Passenger capacity

[penguincoder]

I have, perhaps, a silly question. What would the maximum safe passenger capacity be in a single cab configuration rig with a camper box on the back, something like an Earth Cruiser?

Are there provisions for seat belts in the camper box? Is that safe?

I ask because it seems like an attractive platform, and I like the idea of the short cab for the bigger living area... But there are 3 of us, and hopefully more sometime in the future, and getting crew cab rigs with low range and locking diffs in this country is unlikely at best.

 

[SkiFreak]

By default you can have 3 in the cab, but that "dickie seat" in the middle is not what I would call the most comfortable. These single cab trucks are definitely more suited to two people.
I have seen setups where there is occupant seating in the camper, but I have never really liked this setup. Normally this seating is north/south, so the passenger is traveling sideways, which can be a problem for some.

 

[mallthus]

Generally speaking, riding in a slide in camper is unsafe, if not illegal.

If the rig is a purpose built Class C motorhome, there will generally be belted seating in the living area.

All of my statements are applicable to the U.S. Regulations abroad may vary, but the safest seating will always be in the cab area.

 

[kerry]

We've traveled many miles with three in the cab. My wife, I and teenage daughter.

 

[SkiFreak]

We've traveled many miles with three in the cab. My wife, I and teenage daughter.

As I said, these cabs were designed to seat 3, but it is definitely more comfortable if there are only 2 in the cab, especially if you have also fitted suspension bucket seats.

 

[kerry]

I have a Stratos seat. My wife prefers the OE bench seat. That, conveniently, gives us the third seat.

 

[Michelle@EarthCruiser]

At EarthCruiser, we usually replace the cab seats with Stratos suspension seats but we have customers who have kept the bench seat (which we redo to make it a bit more comfortable) so they could have 3 in the cab. Our new FX is set up to have two legal seatbelts in the camper section.

 

[SkiFreak]

Our new FX is set up to have two legal seatbelts in the camper section.

Are those 2 seats in the camper facing forward or sideways?

 

[Michelle@EarthCruiser]

Are those 2 seats in the camper facing forward or sideways?

Sideways.

 

[familyvan]

Michelle, any chance you could add 4 seatbelts back there?

 

[Michelle@EarthCruiser]

Michelle, any chance you could add 4 seatbelts back there?

How big/old are the people sitting back there? It is probably possible but may not be the most comfortable.

 

[westyss]

I posted this picture a while back along with a few more on the FG's in Action thread, this truck has two forward facing seats right behind the cab with doors each side, talking to the firemen a simple pass through for communication was all they would like to add.
This seemed like a good spot for this pic as it seems on topic, this is an approved platform for carrying additional passengers and I really cant see why it cant be applied to a camper set up, obviously it would need to meet some type of standard.

 

[familyvan]

Sorry to hijack....
Michelle they are all kids 7 and under

 

[SkiFreak]

Yes, it is definitely advantageous to have additional passenger seating in the camper, but I have done many trips in troop carriers and in the back of army trucks over the years and I know that some people have serious issues with traveling sideways and get quite sick. Has to do with your head moving sideways, not backwards and forwards I believe.
Just thought I should mention that, as this solution might work well for some, but not others.

 

[familyvan]

Thanks Skifreak and I agree. It is also not the most safest in some regards. However having 4 kiddos and wanting to travel without a trailer really limits our options.
Also from renting RV's I know the kids enjoy riding in the camper portion. I had them bucked up the whole time but they felt like they were in the living room and not a car and it allowed us to cover more ground between stops.