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Inserted 1" foam under stock seat

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After 50k, on longer trips I started to feel the two side steel rails against my but_. So today I found some scrap 1" foam.

I don't know what type of plastic, but it is very firm, almost like cork, and very flexible, not the polystyrene that breaks into popcorn when you bend it. Sorry I can't help you on the type of plastic, it's not polyurethane either, I know they have a hard time recycling it due to it being very hard to shred. Maybe polyethylene?



I removed the one screw holding the recliner handle, and two screws for the power seat control.

I then reached under the seat and there are two 3-inch-wide plastic hooks on the side closest to door, which take a little contortionism to unhook.

I cut 2 pieces (one for each seat) of about 13. 5 by 7 or so inches, and inserted them in between the wire mesh and the seat pillow.

The distance between the rails is about 14 inches, so that 13. 5 fits pretty good. Then I pushed it as far back (rear of truck) as it will go, right to the coil springs. Hooking it back up is a piece of cake, and then the handle and cover go back on.



Took it for a test ride to Home Depot, and besides sitting 1 inch higher (I adjusted the height down a little), I noticed an improved ride, since there is more foam to cushion the bumps.
 
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Betterthanstock,



Once again, as usual, You come up with some great information.



On my '03, if I sit for more that 1 to 2 hours, my right leg starts to get a pain that rediates from my "sitdown parts" down my thigh to the back of my knee. It's almost like a nerve is being pinched or there is a loss of blood flow.

If I stop & get out & walk around, a bit, everythings better. But, when I get out, I almost fall over like my leg is very stiff. I don't recall this ever happening in my '91.



I was thinking about the foam material they use for the Tempurpedic mattresses. At Sam's Club, they have thin (1") samples of their version of the Tempurpedic material. Seems like that might work as it takes the shape of whatever is compressing it. The material has "memory" in it & regains its original shape after you get off of it.



Any thoughts about where you could get some of that material & if you think it would work?



I approached a couple of upholstery shops & they wanted hundereds of dollars to rebuild the bottom part of the seat.



Thanks.



Joe F. (Buffalo)
 
Buffalo,

I have the same problem except my rt. leg , that foam sounds like a good idea ,Iwill check with my upholsterer and see if he can get small pieces
 
I wouldn't use the memory stuff. I think it's too soft to go over the wires. The stock seat sags down after about 2-3 hours of driving to where you start to feel the steel rails wedging you in from the sides. I don't know if they improved it later on, like in 05-06. Other car seats have wider frames than this.

I double checked, and the stuff I used is closed cell polyethylene foam.

I think you can find similar stuff in some rubber exercise mats, and some life-jackets.

Packaging manufacturers have it.

If you ask your upholsterer, tell him you want stuff designed to go over wires without being cut or crushed.
 
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This is really timely for me, having just completed a 3k trip with my truck. I will definately try your fix because I cant stand to sit in this thing more than an hour anymore with out getting out to let my butt rest.

I can't believe how bad these are compared to my old 93 first gens buckets, they were the best!



Scotty
 
My seat doesn't feel like I'm sitting on a pressure-point like a steel rail, as far as I can tell.



I rarely use the cruise control, so my right foot is always in the same position. My guess is that the hardness of the seat cushion either pinches a nerve or stops the blood flow in my sitdown parts.



However, this isn't the first time I've heard about the steel framework in the seat bothering people. That may very well be the problem. And, if it's helping "betterthanstock" then, he may have the answer.



Good point about the Tempurpedic type foam being too soft & conforming to the seat rails. My thought was that if this product could cradle ones sitdown parts, it might take the pressure off what ever is being compromised by the seat rails.



Joe F. (Buffalo)
 
Now that you are getting closer to a year with the fix. How's it holding up.

I came to this site because I have the same problem.

I also checked with an upholstery shop who said "I could do something but you wouldn't be happy with it, just go get a new OEM seat foam"

But mine (at 70k) is so bad, I can't ride more than 30 minutes without being aggravated.



I went to talk to the dealer to see if it was covered under my extended waranty. and without question or even looking at the truck, they just ordered me a new foam and scheduled me. So it must be a common thing.

I told the guy, I know I'm fat and the service write was a big guy too, He said he'd calls himself portly and went and ordered my foam.

My plan was to get the new one put in to give me a little time to search out a better upholstery shop. But I may try your tip and stick the 1" foam under my new seat and see how it works.



So how did yours work out ?



Thanks

Nick
 
Now that you are getting closer to a year with the fix. How's it holding up.

I came to this site because I have the same problem.

I also checked with an upholstery shop who said "I could do something but you wouldn't be happy with it, just go get a new OEM seat foam"

But mine (at 70k) is so bad, I can't ride more than 30 minutes without being aggravated.



I went to talk to the dealer to see if it was covered under my extended waranty. and without question or even looking at the truck, they just ordered me a new foam and scheduled me. So it must be a common thing.

I told the guy, I know I'm fat and the service write was a big guy too, He said he'd calls himself portly and went and ordered my foam.

