG gearbox check that it is in Park. With a manual gearbox, I would put it in first gear if it is likely to roll backwards and reverse gear if it is likely to roll forwards.
Also for added security, place something substantial (chocks preferably) in front of the wheels/tyres in the direction that they are likely to travel then forget about them until you try and move off in the morning.

 

[Hotel California]

There are leveling ramps that got a clamp to put in preventing the verhicle to roll off.
Do find i all to much , got ramps and used them a few times only if we stay more than one night and if the ground is serious out of level .
Don't care if we are not leveled if not to much diffrence.
I just put mine i P.....DSG.
Also got no problem with handbreak/swiveling seat as i never turn my driversseat ( LHD)

 

[CannellWalker]

We use Milenco Triples (they have wheel pockets but don't hold the van) and then I normally root around for a brick or Boulder in the hedge.

 

[daisyduke]

Your welcome. Let me know how you get on.

well super easy peasy now.....little things make all the difference- now feel little silly made such a 'meal of it' when first had a go. Passenger side a breeze and drivers no worries now.

 

[Alfokla]

Hi this is my first post on the forum (must be one of Granny Jen's weirdo's I guess)...
I discovered these on the German California Forum and ordered a pair. They arrived last Friday. They are a bit smaller than I assumed from the pictures (7cm wide and 7,5 cm heigh) but I think they will do. They don't take much place.



I always use chocks when I use leveling ramps because I prefer to turn the drivers seat for 90 deg. in my LHD California. It gives me the best "impression of space" (however you need some imagination to discover "space" in a California). With the drivers seat turned 90 deg you cant pull the handbrake, just the DSG handle in "P". That's why I also want chocks.

I also made a little table right of the kitchen sink. It rests on the armrest of the driver's seat.
For me this seems to be the best way to use the California. We travel with 2.

 

[Hotel California]

Hi @Alfokla and welcome , that smal table seems a nice thing , can you shine some light on how you made it and how it is fitted?
Think many on here are gonna love to hear that!
I never turn the driversseat on my LHD but the way you do it seems intresting.

Btw , it was starting that topic on longtime members with no posts....
Glad we gived you that push to get you started!
Witch region are you from , are you Belgian or foriegn living in Belgium?

 

[Alfokla]

Hi Hotel, I am Dutch and I live in Oud-Turnhout.
I Will make some pictures of the table and post them tomorrow.

 

[Yorkdubshire]

Hello Daisyduke,
When we first got our Cali I also had trouble with swiveling the drivers seat but after a lot of fiddling I eventually came up with the following formula and it works for me every time:

1. After taking the appropriate precautions to prevent the vehicle moving, release the handbrake.

2. Wind the drivers seat back forward towards the steering wheel so that it is beyond the vertical and make sure the arm rests are as far down as they can go.

3. Whilst standing in the doorway at right angles to the vehicle, slide the seat until it lines up with the door pilar trim, as in the attached photo. You will see that the rear of the seat stitch line, the base of the seat back and the plastic seat base trim form an arrow shape. When standing a right angles to the vehicle the tip of the arrow should line up with the door pilar trim.
View attachment 12020

4. Swivel the seat slowly checking that it clears everything as it rotates. (You may need to make an adjustment to the steering wheel position although I haven't had to myself).

5. Apply the handbrake.

6. Adjust the seat and armrests to suit.

To return the seat to the driving position:

7. After taking the appropriate precautions to prevent the vehicle moving, release the handbrake.

8. Whilst standing in the doorway at right angles to the vehicle, wind the drivers seat back forward (towards the rear of the vehicle), so it is beyond the vertical and make sure the arm rests are as far down as they can go.

9. Slide the seat until the seat runner reaches the position detailed in the attached photos.
View attachment 12021
View attachment 12022
Notice how the rear of the hole in the seat slide runner lines up with the front edge of the base slide chassis.

10. Swivel the seat slowly checking that it clears everything as it rotates.

11. Apply the handbrake.

12. Adjust the seat and armrests to suit.

Whilst I have found that this works every time for me you may have to make some adjustments. I have arrived at this method because I personally didn't want to mark the vehicle or use tape. I don't know if it is possible to swivel the seat without being outside as I have never tried it. As I am sure that you have already discovered, swiveling the passenger seat is much less of an issue.

Good luck and happy adventures.
Paul

It seems to be step 11 I'm having trouble with and mines a manual so not an a good thing for me to be forgetting. Would be like an episode of last of the summer wine but a Cali instead of a bath tub!

 

[Borris]

It seems to be step 11 I'm having trouble with and mines a manual so not an a good thing for me to be forgetting. Would be like an episode of last of the summer wine but a Cali instead of a bath tub!

Oh dear. One of these should do the trick!

Seriously, I think that a pair of decent chocks are the answer for those with a manual gearbox. Stick the vehicle in gear and chock before you release the handbrake. Reverse gear if it is likely to roll forward and first gear if it is likely to roll backwards.
Good luck.

 

[snowy55]

Unless your on a campsite halfway up Mount Everest there's no need for chocks just put it in 1st gear before releasing the handbrake

 

[Freeley]

If I'm on levelling ramps and I can't find a block lying around then I need the assistance of my lovely wife to release the handbrake while I stand on the footbrake and turn the seat. Otherwise with an automatic it will roll back slightly before the transmission locks.
It's a bit of a game to start with but no problem now

Sent from my Galaxy S6