Selecting the Best Car Swivel Seat For Elderly Passengers

The swivel chair for cars has become a popular retrofit option in the market as it allows for easier entry and exit. Not only does it make the vehicle accessible for the elderly & disabled, but also makes life convenient for any other user, with long term orthopedic benefits.

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However, retrofitting a swivel chair for a car isn’t as simple as buying and getting it installed into the car. A lot of mechanical knowledge of the vehicle as well as the swivel chair is required to select the best option, meet all the safety standards and pass the regulations.

Let’s have a look at the technical aspects of retrofitting a swivel chair for car, and the safety measures & regulations that need to be kept in mind.

Why are People Retrofitting a Swivel Chair for Car?

A swivel chair is one that rotates and pivots allowing for easier entry and exit to the vehicle. Some swivel chair models have rotation limited to 90⁰ while others can rotate upto 360⁰. While many modern vans and some SUVs offer the swivel seat as an option, it wasn’t the case over a decade ago.

As a result, for anyone with a vehicle that doesn’t have an OEM swivel chair for car as an option, retrofitting it is the option available to them.

The appeal of the swivel chair isn’t limited for the mobility users, but a variety of users. These include those who are into van life builds, camper conversions, photography vehicles, and more. The spike in interest of the van conversion and overlanding communities has made the swivel chair a popular modification for vehicles.

Technical Overview of Different Types of Mechanisms in a Swivel Chair for Car

Swivel base plate

The swivel mechanism’s structural core is the swivel base. It consists of two concentric plates: a fixed lower plate bolted to the automobile and a spinning top plate on which the seat shell sits. The gap between these plates houses the rotation components. These parts include the locking mechanism and ball bearings to facilitate rotation.

An automatically operated swivel base will also include a motor that allows for the seats to be rotated at the push of a button.

Locking Mechanism

A button or lever that locks/unlocks the swivel seat. It locks automatically or manually when the seat is back in the travel position. A 360 degrees rotation seat can be locked at multiple angles using the system.

Ball Bearings

Inside the swivel base, a circular track called a bearing race holds a series of precision steel ball bearings. As the seat rotates, the balls roll within the race, distributing the load evenly and eliminating friction.

Connectors

These connectors securely fasten the swivel base into the car’s original brackets, ensuring that the entire seat is safe both when travelling and when rotating. The torque of the connector and the bolts must be followed as per the handbook, as it is an essential safety check to guarantee the seat doesn’t move.

Additional Comfort and Automation Mechanism

Harness System/ Seat Belts
Headrest
Recline Mechanism
Hydraulics or Motor for lowering mechanism
Motor for rotating the seat

Safety and Regulations Considerations Before Retrofitting Swivel Chair for Car

Get a vehicle floor structure and load path analysis done before installation
Check whether the OEM seatbelts and airbags work with the swivel chair or seatbelt anchor relocation and belt geometry needs to be changed
Look out for electrical and sensor integration troubles (like Airbags sensor and seat position sensor)
Apart from reading the manual for weight limit, do a load testing and quality checks before installing the seat
Check the legality of fitting a swivel chair for car in your area
Check whether the swivel chair installation lead to manufacturer warranty voidance
Insurance voidance, inspection failures, and legal liability after an accident needs to be looked into