The Ford Barn

carguybill · 06-17-2015, 12:20 PM

I have an opportunity to purchase a nice looking A pickup but the narrow space between the front of the door opening and the front of the seat makes getting in and out very difficult. Are there things that I could do to make the entry easier? How about, for example, replacing the original seat with something that is narrower

July 4 04 Cold Stream 3.jpg

burner31 · 06-17-2015, 12:23 PM

If you can stand to lose about a 100 pounds...I'd start there.

burner31 · 06-17-2015, 12:24 PM

Ta-da

newshirt · 06-17-2015, 12:25 PM

Don't use the running board for your first step in. Instead, take a long step all the way to the accelerator pedal. Then pull yourself in. But don't yank on the steering wheel.

carguybill · 06-17-2015, 12:27 PM

Jeez Keith, You must know me. Surprised you didn't mention that it would help if I was able to loose about 50 years also. Bill

Mitch//pa · 06-17-2015, 12:46 PM

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nice lookin truck...
maybe u can make it easier by trading it to me for my tudor show piece

burner31 · 06-17-2015, 12:59 PM

"Know you"
Hell, I'm probably your mirror image.
That goes for the age thingy too.

inex01 · 06-17-2015, 01:03 PM

My Friend had a "Fat Mans Steering Wheel" and that worked well for him (he was not heavy, but not very flexible) , it actually will pivot away which gave him needed room to get in. Not sure if anyone still makes them? maybe someone here knows if they are still made. My Friend passed away two years ago heck he was 93 and had a full wonderful life ! but we still miss him

Quigley1930 · 06-17-2015, 01:05 PM

Do as they do with the T's-enter from the passenger side

Sewall Tyler

Fullraceflathead · 06-17-2015, 01:08 PM

Butter your Hips!
They do make a seat that is thinner to give a little more room.
I have a '28 Roadster Pickup, it takes some effort to slide into the cab. I keep my left foot on the ground and put my right foot next to shift lever. Then brace off of the Windshield Stantion Not the Steering Wheel and slide onto the seat. The Running Board will bruise your left leg if your not careful.

Mark DeRoseau · 06-17-2015, 01:35 PM

Still laughing over the subject line... Time to take out stock in K-Y

Tom Wesenberg · 06-17-2015, 01:41 PM

My 28 Phaeton is also tight to enter. As Keith said, I also need to loose some weight. I lost 5 pounds since winter and already feel more mobile.

But I still can slide under the car and slide out and jump to my feet like I could a few years ago. Old age isn't for wimps.

I think I'd look for thin bucket seats for the pickup to make it easier to enter and more comfortable on trips. They can be made to install without cutting anything original to the truck. You could even make your own and mount the driver's seat on a swivel plate.

C26Pinelake · 06-17-2015, 01:42 PM

I always enter from the passenger side. Wayne

Charles Coe · 06-17-2015, 01:45 PM

It's usually my left foot that I have trouble getting between the seat and door frame.

Tom Wesenberg · 06-17-2015, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charles Coe

It's usually my left foot that I have trouble getting between the seat and door frame.

Same with me. I lift my left foot high, so it goes over the seat, then down to the floor, then I shut the door. If I didn't do that I'd have to turn my foot sideways to make it slide past the seat, and that just isn't comfortable to do.

kenb43 · 06-17-2015, 01:55 PM

My friend has a '29 ccpu and is always complaining about how hard it is to enter, and he's pretty thin. He says the '29 open cab is even worse.

I, however, have a '31 ccpu and have no entry problems at all. What matters most is how much the door opening is restricted by the placement of the spare tire. Much different between '29 and '31.

G&N Farms · 06-17-2015, 02:00 PM

I'm new too and have had a hard time getting in. One of the things that worries me is when I'm working on the engine and need to get in and out with the engine running. I haven't yet hit the shifter but have gotten close.

Charles Coe · 06-17-2015, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G&N Farms

I'm new too and have had a hard time getting in. One of the things that worries me is when I'm working on the engine and need to get in and out with the engine running. I haven't yet hit the shifter but have gotten close.

If you're worried about hitting the shifter, put it in "courting gear" and it will be out of the way. Lift up and turn counterclockwise.

dansluck · 06-17-2015, 02:24 PM

You think getting in the truck is difficult. Drive 150 miles and try to get out!! A little profanity will help. Getting Old is Fun and Painful.
Dan

Mad Mac · 06-17-2015, 03:45 PM

In my 29 RPU I find that rotating my body about 90 degrees is better than a full frontal entry. Works well for me and I am overweight.

06-17-2015, 12:20 PM	#1
carguybill Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Coshocton Ohio Posts: 168	Can I make entry easier? I have an opportunity to purchase a nice looking A pickup but the narrow space between the front of the door opening and the front of the seat makes getting in and out very difficult. Are there things that I could do to make the entry easier? How about, for example, replacing the original seat with something that is narrower July 4 04 Cold Stream 3.jpg

06-17-2015, 12:23 PM	#2
burner31 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Shawnee, Ok Posts: 3,471	Re: Can I make entry easier? If you can stand to lose about a 100 pounds...I'd start there. __________________ Keith Shawnee OK '31 SW 160-B Last edited by burner31; 06-17-2015 at 12:32 PM.

