Air Ride Seats

[AlaskanCummins]

Got the seats in yesterday. It was a pretty straight forward process and would have taken less time if I didn't have to re-make one of the center console brackets. The two rear ones were two lefts, but one of the lefts had a right part # sticker on it.



I say the sticker applicator at the factory gets a day off without pay!



The first photo shows the parts and you can see in the top left there are two brackets (front L/R) and then both the back console brackets that are the same - they're suppose to be mirror images.

 

[AlaskanCummins]

And some more pics.....



Showing the drivers side brackets mounted with some wiring modifications made to accomodate the heated seat kits. The relay panel you see is there from before and is for my off road/driving lights. The heated seat kit calls for switched power. I used the constant 12v and ground wires that were there for the power portion of my OEM seat and relayed that with switched power that I had previously installed for the lights.



The second one shows the passenger rear console bracket that I had to modify. Basically, I flattened it out, cut the lower and upper "ears" or bolt areas then cut them on the same line. I then welded them to be a mirror image of the left side.



The third is the air mount on the passenger side. Notice that you'll loose your jack mounting area. Now I'll have to find somewhere to put it.

 

[AlaskanCummins]

You can see that I opted to mount the heated seat kit on/off/on switch just forward of the air controls - this keeps the switch with the seats in the event that I may sell this truck, etc.

 

[AlaskanCummins]

This pic shows just how complimentary the color combo is to the interior of the truck.



So far, I'm pretty impressed with the ride. It feels strange at first and makes driving the truck much nicer.

 

[AlaskanCummins]

And some frown at me for spending $3800 on a Temper-pedic celebrity mattress. Dense memory foam is the best way to sleep.

Can't blame you one minute for wanting comfort. The older a man gets the more "comfort" we look forward too.



Great idea! I hope your install goes easy. Courious as to how much head room is left with seat adjusted and I would like to know how tall your are. What is the vertical travel distance? Being 6'4" Head room is a must. I cannot (except Mecedes) own a car with a sunroof because they have less head room.

I'm 6'2" and fully inflated, my head is still an inch or two from the ceiling. Surburban said the base has a 3" travel distance but the unit itself says it's got 4". It sure seems like it has a 4" rise.



Playing around with it, I can get it in the vicinity of the OEM heigth and the ride is very nice - the seat doesn't really go any higher than what it's set at but it'll sink down when I go over bumps.



So far, so good!

 

[MelvinPierce]

Great pics and write up! Thank you for sharing.

MP

 

[mwilson]

Looks great, getting ready to order myself a set.



I do have a question though if you don't mind.



Is there room enough on the passenger seat now that you have them mounted and in place to get your hand between the console and the seat in order to run the controls???

I would think it might be tight.

Thanks,

Mike.

 

[retirednak]

If you wouldn't mind dropping me a PM and I'll give you my number so we can hook up and I can check out your seats next time I head into Anchorage

Thanks-Casey.

 

[JCrockett]

Looks great, getting ready to order myself a set.



I do have a question though if you don't mind.



Is there room enough on the passenger seat now that you have them mounted and in place to get your hand between the console and the seat in order to run the controls???

I would think it might be tight.

Thanks,

Mike.

Yes you can, I had no problem playing around with the controls once we got the seats installed.

Very nice set of seats!

 

[RustyJC]

Looking at all the technology that's packaged under the seat, I doubt that you could fit these in anything less than a Class 8, but it's an interesting and promising concept. The Bose Seats use technology similar to noise cancellation technology, but applied to vibration and shock instead of sound.



Just posted for info and entertainment.....



Rusty

 

[mwilson]

Leave it to Bose to show the Class 8 manufacturers that the most important and most overlooked component of a truck is the seat!!!!! Amen.



Dodge certainly overlooked it on the third gens.

 

[AlaskanCummins]

Looks great, getting ready to order myself a set.



I do have a question though if you don't mind.



Is there room enough on the passenger seat now that you have them mounted and in place to get your hand between the console and the seat in order to run the controls???

I would think it might be tight.

Thanks,

Mike.

Hi Mike - Yes, I can even fit my mitt in between the console and seat side. It's a tad tight, but I can get to all the controls without much effort. My wife's hand fits in there just fine.

 

[AlaskanCummins]

If you wouldn't mind dropping me a PM and I'll give you my number so we can hook up and I can check out your seats next time I head into Anchorage

Thanks-Casey.

Hi Casey - PM has been sent.

 

[mwilson]

Thanks for the reply, I was trying to figure out how tight it would be.



I think I will order mine next week, I am going to cheat a bit and order them thru the FTL Direct Ship Program.

The reason being is I know that I will be very happy with the Driver's side seat but in the event that the DW hates hers I can return it fairly easily by paying return freight and 10% restock.

I just want to have a safety net in the unlikely event that she does not like it. After 30 years of marriage I have learned a few little things. :-laf:-laf



Her major complaint with the factory passenger seat is that the front of the cushion is too high and cuts off her circulation.

Several Dodge dealers that I have talked with admit to hearing that same complaint from many shotgun passengers.

The air seat should drop down more and will have less rise in the bottom cushion.

 

[ENafziger]

The Bose Seats

Wow! Thanks for the link!!! Those are impressive... however, the $12,000 + tax + installation at an authorized facility for two front bucket seats will likely keep most people away.

--Eric

 

[RustyJC]

Like most new technology, price will probably come down as production ramps up. Knowing Bose, however, their stuff will never be cheap.



Rusty

 

[retirednak]

With the Bose seats technology,almost makes me wish I was still working since the company tried to provide the best seats available when we got new trucks. For that kind of money,they damn sure better last the life of the truck or be able to remount into another truck! By the pics of the seat,it appears to take up less room then the ordnary air ride seat. Even the best seats out right now do nothing to isolate the driver from vibrations and our frost heaves in AK.

 

[RustyJC]

The Bose Seat utilizes technology Bose originally developed for active automotive suspension systems - see HERE.



Rusty

 

[retirednak]

I saw the suspension setup a couple years ago,it reminded me of what Citroën had on its cars way back when. Its too bad Bose products are out of reach for most consumers,bought died when I bought my wife the Bose Wave system. I could of updated the lift pump on my truck!

 

[AlaskanCummins]

Her major complaint with the factory passenger seat is that the front of the cushion is too high and cuts off her circulation.

Several Dodge dealers that I have talked with admit to hearing that same complaint from many shotgun passengers.

The air seat should drop down more and will have less rise in the bottom cushion.

EXACTLY! My wife said the seat would press on a nerve right behind her knee which would make it uncomfortable and she would have to "fidjit" constantly to keep her legs from falling asleep.



She liked the seat from the first minute she sat in it on Saturday.