Air Ride Seat Questions

[mwilson]

I think...

Red Valve is height...

The rest from front to rear..

Seat cushion side bolsters


Seat back side bolsters

Seat back lower lumbar


Seat back mid lumbar


Seat back upper lumbar

 

[gmp1749]

The end numbers are 65. They screwed up.

They call these passenger seats and there is no difference, you get two driver seats.

Waiting to see if you can do the air controls on pass. side and the manual on drivers side.

 

[mwilson]

The end numbers are 65. They screwed up.

They call these passenger seats and there is no difference, you get two driver seats.

Waiting to see if you can do the air controls on pass. side and the manual on drivers side.

I don't believe that National will place the controls on the right. I have asked in the past.

What you could do is keep the bases and contact Knoedler seating. They do place controls on the right by request. Buy just a pair of seats without bases. Get the mounting stud configuration and see if they will bolt to the National bases.....also watch the height of the seat back. Measure the National seats before you return them.

Just a thought...

 

[mwilson]

Motorhead is taking a different approach, he is trying to get adapters fabbed up to allow the Knoedler suspension bases to be used. I find it easier to use the National bases and bolt whatever bare seat one desires to it.

Nothing wrong with his approach at all, I'm very interested in the result. I would add that the Kneodler suspension base should not have more than 4" of vertical travel. That's about all the headroom in these trucks will allow without breaking your neck on a big bump....

 

[mwilson]

New install thread has been created, a work in progress...

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/threads/258489-National-Air-Ride-Seat-Install

 

[Lynx0849]

mwilson, I tried to send you a message but your bucket is full....

 

[mwilson]

mwilson, I tried to send you a message but your bucket is full....

Let me make some room, give me about 5 minutes and try again...

 

[gmp1749]

Update on my seats. In the process of returning them, been approved for return.

Keep me updated on your install.

I am going to order bottom cushion from Geno's. Put one in the 1998 2500 last week, what a difference, not air but better than factory!!

 

[DBCooper]

MWilson, your other thread is looking good. My truck is back up and running with a new SouthBend clutch. May have to accelerate the seats now that I see this!

 

[User113]

If anybody knows, can the National seats for the Dodge be ordered with the built-in backcycler as can be had in the other lines?

 

[mwilson]

If anybody knows, can the National seats for the Dodge be ordered with the built-in backcycler as can be had in the other lines?

I don't think that particular model seat offers that as an option. I will ask if there is such a thing the next time that I speak with National.

 

[DBCooper]

Mwilson, how do you like your seats now that they've been in a number of months. Was reading another post where the individual was very pleased with his air ride seats at first but then over time became tired of all the up and down motion.
Thoughts?

Thanks.

Dan

 

[mwilson]

Mwilson, how do you like your seats now that they've been in a number of months. Was reading another post where the individual was very pleased with his air ride seats at first but then over time became tired of all the up and down motion.
Thoughts?

Thanks.

Dan

Hi Dan!!

I am quite pleased, my wife is still not a fan of hers though.....

I have probably put 2.000 miles on the truck with the seats installed, the final trip was to Jersey City and back just before I put it up for the winter.

So here is what I learned...

(1) The up and down is not even noticeable to me BUT I drove truck for many miles and am used to the air ride motion, the only way it would be of notice would be if it STOPPED moving up and down. It's very slight and if it became an issue over time I would suspect that the seat shock was worn out. They are easily replaced.

(2) Had trouble getting the seat back upright enough for my liking, I am not one that likes to be leaned back while driving. Plus I have to be up straight and level so I am looking through the sweet spot in my progressive lenses....getting old, not fun.....so I put 1" spacers under the rear seat mounts which helped a lot.

(3) They ride well enough to allow the truck to be really getting the snot beat out of it and you don't notice because it's not transmitting through your butt...I pay close attention now to what the rear wheel is doing in the mirror........

(4) I don't have an adequate air supply. I'm using the compressor that came with the Air Lift air bags and it is not up to the task.....I know that is the wife's issue with her seat where the lumbar and such does not inflate as it should. I am shopping out a new continuous duty compressor and will install when I get the truck out of storage...

So I am pretty happy with mine...

 

[DBCooper]

Good to know, thanks! I get the "getting old, not fun..." which is why I'm back to looking at the seats. I'm fine in my daily driver for hours on end, but the truck seats kill my back. The truck is in great shape, so doesn't make sense to sell.

I have a viair 450C continuous duty compressor mounted on the engine (for quietness) and it provides plenty of air for the bags in the back and the exhaust brake. I imagine it would be fine for a couple of seats.

I'll have to call Suburban and see what they'll do for me without the compressor. Might be able to save a few bucks.

Thanks again.

 

[mwilson]

And add the heat pads from Geno's, it really feels good on the old back!!!

 

[CBari]

Mike look at this option for air compressor http://trucklungs.com/. I am thinking about doing this on my 13. On my 03 I have a 5gal tank and continuous duty viair compressor and it meets my needs but I still think I could use more volume at times.

 

[slowmover]

MWilson, add the PURPLE Extreme seat cushion and separate lumbar cushion to both seats. Sheepskin overlay.

This makes the pounding a smooth bore tanker gives my tractor far easier to live with.

And, as noted, an upright seating position is always best for fatigue resistance. Not just our old man eyes.
Might say my 500-mile/day truck went to over 700.