Driver's Seat causing pain in Driver's seat!

[Brett Maverick]

My 2003 3500 4x4 is a nice truck, but after 30,000 miles, I'm starting to look for the cause of the numbness in my legs when I drive.



The power cloth seat has "cords" or seams in it to make the patterns. The foam in the seat compresses more than the seams do and basically leaves me sitting on two ropes that run the length of my legs and causes some pain.



Anyone else have issues with the drivers seat, and if so, what repairs were made to solve it?



Thanks,

Brett

 

[DaveMorris]

From the reading I have done, it is more likely to cause a problem with guys that are a little taller than average. Mine kicks my butt some days and is a little more forgiving on others... 6'2"



I looked under my seat and it is very easy to see that it is a poor design of the frame rails. I will probably take mine apart and have an upholestry shop add some padding, but other than cutting down the frame rails I am not sure what else to do... on long drives I lower the back and raise the front (pimp daddy style), this puts more pressure on the bottom of my legs and takes some of the pressure off my butt...

 

[JMcDowell]

seats

I have the same issue with my seats. The are very annoying when driving any length of time. It feels as if I am sitting on the seat adjuster rails without any seat pad. I am taking my truck in for this issue soon as it has become slightly worse over time. I am 6'2 225 12% body fat

 

[Peachman]

A buddy of mine replaced the foam in his seat, his 6'4" and 260 lbs. frame broke down the stock foam faily quick. Since replcaing the foam, he has been very happy.



JT

 

[jsimpson]

I replaced the seats in my 94 with BMW 16 way seats that I bought at Turkey Rod Run for 300 bucks. Took about 30 minutes to weld up brackets. Three diferent lumbar supports!!!

 

[jrlawler]

This has been a problem forever with these trucks. Hello DC--Do you guys ever drive your trucks? My solution was to buy a Thermorest 3/4 size air mattress used for camping. It folds to cover both seat and seat back and has worked well for me. jrlawler- proud CTD owner since 1989 now on my fifth truck

 

[DBoyd]

I noticed in the options list for the 2005 that they offer a premium seat (not leather) along with the standard seat in the SLT. It is a 475 dollar option and it didn't say anything about being electric (unless I missed it). It is a required option when the load floor is also ordered. May be a way to get 100 bucks for the load floor and an additional 475 for the seats!!! Nah, they wouldn't do that!!???

 

[DBoyd]

I forgot to ask if this might be a better quality seat for the $475???

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

jrlawler suggests

My solution was to buy a Thermorest 3/4 size air mattress

Alright, great idea. I have several thermorests hanging around here. I just completed three days of 6 to 12 hours on my butte roadtripping to Reno and back. After that many hours I can't complain too much, but my hinny eventually got numb. I kept having visions of that expensive air seat (sort of look like a wasps nest) someone previously posted.

 

[DaveMorris]

Mine is the upgraded interior, but not the leather... and the SLT drivers seat is power...

 

[DBoyd]

I just did see a new upgrade seat in a new Ford company truck at work. Very very well designed. We had people taking sick leave because of the seats in the Fords being so poor!!! they were down in the back from the seats and the miles they cover!

 

[DGibbs]

Like's Peachman's friend, I'm 6'4" and weigh about 260 lbs. and my foam broke down on the right side as well. I was literally sitting on the steel rails. The dealer had an upholstry shop replace the factory foam with a more dense foam. Made a huge difference.



Also, and this sounds weird, I find the ride more comfortable with the center console folded up. With the console down, it feels like it pushes my legs together more than they would be when sitting normally. With the console up, I can sprawl out and it feels more comfortable to me. I miss the elbow rest, but it does make it easier to reach my coffee on the drive in!

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

Ordered a couple Thermorest sport seats for $14 apiece from Northern Mountain Supply. They are 12" x 16" x 1. 5" inflated, so they should fit in the seat 'hollow' and under the seat covers handily. There were a couple seat models a little larger, but given the price I thought I'd check these pups out first.

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

Well, so much for the thermorest seat experiment. The 12"x16" was just too small, besides I found them for $9. 95 at campmor. So I sent them back for a total cost of experiment of $10 bucks JR you were correct in your PMs - how goes the cut/paste experiment? It sure seems to me the thermorest pad have skyrocketed in price