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04-02-2018, 12:23 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Freedom Elite 30
State: Tennessee
Posts: 15
THOR #9126
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Modify a 2018 30FE Cramped Cab?
Has anyone modified the cab of the 30FE? The seats? The console?
We bought a 2018 Thor 30FE which is on a Ford F-450. Wow, it's cramped.
First, the passenger seat in the cab.
One can either slide it back or recline it back but not both. Very little leg room. Also, the seat back is permanently formed with a forward angle at the neck where it is only comfortable when reclined. But to recline the seat it must be slid forward. Hence, no leg room. To climb out of the seat, one must first tilt the back of the seat all the way forward and then slide the seat all the way back! Ridiculous!!!
Currently, even my 5-foot-2 wife feels like she's sitting jackknifed in the passenger seat. I'm 6 foot so I'm both jackknifed and cramped with my knees buckled. Very uncomfortable.
To fix this, we're considering cutting all or part of the bench seat behind the passenger seat so we can recline and slide the passenger seat all the way back. It looks to be cheap press board with a molded frame for supporting the cushion. It's just the two of us so altering one bench is fine. The wife wants this professionally done so it will look nice. Actually, I could do it with a hack saw. But "Happy Wife, Happy Life" always applies.
Has anyone done this? Can we buy different cab seats that are more comfortable?
Secondly, The massive frivolous center console.(How many cups can one have?)
We're researching to see if the center console can be replaced with something that doesn't take up so much room. I'd rather have more room to slip into the driver's seat than a bazillion cup holders. Right now, the clearance between the driver's seat and the console is a mere 6 or 7 inches.
Has anyone done this? Are there alternative center consoles for a Ford cab?
Is there a business around Nashville, TN that customizes RVs?
This is our first RV so any advice will be greatly appreciated! Thanks.
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04-02-2018, 12:34 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: North Carolina
Posts: 404
THOR #6026
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We have some photos after we got rid of the dream dinette
We put in seats on a metal plate that allowed is to move the chairs back 3 in.
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04-02-2018, 12:38 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: North Carolina
Posts: 404
THOR #6026
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The driver side is more comfortable moved back 3 in. Also without the dinette, the driver seat can recline.
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04-02-2018, 12:38 AM
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#4
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Freedom Elite 30
State: Tennessee
Posts: 15
THOR #9126
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Very spacious! Thank you!
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04-02-2018, 12:41 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: North Carolina
Posts: 404
THOR #6026
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This is the base to move the seat back.
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04-02-2018, 01:05 AM
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#6
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Site Team
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: ACE 27.1
State: Florida
Posts: 14,121
THOR #7035
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Is this the center console with the bazillion cup holders?
I only see 3 and it looks pretty low profile.
__________________
Ted & Melinda
2016 ACE 27.1
2016 Chevy Sonic Toad - Selling
2020 Chevy Colorado Z71 Trail Runner Toad
2024 Chevrolet Trax 2RS - Soon 2B TOAD
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04-02-2018, 03:28 AM
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#7
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Freedom Elite 30
State: Tennessee
Posts: 15
THOR #9126
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Thanks. That's the console. Actually, seven and a lower eighth.
Okay, they're not all "cup holders" but, combined, they take up maneuvering space.
Look at the clearance between the console and the drivers seat. For you, it may be okay. For me, it's tight. I'd prefer opening that gap a little and I'm willing to sacrifice all the holders, whether or not they're for cups.
So, again, my question...Has anyone modified this?
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04-02-2018, 12:03 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Freedom Elite 29fe
State: Florida
Posts: 700
THOR #4656
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The front of that console just snaps off. That will give you a ton of room.
__________________
Making a smooth transition to senility for over 70 years
2017 Freedom Elite 29fe
2015 Jeep Wrangler Toad
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04-02-2018, 12:03 PM
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#9
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I Think We're Lost!
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
State: New York
Posts: 22,195
THOR #8860
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Yeah... They're a bit... tight!
But didn't you sit in it, before plunking down the cash?
My Missus is 5' 1", and I'm 5' 10": we noticed it, and decided that it was a "workable" ride...
But I DO realize that everyone has their own personal comfort levels, so have fun with this project, and we'll be interested in seeing what modifications you make!
Good luck!
__________________
"What: me worry?"
Good Sam Member 843599689
Current coach: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
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04-02-2018, 04:02 PM
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#10
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Freedom Elite 30
State: Tennessee
Posts: 15
THOR #9126
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Ha, Ha, yeah, we did sit in it. Very impulsive on our part. A great salesman sold us on the idea that the phrase, "It's Adequate" applied to all RVs.
We were looking at other aspects and didn't think about the driving part.
Actually, to sit in the driver's seat isn't bad. It's getting in and out within the RV. And we just glanced at the passenger's seat. Did NOT sit in it.
This RV is now the "Cat Mobile" as we have two cats. It's purrfect for them which is why we chose the 30FE.
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04-02-2018, 04:15 PM
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#11
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I Think We're Lost!
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
State: New York
Posts: 22,195
THOR #8860
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We have to keep the "furry kids" happy!
Salesman...
__________________
"What: me worry?"
Good Sam Member 843599689
Current coach: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
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04-02-2018, 09:34 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2017 Thor Vegas 25.2
State: Indiana
Posts: 301
THOR #7993
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I would kill to have all that front seat area storage. Our Vegas has pretty much no where to put anything.
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04-02-2018, 10:08 PM
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#13
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I Think We're Lost!
