Why an Offset Swivel Seat? | TRC Van Conversion

Passenger seat this time. Quite a difference between these two designs but they seem to work well together and the offset is a great help.
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[@RMACIAS2460]

Reviews and comparisons on the swivel seats that’s great that you’re adding this to your videos keep up the great job

[@mr.toliver2717]

Look forward to see the van running completely built

[@NomaddUK]

Hi, I think I would use an angle grinder to cut the 90 degree handle off and remove the rubber to put back on the now straight arm. Also use the angle grinder to take off that corner it looks lethal.

[@EricsVeganVan]

Thanks for the comparison, wish I saw this last week before ordering 2 for my sprinter.

[@Maddieb703]

SO glad to have discovered your channel; perhaps more informative than some of the 'big' ones, and no American references to 'big box store' parts that are completely impossible to find over here haha! Bonus for working on the same van we are. +1s all over the shop! Question about seat swivels: If we were looking for swivels to turn the seats inwards to face each other (instead of backwards), any ideas which would give the most space? I assume the non-offset variety? If so, could you do us a huuuuge favour and with your driver's seat as far 'back' (to the right) as possible, facing inwards, measure how much space there is to the centre line please? We'd be eternally grateful!

[@senakandy6405]

Very informative mate....Thanks buddy

[@AD-rx8wc]

literally just burst out laughing...Last year around this time I was watching your loft renovation videos...this year I've stumbled across #vanlife and what do you know!? Hey dude, look forward to watching this one

[@Corentincusant]

Waou thanks for sharing that. I did on was well and it help a lot in the daily life. Thank you

[@dibley1973]

Tim, have you thought of having a table that is hinged in the middle so unfolds out twice its normal length? When you travel it will be folded onto its self (half length but double thickness) and be just in front of the children, but when you all want to eat, unfold to full length, single thickness.

[@Iveavan]

Great video, the "sports craft" looks the better option out of the two for me ;)

[@marycardenas3365]

Greetings from Texas

[@erickmcpherson6972]

Four years on and this video is still helpful. Thanks. I've only just found it and I'm starting the conversion of a Citroen Relay to a wheelchair-accessible camper. If anyone's still there I have a question: Can the passenger in the SportsCraft offset seat swivel the seat while sitting in it? In the video it looks like there's not much room for the legs between the passenger seat and the driver seat half-way through the swivel but perhaps the passenger seat was well forward on its runners.

[@wildebuscampersandelectric1855]

Excellent comparison video between the two swivels, with info that you wouldn't pick up on from just comparing specs probably. I can see you taking the passenger seat off to cut that edge piece away to avoid snagging the leg. I fitted FASP swivels on my VW T4 but found they raised the seats too much and dumped them :( On the VW T5 I bought a seat base with integrated swivel plate so it avoided the extra height. For my VW LT (same as Sprinter) I went for Ford Galaxy seats which have a built-in Swivel mechanism and they work great.

[@wayneneil5330]

Ford Galaxi??? What year(s)? Model? Where R U locating this in case it's something that wasn't available in Canada?

[@iansummers9767]

Really great to see the differences between the two. Thank you, will help a lot when i decide which swivels to get.

[@in-the-vanpeter5157]

Does a second lift up table on the side door help so in a way the two tables almost meet in the middle . Also doubles up as a handy outside table when the door is open . Might be better for jo . Great video as usual .

[@richardkaz2336]

For the passenger seat lever cut it off file off the end so there are no sharp edges then slide on and glue a piece of black or red plastic to neaten it up. the effective leaver length will still work.

[@thingswelike]

It's amazing how hard it is to compare some of the common van parts. Great to see this. Do you know if the heights of the 2 swivels is the same - I really want to keep them low.

[@UKReloader]

You could always add a drop leaf onto the end of the table to give more dining area

[@TheRestorationCouple]

Was on the original plan but we decided that trapped litte fingers wasn't worth the hassle! (less hinges the better with our kids!)

[@UKReloader]

The Restoration Couple Lol ahh yeah little fingers and hinges never mix, how about a slide out section instead? I'm sure your carpentry skills could work out a great slide design.

[@ttfweb1]

My 55 year old fingers and hinges don't mix either! Nice video.

[@richardkaz2336]

You could mount two tubes to the underside of the table and set back 50-60mm so they are not immediatly visible. Next fix two tubes the extension table piece. If the tubes are sized so that they slide inside of the main table tubes and are a snug size. The two extension tubes will need to have a spacing washer ~.5-1.5mm between the tubes and the extension top so the top surfaces are flush. Aluminum or stainless tubing would do the trick.

[@skoog7091]

Pro tip. You can use the google translate app to make live translation with the camera in you smartphone :)

[@RohanTheBT]

I had the type with the red handle (CTA) on my fiat ducato. It was very stiff and got worse over the years. I had it replaced recently with another type which had a handle sticking out into the gap between the seats. I cut it back. Interesting videos, thank you

[@wayneneil5330]

Oh? What make, model did U use to replace the CTA swivel unit???

[@RohanTheBT]

@@wayneneil5330 I’m really sorry, no idea of the make, it was several years ago!

[@wayneneil5330]

@@RohanTheBT well thx anyway. Appreciate Ur response

[@whenufirstrealized]

Brilliant. Smartest conversion step. Are there swivels that allow sliding forward and back? I wonder if Auto insurance companies in the US have an issue with this change? Anybody do this on a Ram Promaster City? I think a table and bed height would be perfect for an elevated platform.

