So my seats seem to be ridiculously stiff, was thinking of getting them redone with some softer foam, anyone ever done this or know how much it might cost? It really has become a problem where after an hour drive my back is killing me. I dont have this problem in my other car. I was thinking of a seat swap but i really like the look of my 05 seats. Any other ideas welcome (sacking up and dealing with it does not qualify as an idea...).

 

Are you gellin? lol

 

time for some explorer seats?

 

I was considering that, but do they have any with black on them and not leather??

 

You'd be surprised how much more comfortable you can make your seats with a little foam and one of those retractible razor knives with the snap-off blades.

I did some side bolsters and a lumbar pad on a Saturn seatback that turned out so nice that I did the seat bottom afterwards. (The underside was bad, letting the springs cut into the pad, making the seat bottom sink).

Trick is to find foam of the proper density for your desired result, and cutting it to fit well.

It can also be tricky to get the original seatcover back on. I cheated by not removing it completely, just pulling it apart (there were some internal velcro spots) far up enough so that I could place my added foam pieces. I also used just a little spray adhesive (I THINK it was headliner contact cement, been a few years) to hold them in certain places.

I did not remove the seat for this work.

 

Did you do this on the Ranger or just the Saturn??? I dont mind taking the seats out, not hard to do. And I dont drive it regularly so I can take my time with this. Where did you get foam from??? Maybe I should get some memory foam.

Can i just take the fabric off and cut away some foam and toss in some better foam, maybe a couple inches and then put the fabric back on?

 

I used foam from some craft store.
They had a variety of slabs.

Call around and ask, as if you were making a window seat cushion for the house.
I never took any foam away from the original, just added more. I had it so the sides really hugged my back/torso. I favor wedge shapes (easy to cut and install).

On the bad seat (not the back), I had to put heavy vinyl between the original seat foam and the metal spring assembly. Plus a heavy foam glued to the original, to raise it back up.

You're really only limited by what you decide to do. Look at the bottom of the seatback. The entire width of the bottom has a plastic seam. It comes apart easily (but hard to explain) and you just work the fabric up, inside out or scrunched up, your call. Depends how high up you go. My problem is lower back,, so I went about 1/2 way up.

There were a few velcro'd spots that I didn't disturb, not needing to take it completely off, but you could.

This was on a 92 Saturn, quite a few years ago, but I put a TON of highway miles on that car. I'd like to get hold of a slab of this new-tech "memory" foam and hit a couple spots in the driver seat in my wife's Rav4. That seat kills me. I also tweaked the cushioning in a 95 VW. It was easy too, but had a glue seam.

I've had my 2000 Ranger DS seatback apart because the adjustable lumbar cushion guide rail broke. Which explains all the weld splatter melts in my carpet behind the DS. But my lumbar support is still working.

I'm just saying there are things YOU can do, but you have to decide how far to go. I don't think I'd cut away any cushion, myself.

Actually, now that I think about the VW, I used a tube of weatherstrip cement to recreate the glue seam. It worked perfectly, was a tannish yellow color, matching the OEM foam pretty close. Let it get good and dry/tacky and then touch the fabric to it, keeping the seam perfectly straight. If you take your time, it's almost theraputic, work the fabric down a couple inches, line it up, press, pull (LOT'S of pulling), get your wedge (re)positioned, pull, sit in it, adjust, on and on and on. Then when it's done, you'll brag and want people to "sit in it".

 

sweet thanks for the info! i would want to cut some out due to my height, my head hits the roof a lot...i wonder how much that memory foam would cost...

 

i think theres black cloth explorer buckets.

 

PRPs. do it, youll thank me.

 

PRPs???

 

PRPs!!!

 

yea...what is that??

 

http://www.prpseats.com/home.html

 

oooo nice...maybe in a few years when i have the suspension more to where i want it...

 

anytime is a good time for those seats, trust me. they are so comfortable and amazing. great for road trips, they will solve all of your long distance sitting discomfort!!!

 

dammit dont tempt me!

 

theres no tempt to it. It will be the most rewarding thing you do to your truck.

 

and those prices are not bad at all...would just have to modify my seat brackets and get 5-points yea?

 

prices are great, mine are holding up very well and comfy as all hell. you can get seats with lower side bolsters (I would suggest this for a daily driver) and you wouldnt need to get harnesses yet. I modified my stock brackets but the seats sit too high as of right now. I beleive you can get adjustable brackets from PRP, but they are a bit pricey.

 

Sorry for the Hi-jack Justin, but Gil, you ever heard much about Hunsaker seats?

I've been looking at the Synkros for awhile, but still not sure if I want to pull the trigger.

 

^^^ no worries

Gil do you have any pics of yours?? also any pics of how you modified the brackets? or just what was involved in modifying them

i am 6'3" and my head already hits the roof easily. but if they sit back further i may be ok...

 

Lets see pictures of them installed.

 

i havent heard to much about either just that they were a great value. no longterm reports

I can probably get pics within a day or so. basically I lopped the seats off at the sliders and cut plates and tabs and welded them ontop of the sliders. it was a while ago and wasnt my cleanest job but I can try to get pics of those as well. I plan on re making the whole system in the near future, but I will probably make my own sliders with some sort of latch.

 

sweet, yea pics when you can, and the brackets that they make are another 250...so i think modifying the stock ones will be best...