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Office chairs for new seats

McSpeed

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Sounds silly guys but it works so well

I got my hands on some old office chairs. Lightweight and simple.
No less comfortable than the old ones and easy to install.
I’ll get them recovered maybe over the winter. Black or green. Not sure yet.
D9989259-2C9A-4D1D-AAD6-6E0A259CA831.jpeg5478406D-A376-42EB-A2C4-9814981975E2.jpegC68750C5-CCE4-413F-8A09-298520984F03.jpeg9476FF89-882D-46B0-83EF-B1F68D403A7D.jpeg
 

Ajax MD

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GTFO. That's clever. They actually almost look like they belong. How the heck did you attach them?
 

TOBASH

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Dangerous. Not meant to withstand the force of rear end collision.

Should remove asap IMHO.

Clever but not recommended IMHO.
 

Awol

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Looks good OP!

I doubt they're any more dangerous than the paper thin factory low backs.
 
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McSpeed

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Dangerous. Not meant to withstand the force of rear end collision.

Should remove asap IMHO.

Clever but not recommended IMHO.
They are bolted to the exact same mounts and brackets as the stock commando seats. So, we can agree they are at least just as much unsafe as what was there before in terms of the pads.
 

McSpeed

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GTFO. That's clever. They actually almost look like they belong. How the heck did you attach them?
Bolted through the stock holes in the seat to rolling floor mount to the passenger battery cover. On the driver side I used the threaded bolts already on the seats as well to put flat plate large washers through the stock commando seat springs and they are locked in place.
 

Coug

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So to look at this from a broader overall picture, yes, they work, and should be more comfy than stock.

However...
from a legal standpoint, if you are in an accident of any type, then the insurance company can pretty well deny any type of medical claims you might have, due to unrated/unapproved equipment/modification. It might not be any less safe than the A0/A1 style of seat, but that doesn't matter from a legal perspective. All that matters is that YOU modified it to something else, and that something else wasn't designed for this application.
 

McSpeed

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So to look at this from a broader overall picture, yes, they work, and should be more comfy than stock.

However...
from a legal standpoint, if you are in an accident of any type, then the insurance company can pretty well deny any type of medical claims you might have, due to unrated/unapproved equipment/modification. It might not be any less safe than the A0/A1 style of seat, but that doesn't matter from a legal perspective. All that matters is that YOU modified it to something else, and that something else wasn't designed for this application.
That’s pretty good creative writing. Just FYI, I am a 30 year insurance professional that holds a CPCU, Legal Claim Specialist, among many other certifications and business license. I’ve handled bodily injury, med pay and serious injury and death claims for decades. What you stated above is complete fiction.
 

Coug

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That’s pretty good creative writing. Just FYI, I am a 30 year insurance professional that holds a CPCU, Legal Claim Specialist, among many other certifications and business license. I’ve handled bodily injury, med pay and serious injury and death claims for decades. What you stated above is complete fiction.
you would know better than me.
So is there any type of legal issue with using seats in a vehicle that aren't designed for it, or can I put a lawn chair as my driver's seat and still be fine if someone hits be and I get injured? Not trying to be sarcastic about it, I'm just wondering if there is a line and where it is.
 

Milcommoguy

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Here's how it's going down.

Officer, I didn't see the Army truck thing. Camouflaged paint job looked like a tree and I spilled my HOT coffee, burning my leg.

Lawyers wouldn't have to dig very deep to be convincing to twelve.

Wouldn't be the first time. And Rufas T. Slimebucket just got me 1.6 million, CAMO
 
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McSpeed

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you would know better than me.
So is there any type of legal issue with using seats in a vehicle that aren't designed for it, or can I put a lawn chair as my driver's seat and still be fine if someone hits be and I get injured? Not trying to be sarcastic about it, I'm just wondering if there is a line and where it is.
You are worried about something that is not a concern. We once handled a claim of a guy that had a paint bucket as a front seat. Paid it. Been there done that. So, your lawn chair is okay. And the bucket contributed to the accident.

When you get that lawn chair in post some pics when you can. I’d like to see that. Now you’ve got me eye balling my lawn furniture. I think my 69 Camaro would look sweet with a folding beach chair as long as it has drink holders.
A hammock in the back of the Humvee would be sweet too.
 

Ajax MD

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@McSpeed Don't get me wrong, I thought your idea was super clever. It sounds like you know the insurance situation. I do wonder about their integrity in a collision though.

If your truck is more of a fun driver and less of a daily driver, I wouldn't sweat it. If it's the other way around, I might want something more substantial. Honestly, I wonder how these office chairs stack up to the CHICOM Smittybilt seats that everyone is putting in their HMMWV's? I doubt those are rated for "space shuttle re-entry" either.
 

dougco1

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@McSpeed Don't get me wrong, I thought your idea was super clever. It sounds like you know the insurance situation. I do wonder about their integrity in a collision though.