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
State: New York
Posts: 22,195
THOR #8860
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Easy solution: make storage pockets out of any sort of acceptable cloth, and hang them anyplace that you can find some space!
(Do you remember the old trash pockets, that you could hang from your window crank handles?)
__________________
"What: me worry?"
Good Sam Member 843599689
Current coach: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
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04-03-2018, 03:31 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Brand: Jayco
Model: Alante
State: West Virginia
Posts: 192
THOR #5597
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Lack of room in the passenger's side is why we got a class A. She has problems with her knees and couldn't begin to get from the passenger's seat into the rear of the unit.
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04-03-2018, 07:18 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Brand: Still Looking
Model: SOB
State: South Dakota
Posts: 941
THOR #3916
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Scott37040
Has anyone modified the cab of the 30FE? The seats? The console?
We bought a 2018 Thor 30FE which is on a Ford F-450. Wow, it's cramped.
First, the passenger seat in the cab.
One can either slide it back or recline it back but not both. Very little leg room. Also, the seat back is permanently formed with a forward angle at the neck where it is only comfortable when reclined. But to recline the seat it must be slid forward. Hence, no leg room. To climb out of the seat, one must first tilt the back of the seat all the way forward and then slide the seat all the way back! Ridiculous!!!
Currently, even my 5-foot-2 wife feels like she's sitting jackknifed in the passenger seat. I'm 6 foot so I'm both jackknifed and cramped with my knees buckled. Very uncomfortable.
To fix this, we're considering cutting all or part of the bench seat behind the passenger seat so we can recline and slide the passenger seat all the way back. It looks to be cheap press board with a molded frame for supporting the cushion. It's just the two of us so altering one bench is fine. The wife wants this professionally done so it will look nice. Actually, I could do it with a hack saw. But "Happy Wife, Happy Life" always applies.
Has anyone done this? Can we buy different cab seats that are more comfortable?
Secondly, The massive frivolous center console.(How many cups can one have?)
We're researching to see if the center console can be replaced with something that doesn't take up so much room. I'd rather have more room to slip into the driver's seat than a bazillion cup holders. Right now, the clearance between the driver's seat and the console is a mere 6 or 7 inches.
Has anyone done this? Are there alternative center consoles for a Ford cab?
Is there a business around Nashville, TN that customizes RVs?
This is our first RV so any advice will be greatly appreciated! Thanks.
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Keep in mind..
Your 1st coach is a learning tool..
Within a year or two you will discover..about the RV... As you now are....
What you love about the RV...
What you can kinda-sorta tolerate with the RV..
And what you absolutely hate about that !@#$%^%$#@! RV.
Then you can go get what you should have gotten in the first place..
Happy Hunting
Remember..Every day you put off retiring..is just one less Day of being retired
__________________
current coach
An SOB Shack called Foretravel...This will Do.
former coach
Thor Infinity
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04-03-2018, 11:48 AM
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#16
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I Think We're Lost!
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
State: New York
Posts: 22,195
THOR #8860
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Quote:
Originally Posted by saddlesore
Keep in mind..
Your 1st coach is a learning tool..
Within a year or two you will discover..about the RV... As you now are....
What you love about the RV...
What you can kinda-sorta tolerate with the RV..
And what you absolutely hate about that !@#$%^%$#@! RV.
Then you can go get what you should have gotten in the first place..
Happy Hunting
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Sigh...
Ain't that the truth!
__________________
"What: me worry?"
Good Sam Member 843599689
Current coach: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
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04-03-2018, 01:04 PM
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#17
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Axis/Vegas Enthusiast
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Axis 24.4
State: Michigan
Posts: 9,837
THOR #1150
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Denman
Sigh...
Ain't that the truth!
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So what does that make your 4th RV?
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04-03-2018, 02:03 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Brand: Still Looking
State: Texas
Posts: 6,187
THOR #2121
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jb1911
I would kill to have all that front seat area storage. Our Vegas has pretty much no where to put anything.
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Interesting point you make, because older E-Series like mine had a much larger console attached to back of engine doghouse, which provided more storage space by extending all the way to floor, but that restricted getting feet between seat and console (see picture below of similar model). I normally squeeze my feet through, but on passenger side which is tighter my wife steps her feet over the seat. Apparently Ford was aware this area was tight for some owners.
Anyway, because console is interchangeable with newer smaller design (so I’ve read) and are cheap to buy, I thought of swapping mine out, but at end of day decided I liked the added storage compartments and extra cup holders (we have even more).
We often have a couple of coffee travel mugs, a couple of water bottles, snacks, 2 cell phones and 2 iPads in the console. Looking at newer console, it’d be a tighter fit.
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04-03-2018, 02:07 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Brand: Still Looking
State: Texas
Posts: 6,187
THOR #2121
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This is how E-Series looks like with console removed (not mine, just found picture).
P.S. — Only time I find getting into driver’s seat awkward is when wife leaves seat forward about 3 inches or so. That closes gap between seat and console quite a bit.
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04-03-2018, 04:23 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: SOB 2014 Meridian 36M
State: Washington
Posts: 981
THOR #7205
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Our Quantum WS31 isn't any better. I sit sideways in the passenger seat quite a bit when my wife drives. I'm 6' 2" 240, so yes, it is cramped. The driving position is pretty good. I move the (electric) seat position while driving to ease fatigue. Getting a size 12 shoe between the seat and console can be a challenge to say the least!
__________________
Pat & Becky & now Katie
Wenatchee, WA
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