First Gen Bucket Seats

[RSchwarzli]

I am trying to locate 4 bucket seats for the crew project. Oo. While researching them, I now have these questions.



Did the first gen buckets only come in a manual adjusting? I read somewhere that they came with power seats. Is that true?



Also are the 89 and 90 buckets identical to the 91 - 93 buckets? Are there any even slight diferences? The reason I ask on this one is I would need all of the seats to match and I somewhat remember there being a chrome lumbar handle in the 1990 catalog and I dont remember seeing them on the 1993. Thanks,



Robert

 

[1stgen4evr]

buckets

Do yourself a huge favor and find some later model seats. I am riding on 97 model (full power adjust) seats as of now and will never go back to the original buckets. On the 93 that is my old faithful, I installed the seats from a Dodge Grand caravan from the same period. Those were better seats to start with. That required some adaptation as will the later model seats. The foam had turned to concrete and my *** wasn't far from turning to concrete as well. You can also use the seats from a Ramcharger from the same period. But I highly recommend the later model.



In my opinion, the bench seats were better seats than the buckets. I plan to use a bench in the back of my crew project. Lucked up on the parts to make an 03 for under the hood. Now if I can find a transmission to channel the ponys to the 03 rear.



I haven't seen any power seats for first gens, but certainly don't know for sure. Don't know about the lumbar support either. I bet Mysteryman can tell you.



James

 

[mazdarotary]

I am trying to locate 4 bucket seats for the crew project. Oo. While researching them, I now have these questions.



Did the first gen buckets only come in a manual adjusting? I read somewhere that they came with power seats. Is that true?



Also are the 89 and 90 buckets identical to the 91 - 93 buckets? Are there any even slight diferences? The reason I ask on this one is I would need all of the seats to match and I somewhat remember there being a chrome lumbar handle in the 1990 catalog and I dont remember seeing them on the 1993. Thanks,



Robert

I have never seen power seats as an option on a first gen,but then again I have not seen many first gens anyway. The Captains seats in the 1st gen are quite comfortable,but they are not the best seat going. The passensgers seat does not slide on the base front to back like every other seat ever made,but it does fold forward to allow entry to the rear of the club cabs. It is a bad design I think. The chrome handle you may have seen on a 90 seat could be the seat recline adjuster(it is in the same place a lumbar handle may be). It is on the wrong side of the seat in my opinion,as they are toward the center of the truck instead of outboard like every other car seat. I think the idea of getting a new seat is a great idea like the previous poster mentioned,but the captains seats in the first gen LE's are pretty comfortable though. My truck has 233K miles on it,and the seat is still comfortable on long trips camping. Good luck



Chris

 

[tugboatphil]

Robert,



I have to agree with James on the newer seats. I swapped mine out a couple years ago and it was the best thing ever! I still have my old ones, but the arm rests are missing. Oh yeah, I used the original bases, so they aren't on them either. But if you can figure out a way, you can have them.

 

[SGibson]

I thought about the 4bucket interior also, but the crappy ramcharger bases all rattle when empty, I don't I could handle three of them flopping around, besides the buckets need more room than the bench (rear) and there isn't much to spare for adults as it is now.

 

[tx_fireman1525]

Do yourself a huge favor and find some later model seats. I am riding on 97 model (full power adjust) seats as of now and will never go back to the original buckets. On the 93 that is my old faithful, I installed the seats from a Dodge Grand caravan from the same period. Those were better seats to start with. That required some adaptation as will the later model seats. The foam had turned to concrete and my *** wasn't far from turning to concrete as well. You can also use the seats from a Ramcharger from the same period. But I highly recommend the later model.



In my opinion, the bench seats were better seats than the buckets. I plan to use a bench in the back of my crew project. Lucked up on the parts to make an 03 for under the hood. Now if I can find a transmission to channel the ponys to the 03 rear.



I haven't seen any power seats for first gens, but certainly don't know for sure. Don't know about the lumbar support either. I bet Mysteryman can tell you.



James

I disagree with ya on this one. The buckets in my '93 are THE MOST COMFORTABLE seats i have ever riden in, period. Everybody who rides with me says the same thing. If i ever get rid of this trucks, im keepin the seats!!

 

[tugboatphil]

tx,



You're young and skinny, right?? Don't take long trips? Never sat in a 2nd Gen seat?

 

[bigtan408]

im with tx, i love my buckets, and yes i am skinny. i wont ever get rid of my bucket seats.