My plan was to get the new one put in to give me a little time to search out a better upholstery shop. But I may try your tip and stick the 1" foam under my new seat and see how it works.





So how did yours work out ?



Thanks

Nick



It seemed a little thick at first, but after some miles, it's perfect. No more steel rails against my bones.
 
In answer to whether it got any better in the 05-06 model years - NO!



I was thinking of using a piece of the egg-crate type foam in my seats. If you think the fronts are uncomfortable, wait until you get in the back seat, it's even worse. I'm thinking about getting a set of the canvas type washable seat covers, think the ones from Genos - anyway, I thought I'd use the egg-crate type foam under them to make it a little more comfy. You can get a king-sized piece of memory type foam in any place that sells sheets pretty reasonably. Enough to double it up on all the seats. Just a thought.



CD
 
IV had the same problem with my 05.

I got a back support like used in an office chair from " As Seen On TV" store

It seems to work pretty good but the foam under the seat cover idea sounds like a great idea also. Gonna try it.
 
i couldnt stand the seats in my truck for the first 6 months. now my rear is like a rock! another inch of foam sounds comfy!
 
Thanks guys. Both of you basically did the same thing, one with a stiff one inch foam and the other with a soft 2 inch and a piece of carpet.

I just had the stock foam replaced by the dealer and I'm going to do this mod very shortly.

I weigh 275, so it doesn't take long for my seat to sink in.



Thanks,

Nick
 
Betterthanstock & Spooled-up,



Thanks for the great write-ups. Spooled-up, your pictures are a great help, also.



I'm always amazed at what great ideas some of the members have.



Thanks again.



Joe F. (Buffalo)
 
thanks spooled up. cuss this 05 seat from the first day. they are car seats. my 94 i drove form 4 conners to sacrmento stop once.
 
Update on My Uncomfortable Seat Fix.

This past weekend, I started researching my "seat fix". Most of the stores, I found, just had some regular, soft foam. I, then, called an upholstery supply company & started finding more of a variety of foams, from which to choose.



Today, I went down to the upholstery company & was shown some different weight foams. None of which looked great. Finally, an older employee asked if I needed some help. I explained my problem & he said we have just what you are looking for. 3/4" Closed-cell foam (pretty dense). I got a 3/4"X61"X20" piece for $7. 00.



After reading "spooled-up's" piece, I thought the "carpet sample" idea, to insulate the foam from the wire "ladder" was a good was worth a try.



This afternoon, I took the drivers seat out & added the foam plus the carpet sample. My drivers seat had a number of electrical connectors under it, which, I disconnected. Found out later that I didn't need to un-hook all of them. Getting the drivers seat out was the hardest part, for me (not much of a mechanic).



Once I got the seat out, installing the foam & carpet sample really wasn't that hard, at all. Un hooking the springs was not that bad & re-hooking them got easy once I discovered a trick. I put a bladed screwsdriver under the ladder (wires) & put the blade into the spring hook & stretched it under the ladder wire. Worked great! Took less than a minute to hook up all four springs.



The "shotgun seat" went very fast since I knew the tricks & there were no electrical connections to deal with.



It's an easy job, even, for the "mechanically challenged", like me.



I took the truck for a drive, after the "seat fix", & it felt pretty good. You sit a little higher & the seat feels firmer, than before. Feels a lot like the seats in my Mercedes-Benz, did. They were firm but, you could sit in that car, all day.



To be fair, I need to drive the truck for a couple of hours. That's when you really notice just how uncomfortable the stock seats really are. Hopefully, this fix will work. I'll let you know after my next long ride.



My total expense was $9. 71 for the foam & the carpet samples ($1. 00 ea. ). The seat is just a bit higher but, not bulging out the top. Looks pretty good, I think. My "gut feeling" is that this fix is going to work.



Once again, MANY THANKS to those who contributed to this thread. When you think that Dodge has been building truck seats for close to 100 years & they build a piece of crap, like this, they should be embarrassed. It didn't take us anywhere near 100 years to come up with a fix for their incompetence. Once again, I'm impressed with the talent & ingenuity found on this, & other websites.



Thank You, for your suggestions. I'd have never come up with a fix on my own. Your suggestions actually made the job pretty easy.



Joe F. (Buffalo)



PS: Hopefully, I won't be as much of a "pain in the arse" as I normally am, now.
 
I just read this thread again, and decided it was time to try it. I'm leaving on a 650 mile drive tomorrow morning, and thought I'd give it a shot. I pulled the seat out, cut two pieces of burber carpet I had laying around. The first I cut to 14"X17", and put that up against the ripped and torn stock seat foam. The next, I cut to 14"X13", so as to provide a bit of a taper and prevent the springs from forming a cup in the seat. I wanted a level surface to sit on, and this was a way to work with the natural bow of the springs to provide that. I can go into more detail if need be. So far, the fix is awsome. I have almost 50K on my truck, and the two pieces of carpet is awsome. I like the firmer feal, and now the seat feels like my Burb does. Thanks for all the ideas guys!!
 
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