Problem with Driver Seat Comfort - 2000 LTD

a4t5fan · #1 (**permalink**) 05-01-2004, 10:44 AM

I have a 2000 LTD that I bought used, I love this truck except for the comfort of the driver's bucket seat. I have taken it to two different upholstery shops and had them make modifications but with no success. I have gone to the dealer service shop as well and they have no suggestions. TRD doesn't make any replacements....I want to keep this truck, but I can barely walk after I drive it for 30 mins. Any suggestions on modifications or replacement possibilities?

mustang67408 · #2 (**permalink**) 05-01-2004, 09:00 PM

Have you looked into aftermarket seats, such as RECARO? They can be modified to fit just about anything. RECARO SEATS
There are other seat manufactures, that might be less expensive, but Reacaro is the first one to pop in my head.
I have a broken back (L5-S1) and I dont seem to have any problems. Altho mine is the 60/40 bench.
Whats wrong with the seat?

Genthar · #3 (**permalink**) 05-01-2004, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by a4t5fan

I have a 2000 LTD that I bought used, I love this truck except for the comfort of the driver's bucket seat. I have taken it to two different upholstery shops and had them make modifications but with no success. I have gone to the dealer service shop as well and they have no suggestions. TRD doesn't make any replacements....I want to keep this truck, but I can barely walk after I drive it for 30 mins. Any suggestions on modifications or replacement possibilities?

Wow, I have the captain's chairs in mine and I love the seats...far more comfortable than my old eclipse. You might look into the Mastercraft ( http://www.mastercraftseats.com )seats as well. Those are another well known brand. Not sure about fitting them in the Tundra.

DJ · #4 (**permalink**) 05-01-2004, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by a4t5fan

...

I can barely walk after I drive it for 30 mins.

...

I am amazed. Several times, I have driven mine as far as 925 miles at a stretch and found my captain's caboose to be very comfortable. Back in the stone age, I couldn't drive my mother's '69 Chevelle for more than 30 minutes without my legs going to sleep.

If you can't find a better seat, you might try a lumbar support. Methinks thou hast a pinched nerve somewhere.

AZ TUNDRA · #5 (**permalink**) 05-02-2004, 12:08 AM

My SR 5 does not have electric seats - I don't know if you do. Since I am short legged, the seat angle caused me discomfort on long drives - so I used the idea of the rear seat mod and tilted (raised up the back) of my captain seats with the spacer. Love the heck out of it now. I only raised it one spacer, but you could do more. You do have to get longer bolts. I got mine at Lowes but I don't remember the specs on it.

Also, the angle and location of the gas pedal adds to my back pain. I used some armstrong and repositioned the gas pedal more to my liking - that helped my back pain also.

a4t5fan · #6 (**permalink**) 05-03-2004, 02:07 PM

I have the leather, bucket seats and I think there may be a couple of things contributing to the problem. One, I can feel the frame under the cushion under my backside on the gas pedal side. Two, the narrowness of the seat presses on the outside of my gas pedal leg. Three, I have varied the angle of the seat front and back in many iterations and I still have a pain in the muscle/tendon on the front of the hip. More information than you probably wanted...

I appreciate all of the suggestions! I was thinking of converting to a bench seat configuration and having it recovered in leather to match the back...or definitely checking out the other bucket seat makers.. any other suggestions would also be appreciated. Again...many thanks!

Mike Donofrio · #7 (**permalink**) 05-03-2004, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by a4t5fan

I have the leather, bucket seats and I think there may be a couple of things contributing to the problem. One, I can feel the frame under the cushion under my backside on the gas pedal side. Two, the narrowness of the seat presses on the outside of my gas pedal leg. Three, I have varied the angle of the seat front and back in many iterations and I still have a pain in the muscle/tendon on the front of the hip. More information than you probably wanted...

I appreciate all of the suggestions! I was thinking of converting to a bench seat configuration and having it recovered in leather to match the back...or definitely checking out the other bucket seat makers.. any other suggestions would also be appreciated. Again...many thanks!

I hate the Captain's chairs too...and have looked at many alternatives A friend suggested getting junkyard seats out of another Toyota the seat frames are similar with other newer model Toyotas, I even found a cross fit guide on the 'net somewhere--I looked for a while and never found what I wanted and eventually gave up.

Things I hate about the captain's chairs
-a solilloquoy by Mike Donofrio

1) I am a big man, not huge...just big. But at 6" and 230, the armrest on the captain's chairs is built primarily for slender individuals. My elbow barely meets the front edge of the flipdown and causes me to occasionally lean on my funny bone--the resultant neuro-electric discharge is anything but funny.

2) Zero lumbar support, zero.

3) The positioning of the seat portion (where yer azz goes) can only be modified with that goofy dial. This puts too much pressure on my sciatic nerve making me very antsy on long journeys.

4) What is the world is that stupid dial for anyhow?

5) My tailbone hurts after about 45 minutes in the seat. I have never had sacroilial pain before I owned the Tundra, but on long drives...I have a lot of pain from this

6)The headrests cannot be brought far enough forward to ease neck strain and fatigue. The newer Chevy Tahoes have this ratcheting style headrest that can be brought forward to meet with your head. Hell, even my Ranger had an adjustable headrest--and it was a piece of junk! To place my head firmly in the headrest, I need to lean all the way back--then I just get sleepy.