Too fat to fit

[dcwilkie]

I'll be honest. My hideous great 50year old belly rubs on the M35A2 steering wheel. Are there any adjustments that can be made to the steering column and/ or the driver's seat?

The only thing I can think of is to temporarily install a smaller diameter steering wheel and air assisted steering to compensate for the loss of leverage.
I'm already on a healthy heart diet and am losing weight (thanks to my darlin' RN wife of 26 years), but durn it, I sure could use some relief until I shrink enough

 

[Parker2]

I think the 5 ton trucks steering wheel is an inch smaller. That and the air assist is all I can think of. I am thinking of going to the 5 ton wheel because of my belly also.

 

[m16ty]

Do you have a spring seat or a box seat? The box seat offers a little more room than the springer.

 

[papabear]

Well...my 55 year old beer belly dang sure rubs the wheel...so the deuces sit and the 5tons roll!!!
Anyone wanna few deuces? Got 5tons ta trade?

 

[Pawnshop]

I cut the back off my box seat so my hips can get closer to the back of the cab, not so much for gut room but for leg room, so I can get my size 13s at the end of long legs on the pedals without getting all tangled up. In addition to big feet and long legs I have a bum hip on my throttle leg that only allows about a 70% range of movement so I have to hit the pedal sideways, and that gets in the way of the clutch foot. You short legged guys have it made, there are a LOT of trucks that I just can not drive, including any Deuce or 5 ton with an un-modified seat (and spring seats are completely out of the question).

 

[maddawg308]

Might be easier, and HEALTHIER, to lose weight????

Not saying this to be mean - I came to the same realization when I hit 250 lbs and I started getting stabbing pains in my chest region. Two weeks later I lost 12 lbs. so far, and my goal is to get back down to 200. Bottom line is for you, would you rather make a modification to your truck to allow you to fit in it, and you still have health problems, or simply keep the truck and same, but YOU change?

 

[Pawnshop]

Maybe I can find a replacement hip on GL!!!

 

[littlebob]

Mine just barely rubs with the Spring seat. My goal is to take maddawg308's advice for the the problem, I'll probably live long enough to see my son drive it!

 

[dcwilkie]

Might be easier, and HEALTHIER, to lose weight????

Not saying this to be mean - I came to the same realization when I hit 250 lbs and I started getting stabbing pains in my chest region. Two weeks later I lost 12 lbs. so far, and my goal is to get back down to 200. Bottom line is for you, would you rather make a modification to your truck to allow you to fit in it, and you still have health problems, or simply keep the truck and same, but YOU change?

As I said, my wife who's a Registered Nurse already has me on that path (23 lbs so far), so eventually that will work out. Question is, what about the here and now? I would really like to enjoy my Deuce ALL the time instead of waiting a year or two (three?).
I have the spring seat. Where do I find a box seat?
Also thought of taking the seat back off and installing a piece of sheet steel with a thin pad and sheepskin cover. That would help my legroom alot too!

I had to take Prednisone for 2.5 years for some severe asthma problems (hospitalized twice a year for three years). Believe me when I say you will gain and keep weight if you stay on it for more than a month. I gained 100+ lbs during that 2 and a half years. It has been hell to lose it. I can honestly say I am well on my way now.
I thank God I no longer have those problems. Slow suffocation isn't much fun.

 

[m16ty]

Might be easier, and HEALTHIER, to lose weight????

Not saying this to be mean - I came to the same realization when I hit 250 lbs and I started getting stabbing pains in my chest region. Two weeks later I lost 12 lbs. so far, and my goal is to get back down to 200. Bottom line is for you, would you rather make a modification to your truck to allow you to fit in it, and you still have health problems, or simply keep the truck and same, but YOU change?

Mike, I was going to suggest that but thought it may be a little harsh .

I know alot of people have trouble with their weight. I eat like a pig and weigh the most I ever have in my life. 6'1"/160lbs. I don't really think I'm qualified to tell someone to loose weight because I don't know what it's like to struggle with it.

 

[papabear]

OK MD...again you are right!
I'm just gonna have to go from 6'2" at 270lbs to about 230..that's a good weight for me.
Still pretty solid...just LARGE!!
Was just gonna cut a hole in the back of the cab and move the seat back some but like ya said...the health issues will still be there!
Poop!!

 

[jatonka]

No kidding about cutting the back of the cab out. Memphis modifies trucks for a fire engine builder on Long Island, they extend the cab about 8 inches longer and it is a real nice modification. Might cost a lot but it works. JT

 

[goldneagle]

i'll be honest. My hideous great 50year old belly rubs on the m35a2 steering wheel. Are there any adjustments that can be made to the steering column and/ or the driver's seat?

The only thing i can think of is to temporarily install a smaller diameter steering wheel and air assisted steering to compensate for the loss of leverage.
I'm already on a healthy heart diet and am losing weight (thanks to my darlin' rn wife of 26 years), but durn it, i sure could use some relief until i shrink enough

don't adjust the truck, adjust the belly! You will feel better and may even live longer!

 

[m.walker]

Get a seat that isn't air or spring , take the cushions and the springs inside out and replace them back and bottom with 3" high density foam . If you need more belly room you could go thinner on the back . It will lower you down some and move you back . I did this for more room and because I got tired of staring at the wiper motor ! The seats were much more comfortable as well . I agree on the weight though I'm trying to drop some as well . But this will work for now . Mark

 

[Mayor Joe]

Don't know if you're still having the problem with room in the M35A2, but although I'm in the process of losing weight, I still need (wanted) more room. We just succesfully completed to modifications that have made ALL the difference in the world. Halleluia!!

We modified the box seat to raise it 1-1/2" and cut the gussets on the seat back to increase the angle to 90 degrees. This allowed moving the seat back another 4".

The REAL help came when we shortened the steering column 3-1/2". It wasn't as difficult as we anticipated. We removed the wheel and carefully cut the steering column sleeve exposing the shaft. We cut the shaft and installed a sleeve over the shaft. We shortened the piece we cut off, installed it in the sleeve and welded it all up. Then, we cut the column cover shorter, installed it and welded it. We didn't even bother the horn wire. You cannot believe how GREAT it turned out.
All this took about 2 hours.

Check out the photos. It's WELL WORTH IT. Don't worry, I'm still losing the weight, but now, I can move the seat forward as I shrink in diameter.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I have the spring seat. Where do I find a box seat?

I woud gladly trade my Deuce box seat for anyone of you bigger guys springer seat.

Any takers?

 

[steelandcanvas]

All this took about 2 hours.
Check out the photos. It's WELL WORTH IT. Don't worry, I'm still losing the weight, but now, I can move the seat forward as I shrink in diameter.

Nice job!

 

[hippiedude]

can`t even tell ........ nice .. Tim

 

[TexAndy]

Maybe I can find a replacement hip on GL!!!

Probably have brakeless forklift fork marks, tho. And if you complain, chester will just tell you to suck it up and spray some krylon on it.

 

[quarkz]

Great gut mod. Mayor Joe.

Thanx for the pictures too.

I wondered if that would be a mod. for us tall folks.

It looks like it will make it even harder for my knees to fit under the steering wheel.

Maybe this mod. with a smaller steering wheel would allow me to drive the truck like my mitsubishi spyer or a go-cart. Letting my knees come up on the sides of the wheel when I operate the clutch.

Would you mind posting the ID & OD of your extension tubes?

Great mod.
Thanx