06-17-2015, 12:25 PM	#4
newshirt Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 868	Re: Can I make entry easier? Don't use the running board for your first step in. Instead, take a long step all the way to the accelerator pedal. Then pull yourself in. But don't yank on the steering wheel. __________________ Ray White

06-17-2015, 12:27 PM	#5
carguybill Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Coshocton Ohio Posts: 168	Re: Can I make entry easier? Jeez Keith, You must know me. Surprised you didn't mention that it would help if I was able to loose about 50 years also. Bill

06-17-2015, 01:03 PM	#8
inex01 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Rockville, Maryland Posts: 350	Re: Can I make entry easier? My Friend had a "Fat Mans Steering Wheel" and that worked well for him (he was not heavy, but not very flexible) , it actually will pivot away which gave him needed room to get in. Not sure if anyone still makes them? maybe someone here knows if they are still made. My Friend passed away two years ago heck he was 93 and had a full wonderful life ! but we still miss him __________________ Chuck McDonald, Member of AACA, Model A Club, NRA

06-17-2015, 01:05 PM	#9
Quigley1930 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Middleburg, Virginia Posts: 421	Re: Can I make entry easier? Do as they do with the T's-enter from the passenger side Sewall Tyler

06-17-2015, 01:08 PM	#10
Fullraceflathead Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Chillicothe, Missouri Posts: 1,176	Re: Can I make entry easier? Butter your Hips! They do make a seat that is thinner to give a little more room. I have a '28 Roadster Pickup, it takes some effort to slide into the cab. I keep my left foot on the ground and put my right foot next to shift lever. Then brace off of the Windshield Stantion Not the Steering Wheel and slide onto the seat. The Running Board will bruise your left leg if your not careful. __________________ "If I asked people what they wanted they would have said faster horses." -Henry Ford "Primitive technology is not a design flaw" 1928 Ford Model A Roadster Pickup 1930 Gordon Smith Air Compressor 1941 Willy's Pickup 1960 Thunderbird-For Sale 1964 Buick Riviera 2x4 425 1965 Pontiac GTO, 455 Super Duty 2004 Dodge Ram SRT-10, V-10 Viper 1977 Charger Jet Boat,460 Ford,Jacuzzi Jet Front Engine Nostalgia Dragster,Supercharged 296 "Fullrace Flathead" Ford Engine Build up on DVD ask

06-17-2015, 01:35 PM	#11
Mark DeRoseau Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Grand Rapids MI Posts: 45	Re: Can I make entry easier? Still laughing over the subject line... Time to take out stock in K-Y

06-17-2015, 01:41 PM	#12
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Can I make entry easier? My 28 Phaeton is also tight to enter. As Keith said, I also need to loose some weight. I lost 5 pounds since winter and already feel more mobile. But I still can slide under the car and slide out and jump to my feet like I could a few years ago. Old age isn't for wimps. I think I'd look for thin bucket seats for the pickup to make it easier to enter and more comfortable on trips. They can be made to install without cutting anything original to the truck. You could even make your own and mount the driver's seat on a swivel plate.

06-17-2015, 01:42 PM	#13
C26Pinelake BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Michigan / Ontario border, Sarnia, Ontario. 50 miles from Detroit and 150 from Toronto. Posts: 5,800	Re: Can I make entry easier? I always enter from the passenger side. Wayne

06-17-2015, 01:45 PM	#14
Charles Coe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Pace, FL near Pensacola Posts: 374	Re: Can I make entry easier? It's usually my left foot that I have trouble getting between the seat and door frame.

06-17-2015, 01:55 PM	#16
kenb43 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 17	Re: Can I make entry easier? My friend has a '29 ccpu and is always complaining about how hard it is to enter, and he's pretty thin. He says the '29 open cab is even worse. I, however, have a '31 ccpu and have no entry problems at all. What matters most is how much the door opening is restricted by the placement of the spare tire. Much different between '29 and '31.

06-17-2015, 02:00 PM	#17
G&N Farms Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: At home in my shop working on cars. Posts: 101	Re: Can I make entry easier? I'm new too and have had a hard time getting in. One of the things that worries me is when I'm working on the engine and need to get in and out with the engine running. I haven't yet hit the shifter but have gotten close.

06-17-2015, 02:24 PM	#19
dansluck Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Nevada Posts: 217	Re: Can I make entry easier? You think getting in the truck is difficult. Drive 150 miles and try to get out!! A little profanity will help. Getting Old is Fun and Painful. Dan

06-17-2015, 03:45 PM	#20
Mad Mac Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: New Zealand Posts: 366	Re: Can I make entry easier? In my 29 RPU I find that rotating my body about 90 degrees is better than a full frontal entry. Works well for me and I am overweight.