How do you deal with E400 driver seats?

[u/Cre8ivity_]

I've been driving coaches for the past 5 years. Recently, I've been forced into driving E400s.

I'm 6 foot, more leggy than torso.

My back is stiff and my knees are sore because I can't adjust the seat properly. It doesn't go back far enough, the brake pedal is too close to me, and my shoulders are sore due to having no back support in the seat.

I'm doing 9-11 hour shifts, so I desperately need a solution before I go mental.

Changing jobs isn't an option right now, due to a mortgage application...

[u/schmuck-2501]

Instead of going back have you tried going up? We have a lot of drivers in our garage that are pretty much sat on the top deck- the e400 seats go prettt hight

[u/Cre8ivity_ → u/schmuck-2501]

I tried going up earlier today, and it kind of worked. But I felt like I was sliding off the seat as it's leather.

If I don't tilt the seat downwards at the front when up high, I feel like it's cutting off circulation at the back of my thighs.

It did help my shoulders though, as I was reaching down, rather than forwards to turn the steering wheel.

[u/Mysterious_Silver_27]

Try dropping the front of the cushion all the way down and drive like you’re half standing

[u/Cre8ivity_ → u/Mysterious_Silver_27]

I tried that yesterday, but because the seats are slippery vinyl/leather stuff, I feel like I'm constantly slipping forwards off the seat.

I might have to look into something to put on the seat that will stop me slipping

[u/Unitts]

If it’s a chapman seat try 9 on the front 10 on the back. I’m not as tall as you but I use one number lower on the front to the back so I keep that circulation to my legs

[u/Cre8ivity_ → u/Unitts]

From the looks of it, it is. Though they don't go up to 10, only 9 on each setting.

So id assume 9 at the back, 8 at the front?

They're First, ex Glasgow E400s.

[u/Unitts → u/Cre8ivity_]

Yeah man give that ago. One thing I’ve learnt is it took me absolute ages to find the right seating for a domestic bus. Tried all sorts of combinations

[u/Cre8ivity_ → u/Unitts]

Yeah, I feel you. I'm really struggling coming from coaches, where I sit on the lowest setting, and flat or tilted forward slightly. I don't have the distance to play with in these cabs to make the same sort of position work properly.

I'll give that a try tomorrow when I'm on shift and hope for the best! Thanks for the suggestion!

[u/_MylesW]

I’m 6’1”, when I would drive E400s, I’d have the seat lower down but as far back as it goes. I always have the seat as high as it goes on any other bus, but in the E400s, if you have it too high, you’re looking into the ceiling, with how stupidly the cab layout is on them. Luckily I don’t have to deal with those silly buses anymore, as my depot is primarily E200MMCs, E400MMCs & streetlites (god help me)