Second seat row for 67-72 C30 camper? [Consulting needed]

[nibulus]

Hello all,

I'd need some technical consulting from you 67-72 (frame mounted) motorhome owners and/or specialists. I'm currently looking for one, but would like to optimize it a bit.
Please feel free give me a hint if you happen to find a good one .

I really love the look of the C30, but the only major "negative" aspect of it (in my opinion) is, that the driving itself is due to the camper-concept not as "family-orientated" as in van-based motorhomes, in which the passangers sit pretty close behind the driver and are therefore more like a regular car (or crew cab).

However, I think the van-based motorhomes are optically pretty boring, so I'd prefer buying a C30, but would like to re-build it to be more "family-friendly".

As you can see in the sketches below, my idea is to have a second seat row approximately on the same level as the seats in the cab (with stairs in between). I want the opening/walk-through between the cab/camper to be larger, not only to ease communication while driving, but also to maximize the view of the rear passangers (see example in third picture).

Now the actual question: do you happen to know, if there's anything in that front part of a camper (or truck), which would not allow these modifications? Or should it be a fairly simple modification without major work on the camper's frame?

Thanks for your help/ideas in advance!




Image originally posted here.

[wbc409]

The campers should have been built on a cab/chassis truck. On cab chassis, and trucks with a box the frame kicks up several inches behind the cab.
To get a second row seat to sit that low would most likely require frame modification, which would also require modifying the mounting points of the camper body.

[nibulus]

Originally Posted by wbc409

... trucks with a box the frame kicks up several inches behind the cab. ...

Good point. You mean like this?



Originally posted here.

[wbc409]

Exactly

[Bigdav160]

Suburban middle seat? Suburban and pickup frames can't be that much different.

[wbc409]

With the limited photos it looks like he would still have to modify the floor of the RV to get enough leg room. Then it looks like for what he is asking, the 2nd row seat would have to be mounted to the floor.

[nibulus]

Thanks for the replies. The sketches are indeed limited. But they were meant to give a rough idea anyway.

My goal is to modify the RV's body and frame as little as possible. Ideally only the wall(s) between the cab and camper. Plus obviously the mounting points for the seat brackets.

If the truck's frame has the "hump", I'd definitely mount the seats higher. Not only to minimize fabrication, but also to have enough leg room for the passangers. The second seat row would mainly be for the kids anyway.

As long as our son won't grow to 6'5" or so in the next, say, 13 years, a higher mounted 2nd seat row shouldn't be a bigger issue...

It'd be interesting to know how campers are built in that front area, though. Some of them seem to have storage space/boxes there, others a door or sometimes nothing...