If your truck is more of a fun driver and less of a daily driver, I wouldn't sweat it. If it's the other way around, I might want something more substantial. Honestly, I wonder how these office chairs stack up to the CHICOM Smittybilt seats that everyone is putting in their HMMWV's? I doubt those are rated for "space shuttle re-entry" either.
I think they are a great idea. As far as the office chairs durability? I've seen some pretty hefty women sit in those type of chairs at my old office.
 

McSpeed

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Office chairs come in a variety of quality features. These are heavy duty actual commercial grade chairs...that could house the 98 lb secretary or the 310 lb secretary as a major office complex near you. I've noted they are made with metal frames and supports as well as thick plastic - no wood. I've had home office chairs with wood bottoms.

NOW...I actually have a set of military issue BUCKETS for this truck. But - they create leg room issue as they are thicker in the rear and harder to get up and down. Very hard to access the battery box on the passenger side once mounted. Unfortunately I don't have the mount brackets that were originally with them so I'd have to fabricate something anyway. I had thought about putting the Mil spec front buckets in the front and these chairs in the rear. Then, after playing around with it I was shocked how well these replace the commander seats. The color of the fabric is off - needs to be black or olive green or maybe even brown. I'd like them to be the same type of hardy material of the stock pads that were there. I would like a high back bucket for neck/head support in an rear collision situation - but as noted...what I had before was no better and was standard equipment for these.

As far as swapping seats - it is done all the time. Speaking of my 69 Camaro, I have a set of 1985 Corvette seats in that car. Had to make tracks/brackets/supports to mount to the car. I've been putting seats from one thing to another for years. Fiero seats are popular donors. The problem is, mounting brackets still have to be fabricated. I think Fiero seats would be excellent in the M998, but again - brackets...and more...and recovering is pricey. Plus, you are back to the heavy seat removal to access the battery box.

In terms of office furniture, years ago I salvaged a Pontiac Grand Prix seat and mounted it to an office swivel base. This is what I use in my work from home office. So, I kind of got it backwards.

All kidding aside, the only thing I can find that would require a certification of seats would be for racing purpose. Racing seat applications have to be SFI or FIA approved depending on the type of racing circuit. These relate to other harness and safety mount issues. I can't find anything when looking on-line for various seats otherwise in terms of DOT approval. Generally for a street/off road (non-competition) you will search seats for width/height/depth mounting locations - high/low bucket...recline/non-recline and or fabric material. There are no DOT stampings or big brother serial number/inspections notice remarks that I can see on any aftermarket seats.

In doing some research I found some cool $35 a piece buckets at Summit Racing that would be great for off-road - mud/grime as you hose them out. BUT, no butt cushion! My wife makes me carry a pillow to put on the passenger seat as is - so that would NEVER fly.
 

McSpeed

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so...I'm second guessing it to some degree. I've been able to rack up some miles in it now. As said before...No worse than the stock ones in terms of ride...but they are also NO BETTER. I think I'm going to seek out different buckets. Leaning to trying out some Fiero seats. Plus the older models have speakers built into the headrest that can be handy for how loud the truck is at speed.
 

McSpeed

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Palmer, AK
Got the factory bucket seats last night. They are like new. I have all I need to install but the driver seat mount has to be fabricated. Hopefully this weekend I'll get them in. The office seats have been great though to this point. If they were the right color and just a tad more padding...you'd have a really hard time talking me out of them. But, I'm still looking at making the back seats better and can't office chair those...so this will be great.

The factory seats are set and I'd like to at least recline the driver seat. I might be able to cut and weld a recliner out of another car seat there...we will see.
 

TOBASH

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The factory seats are set and I'd like to at least recline the driver seat. I might be able to cut and weld a recliner out of another car seat there...we will see.
You would need to remove the important safety feature behind the seat that resists side impact in order to recline your seat.
 

McSpeed

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Palmer, AK
You would need to remove the important safety feature behind the seat that resists side impact in order to recline your seat.
Lol. Well. My wife is 4’11” and she can move the seat quite a bit forward but then need to recline it a bit.
 
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You are worried about something that is not a concern. We once handled a claim of a guy that had a paint bucket as a front seat. Paid it. Been there done that. So, your lawn chair is okay. And the bucket contributed to the accident.

When you get that lawn chair in post some pics when you can. I’d like to see that. Now you’ve got me eye balling my lawn furniture. I think my 69 Camaro would look sweet with a folding beach chair as long as it has drink holders.
A hammock in the back of the Humvee would be sweet too.
Grandma Clampett had a rocker
 

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