I’m in the process of doing the same thing and finding your experience helpful. Thanks for sharing… I’m sure I’ll come back to watch this a few more times before I tackle it.
Slotted blot holes are more of a liability because they leave room for the bracket to shift on the bolt creates a hammer like effect that could shear the bolts or tear the sheet metal in an accident. The proper holes in both pieces eliminate that and start dissipating energy instantly. Otherwise a good looking install
This was nicely done. I just installed one this afternoon and your experience was invaluable. I made a few changes and I’m happy to share cad drawings and/or cut some parts in NYC for no charge. Instead of washers underneath, I laser cut 2 sheet pieces to the edges of the welds in the cavity of SS that straddle the beam. Also, added another countersunk hole in the center front of the Fenton plate since it was a good thru-bolt location- since riv-nuts aren’t my favorite for seats. So I have 3 riv-nuts but 6 through bolts…into plates and not just washers. Great job. Many thanks!
Awesome! Glad it helped you. Would have loved to so something besides washers.. definitely not the best way but why I could do. Happy to report that the seat is still solid though. Hope yours stays solid as well over time! Nice to offer to help others out too 👍
Hi @charlesboyce5330, I'm about to do an installation myself and would love to hear your thoughts on an installation location and to see what you had done underneath the floor for spacers. Thanks
Hi @charlesboyce5330. Would you be able to share the CAD drawing of the plates that you put under the van? I've spent a lot of time thinking about the best way to use this and I think you have the best solution. Also, what thickness was the metal you used for the plates? Thanks!
@@luzbel4469 I wish. This seat was designed for city buses so doesn't unfortunately. I did have a contact at the company and gave them that feedback though. Reclining would be nice. I know they made an updated version that can also be used as a table when folded up with an attachment and maybe has a slight recliner feature. Don't remember tbh
Man, figuring out the best/safest way to install these bellagio seats is tricky. Either custom metal brackets underneath with the standard seat or you have this Fenton option. I spoke with them on the phone twice and confirmed this plate has been actually crash tested and that it would be installed on super thin metal, I was just asking about the floor of the van being so thin. I asked if they had much experience with the sprinter as I am running into the same problem as you with that C channel being in the wrong spot. Obviously Rivnuts not ideal, you could drop the tank, but then you'd be installing the seat further from the wall than you want by another 2-3 inches. Basically she said they recently installed one into a Sprinter at their location in Buffalo and it was a PITA. Obviously the plate is not sprinter specific. But yeah they literally have instructions about how to install it over the top of a wood subfloor, etc, etc. They seem way more chill/confident about it since it's been tested than I think all of us are with our loved ones in that seat! Doing the same thing as you, having a child any day and selling my 144 and building out a 170 and figuring out my seat situation. Thanks for the video, any follow up beta is super helpful!
First of all, Congrats! It's amazing to see them grow. Our daughter is about 9 months now and seeing all the changes happen is amazing. They grow so fast and try to remember, the days are long but the years are short. Heard this several times and already is very true for us. The bracket was absolutely a struggle to get this installed as you saw. Several weekends to get it done and figuring things out as I went in terms of where to put it given all the other compromises you have to accept to get it installed. Ita basically why I concluded that this is almost a great product but needs some more flexibility in mounting to really make it awesome. Its nice to have something actually tested but if it's too hard to install, people will struggle to install it correctly and then it may not work as intended. I did as best I believe I could but of course don't know and hopefully will never need to test it. Everything is still nice and tight though. Although I would probably replace the bolts with zinc plated ones. They are have rust on the bolt heads inside the van.
Have the seat now, took 3 months to get and think I’m just gonna toss this plate and use a custom bracket on the bottom. Hopefully Fenton can spend a touch of time with some software and know where most people want to mount these and make it better…
I’m in the process of doing the same thing and finding your experience helpful. Thanks for sharing… I’m sure I’ll come back to watch this a few more times before I tackle it.