[@dougf94912]

Could you make the table slightly teardrop shaped so that it flares out more at the inboard end, bringing it closer to the passenger seat?

[@adelemcilwraith5327]

Would u possibly be able to straighten the handle where it bends off to the right so it would be a long straight bar. There seems to be enough clearance between the seat it’s self and the handle for ur fingers.

[@markdavies4691]

When is the bed set up coming? This is my number 1 series at the moment. Buying a 64plate fiat next month. Family of 4 just like you. And will plan mine to your videos! Best I've seen on you tube done well!!

[@TheRestorationCouple]

Just wrapped up the filming so couple of days hopefully. 👍

[@markdavies4691]

Sweet 👍

[@ammcknockiter]

I fitted my sportcraft base and there is some small play in the turning base like 1 mm left and right does yours do this to. It's definitely locked in place?

[@brendanredgate4594]

Hi.. any advice on van insurance whilst converting. What have you guys out there done??

[@b1g1lz]

You think you could straighten that lever out straight so it doesn't stick out sideways?

[@posteroonie]

Maybe one, even two table leg sockets, and a large table that has adjustable location, so it can be slid towards Jo and away from the right side of the van? Then the question is where to store the table and leg(s) when not in use. Or two sockets and two smaller square tables that butt together, for easier storage and maximum flexibility.

[@LucasCorrotoFilms]

Hey guys, did you use a passenger or a driver’s swivel for the passenger side of your van? If the swivel is made in Germany, their passenger side is on the right, so I don’t know which one I should get (I’m in Australia, so we drive on the left side like you guys). Thank you!

[@jb9090]

I’m not too happy with the newly installed Sportscraft swivel in my 2014 Sprinter (passenger side). It raised the seat 1 3/4”, it’s difficult to get into the right position to unlock and rotate, and my feet barely touch the ground while facing forward and dangle while facing backward (I’m 5’8”). It’s not the sweet improvement I was hoping for and am wondering the additional cost of the Scopema is worth it.

[@kryzstofv]

Great videos. Are both seats still working well after some use? Ideally I'd like a double swivel but dont think there is a good quality one out there.

[@TheRestorationCouple]

Yes both work great.

[@KeepTheBalance]

Did you have any issues with both swivels? 1. Does the drivers side hit the handbrake? 2. For the sportscraft one does it catch one of the cross bridges on the front of the seat base? I just tried fitting one and ran into that issue.

[@rebeccasykes7458]

Can you use seats with integrated seatbelts with the swivel base?

[@luisalbertomonteroch7746]

How do I obtain those parts? I live in Costa Rica. Cannot find thtat in Amazon!!

[@stevenreynolds2580]

are you going to register this van as camper/motor home? Love the sports swivel, nice job.

[@TheRestorationCouple]

Yes once we are all done and have ticked all the boxes. 👍

[@webchez69]

I would put blue thread locker on those swivel bolts...

[@a4adventurewales]

Out of curiosity ... and a year late, I know ... does the Sportscraft swivel lock into place or does the locating pin just grind around the bottom plate as the chair moves?

[@TheRestorationCouple]

Both seem fine at the moment.

[@allanb52]

Are these both tested and approved, remember the seatbelt is attached to the seat, so these are crash load bearing.

[@Frankthesurf]

Hi Tim. What seats have you used in the fron. Thx

[@TheRestorationCouple]

They are original seats. Just swapped the double passenger for a single.

[@chavieification]

Re: the drivers swivel seat being stiff - does it help if you keep the red release lever depressed whilst turning? I've never used one so it's just a guess but I wondered if it may help.

[@RohanTheBT]

Alan Turnbull hi. No, once you’ve released the seat with the red handle it doesn’t interfere with the swivel. But the swivel is based on a plastic disc between metal plates and it gets gummed up with dust etc over time

[@Ginger51]

Mike, Rohan & Poppy I hope he doesn’t use a liquid type lubricant then, that will gather even more dust and dirt. Better to use graphite.

[@LeslieDavison]

Thanks for the video. Any idea if I could have one of these shipped to the US? I'm having a difficult time finding either version on this side of the pond. Thanks!

[@406Campr]

vanupgrades.com/. I am purchasing mine this week. Sportscraft is the best engineered swivel out there.

[@wayneneil5330]

How about availability in Alberta, Canada???

[@NOMAD-LEISURE]

Hi have u got a link to the leisure batteries install under seat?

[@TheRestorationCouple]

It’s in the playlist, I think. 👍

[@stevethompson3849]

Hi based on your experience now do you think an offset swivel is only necessary for the passenger seat?

[@TheRestorationCouple]

In this van yes, don't see any benefit to swivel on drivers apart from the slughtly better build quality.

[@longhairmullet]

One could offer Joe to sit it the driver seat... ;) to eat.

[@RTURNERO]

The intro to you channel sounds like road to nowhere and I can't help but think it's intentiona!

[@Gantzz321]

your tabletop being 1 meter is going to be too short, I would just add an extension to the end of it. Which folds down but can be locked up by simply sliding a piece of wood attached to the bottom of the table to hold up the extension.

[@peterwilson8132]

I think that's going to be your seat get used to it......................he he.

[@administrationhandle]

No wonder its stiff, its 100 pounds!!

[@teresastone6987]

Is this supposed to be instructional? You didn't show ANYTHING!!!

[@TheRestorationCouple]

No, not much to show. They just bolt on. 😉