 

[Philip]

Phil you know I am not young and skinny. :-laf :-laf



I have been in a second gen seat for quit a few miles in Case500D's truck he just sold to Dieselman. I did not like it one bit. My brother in law has a 2002 CTD. I wouldn't want to go for a long trip in it eather. Its seat fit worse than the early 2nd gen seat Case500D had in his truck.



I'll keep my buckets also.

 

[bgilbert]

Heck I don't even see Ramchargers around here (junkyard or on the road), let alone 1st gen bucket seats! Those would be a must grab if found at a j/y and or cheap.

 

[Philip]

Bill on my job. I have seen two R/C's go threw a metal shreader in the last two weeks. Both still had the buckets and consoles in them.



But I am not employed by the company that owns the shreader so I couldn't touch them. :{ :{

 

[guh2stroke]

1st Gen Seats

Speaking of seats, what would be a good bench seat to put in my 93 RegularCab? Newer Ram or Caravan rear seats? Thanks in advance, Alex

 

[Doc Holiday]

I have a set that need some work but complete... . they will be out soon.

 

[tx_fireman1525]

Ive been on many long trips in mine, and i have riden on a 2nd gen seat. Mine blow any other seat away

 

[dodgenstein]

Both of my trucks have factory buckets and I wouldn't trade them for any of the newer seats. I have spent many long days in my dually with no compalints. BTW I am skinny, but not young. I will say that the 2nd gen seats are better than the 1st gen seat, but nowhere near the feel of my buckets!

 

[CPG]

I'm not supposed to be on this forum anymore as I was an owner of a 1st. gener truck for 12 years since new. I have a 3rd. gener truck which my Wife and I love. The 1st. generation truck was great and no trouble.

We both miss the old Captains or bucket seats we had in our old "93". Just wish they had been available for this 04. They were great!.

Thanks for letting me come back to a great forum I miss.



Chuck Goode

 

[tugboatphil]

I must have had a bad set. The foam had broken down on them. My right leg used to go numb from the seam pressed against it. Since I put the 2nd Gen cloth seats in, I can (and do) drive and or sit for 18-26 hours with no problems... . well, other than falling asleep at the wheel occassionally. But luckily I've had the cruise control on when it happened.

 

[91W350]

I could use a driver's seat to rebuild. The reclining control is stripped on mine, so I drilled a hole in it and threaded a bolt in to keep the back upright. It also needs foam and covered. I would just as soon overhaul a seat and replace mine with it. I like it more for my shepherds than for myself. If you guys get his cab full of buckets and there is one left over someplace, I would be interested. Glen



#ad




They are spoiled rotten... .

 

[1stgen4evr]

Since I am the one that said something against the first gen buckets, let me expand on my position because I certainly don't disagree with anyone on their preferences.



I absolutely had to do something about my 'old faithful' 93. The driver's side was just plain worn out at about 400k. The back incline was stripped out and the outboard side of the bottom was caving in. I first raised the back about three inches and welded it at a comfortable position for me. (I am tall) I drove it that way for another 10k miles. The foam was begining to harden and get worse so I started looking at repairs. For sure you can't afford Dodge parts to repair the seat.



I found a set of similar buckets in a wrecked (similar age maybe older) Dodge Grand caravan sitting in a salvage yard. These seats are a nice match and with some minor mods are serving quite well. The recline latch is on the right side of the seat and is more convienent than the original. I like them. I like them just fine. Only the true afficianado of a first gen would realize that they are not original.



My low miles 93 has the original seats and I don't plan to do anything to them for a couple hundred thousand miles. At the rate I drive that truck, I will be 120 years old when that time comes.



The truck I am driving has '97 seats. They are not bench but they are not as small as the first gen buckets. This fits my butt somewhat better. And on three and four day outtings where I sleep in the truck, I am able to still get out and walk around at the end of the fourth day. (Albeit somewhat stiffly)



On the crew I am (slowly) assembling, I will use something like the 97 or better if I find something that 'feels' better to me for the front and a bench for the back from a 93 LE, and of course all covered to match. I want to add the club section to the crew part and if I do that, I may do something more sleep oriented to the rear seat.



Tugs experience is what made me go to the later seats in the first place and it is the right thing for what I do with the truck.



James

 

[DSteimle]

i love the buckets in mine. it is kinda weird having the recliner handles on the inside. very comfortable on long trips.



on a side note, mine are grey factory buckets out of a 92, problem is my interior is red, i would be more than happy to swap grey for red and will do the driving for the swap. please keep an eye out for red seats for me