Thanks and good luck! LMK if you have any questions
Slotted blot holes are more of a liability because they leave room for the bracket to shift on the bolt creates a hammer like effect that could shear the bolts or tear the sheet metal in an accident. The proper holes in both pieces eliminate that and start dissipating energy instantly. Otherwise a good looking install
This was nicely done. I just installed one this afternoon and your experience was invaluable. I made a few changes and I’m happy to share cad drawings and/or cut some parts in NYC for no charge. Instead of washers underneath, I laser cut 2 sheet pieces to the edges of the welds in the cavity of SS that straddle the beam. Also, added another countersunk hole in the center front of the Fenton plate since it was a good thru-bolt location- since riv-nuts aren’t my favorite for seats. So I have 3 riv-nuts but 6 through bolts…into plates and not just washers. Great job. Many thanks!
Awesome! Glad it helped you. Would have loved to so something besides washers.. definitely not the best way but why I could do. Happy to report that the seat is still solid though. Hope yours stays solid as well over time!
Nice to offer to help others out too 👍
Hi @charlesboyce5330, I'm about to do an installation myself and would love to hear your thoughts on an installation location and to see what you had done underneath the floor for spacers. Thanks
@@brandonfriedt4728 that'd be great if he can help! Especially with being able to cut proper spacers for underneath
@@brandonfriedt4728
Happy to help. How to connect?
Hi @charlesboyce5330. Would you be able to share the CAD drawing of the plates that you put under the van? I've spent a lot of time thinking about the best way to use this and I think you have the best solution. Also, what thickness was the metal you used for the plates? Thanks!
What were your dimensions off the wall and from the back of the front seat base? Hows it holding up now and anything you would change?
Does it recline???? 🤦🤦♀🤦♂
@@luzbel4469 I wish. This seat was designed for city buses so doesn't unfortunately. I did have a contact at the company and gave them that feedback though. Reclining would be nice. I know they made an updated version that can also be used as a table when folded up with an attachment and maybe has a slight recliner feature. Don't remember tbh
Sure. Happy to help. How can we connect?
Man, figuring out the best/safest way to install these bellagio seats is tricky. Either custom metal brackets underneath with the standard seat or you have this Fenton option. I spoke with them on the phone twice and confirmed this plate has been actually crash tested and that it would be installed on super thin metal, I was just asking about the floor of the van being so thin. I asked if they had much experience with the sprinter as I am running into the same problem as you with that C channel being in the wrong spot. Obviously Rivnuts not ideal, you could drop the tank, but then you'd be installing the seat further from the wall than you want by another 2-3 inches. Basically she said they recently installed one into a Sprinter at their location in Buffalo and it was a PITA. Obviously the plate is not sprinter specific. But yeah they literally have instructions about how to install it over the top of a wood subfloor, etc, etc. They seem way more chill/confident about it since it's been tested than I think all of us are with our loved ones in that seat! Doing the same thing as you, having a child any day and selling my 144 and building out a 170 and figuring out my seat situation. Thanks for the video, any follow up beta is super helpful!
First of all, Congrats! It's amazing to see them grow. Our daughter is about 9 months now and seeing all the changes happen is amazing. They grow so fast and try to remember, the days are long but the years are short. Heard this several times and already is very true for us.
The bracket was absolutely a struggle to get this installed as you saw. Several weekends to get it done and figuring things out as I went in terms of where to put it given all the other compromises you have to accept to get it installed. Ita basically why I concluded that this is almost a great product but needs some more flexibility in mounting to really make it awesome. Its nice to have something actually tested but if it's too hard to install, people will struggle to install it correctly and then it may not work as intended. I did as best I believe I could but of course don't know and hopefully will never need to test it. Everything is still nice and tight though. Although I would probably replace the bolts with zinc plated ones. They are have rust on the bolt heads inside the van.
But good luck with the build. It'll go very slow with the baby. They tale up a lot of time!
Have the seat now, took 3 months to get and think I’m just gonna toss this plate and use a custom bracket on the bottom. Hopefully Fenton can spend a touch of time with some software and know where most people want to mount these and make it better…
the dolly????
Of course. Seat is so heavy
So you buy a seat for 3K and then you need to spend 1K on a steel plate to mount it Fak. I didn't realize that base is 1K
I like your windows！ Where do you get them？ Can you provide a link？ Thanks.
They are factory windows from Mercedes. We ordered the van with the windows all around option