Uncomfortable Seats

Hi All,
I completed a 5 hour road trip this weekend and my lower back pretty sore.
I tried adjusting the positions, but couldn’t make it any better.

Has anyone else has issues with their seats on long drives and if so what did you do to remedy it?

 

Longest trip I've done is a few hundred miles and seats were fine.

They are a bit narrow compared to other vehicles I've owned.

One thing that really helped me was lowering the ass end and raising the front to better support my knees. That made a big difference, improvement in comfort.

My knees are trashed from working on airplanes for 30+ years.

 

Dude, you must be getting hella good gas mileage. No stops for gas or a stretch?
I just drove from MT to SoCal and made about a dozen or 15 stops in my 25 hour drive.

 

I tried that and sadly it didn’t work

Haha we did OC to Laughlin but traffic was a little rough. We stopped once for food in Barstow, but that was it.

 

They’re just not very comfortable seats IMO. It’s my only complaint. I’m 6’1” 230 and find the seats to be overly hard and too narrow. Manageable on short trips, painful on longer ones. Might push me to get 2022 GX460 tbh

 

It’s funny how seat comfort is such an individual thing. My “big boned” 290 pound frame is pretty comfy in these seats, which is weird because they are narrow. I’ve even gotten some good sleep in the drivers seat on camping trips (not while driving lol)

That said, more than a few hours sitting without a stretch break is something I try to avoid. Really, two hours is what I do before I stop to stretch.

 

yep, its probably a skinny mans truck.

 

i should clarify, this husky fella doesnt stop every two hours for discomfort, more to just stretch and to keep good circulation

 

Maybe it's just simply a break in period, like a pair of new boots.

 

Could be…or it could be my extra padding haha. It could also be differences in how people “sit”. For example, I tend to move and shift a lot on drives. Helps with alertness, and I can just tend to be fidgety. Maybe others sit and “lock in” so to speak. Skinny people may also just have more pressure on contact points. So many variables.

Back in my motorcycle days, I never had too much of a problem with seats either…even though everyone getting aftermarket saddles. Maybe because of the shifting around thing. Not to say I didnt enjoy a nice corbin saddle I had on one of my bikes

 

https://desertdoesit.com/collections/toyota/products/front-seat-jackers-2002-2009-4runners

 

Having driven OTR semi for many years, I can tell you, with out a doubt, seat adjustment is king. When I first started driving semi (1982) there wasn't a lot of 'data' on things like seat adjustment, body positioning, things like that. I found myself getting out of the truck and walking around the truck, moving around in the seat a lot thinking it was the seat. As the years progressed, seats got better and actual studies were done on body positioning/seat adjustment, and after taking some of the points to heart, I was able to really get into driving. Sitting in the semi seat for extended periods of time was no longer a problem. Even after the adjustments were exhausted, and the body positioning pointless, some drivers went on to buy custom seats to "fit" themselves better, so I guess what I'm saying is; try everything seat adjustment you can, and if that doesn't work, maybe consider aftermarket seats. Coming out of a Tacoma to the 4Runner, as far as seating was a welcome thing.

 

we took a Limited cross county last year, the seat adjustments were key.

we are currently looking to trade in the taco for a 4Runner as the wife is more comfortable in the runner versus taco seats. And I agree.

 

It seems like my '03 had more comfortable seats. But, I bought that one used with 78k miles, so I'm wondering if it has something to do with being broken in.

This is what I am hoping for.

I drive from Wisconsin to Florida every winter to visit my Mom (and fish of course). I try to wait until I need gas to stop. Usually, in ~20-21 hours I'll stop about 5 times.

 

I'm 6'4" and big and old and I've always had problems with 4runner seats - been driving one since 2004. I could never get enough support under my right leg and would have to stop a lot on longer trips because my right leg and lower back would start barking at me. I bought a set of these seat jackers - the 5th gen version - and it made a world of difference. Amazing what 1 inch adjustment does. Took about 20 minutes to install. Hardest part was getting the plastic covers off to get to the bolts. Well worth the investment.

 

I'm 6'2" and have taken multiple trips to and from North Carolina from NY. Depending where I'm going down there it has taken 8 hours and other times up to 16 hours. Straight through other than stopping for gas and bathroom breaks. I've never been uncomfortable or wished for better seats. They are better than my 2005 Grand Cherokee by quite a bit.

 

These seatjackers often solve the problem. they are expensive (I recall about $90) but raise the front so your thighs rest on seat. Gives a better view too in my opinion.

 

Hardest part is shelling out $100 for two small pieces of steel and some bolts. Might have to try them anyway as I just drove from Conroe, Texas to Pensacola Beach and the seats in my 2021 are definitely not built for comfort.

 

Yup, me too. A lot of positive reviews of this though.
Especially if you’re under 6 feet

 

fronts aren't great but I've gotten used to them. family gripes all the time about the back seat. I did a little digging and for some reason, theres a 5x5" steel plate right under the center section of the rear seat...not sure what the logic is.

 

Yeah my lower back hurts too.

 

My reservation with these is if these would have any effect on safety during an accident.

 

I cant see how it would. Seat is just as secure. Same bolts holding in it.
Seat position isnt changed enough to effect air bag. No different than sitting on a comfort pad. Good to go.
im gonna order some as soon as I get over that jacked up jackers price.

 

Same here, OP. I find myself constantly bumping the controls to make small adjustments hoping to find the sweet spot. It's as if the seat is always just a little off. Seats in my '08 were definitely more comfy.

 

I drove back to PA last month to take care of my parents after their surgeries. 1700 miles each way, and the longest day was 950 miles. No problems for me with the seats. I actually thought they were pretty comfy on the trip. But everyone is different.

 

I’m not a fan of the seats either. Not the worst, but not the best either.

 

I have/had the same complaints about the seats. I have gotten used to them somewhat but they are not comfortable. I feels it the lack of leg support. Would the seat jackers help in this department? Only complaint I have about the truck.

 

It helped me. The seats just don't go up in the front far enough. My right leg was the one that had the problem since it has to be on the accelerator. The extra inch now has leg resting on the front of the seat. Everyone is different so YMMV.

 

My left leg will fall asleep sometimes lol. I’ll might just give it a try. But I will say, it’s not as bad as it once was. Been about 3-4 months with the vehicle now.

 

Ive seen reported on the site that adding a 1in lift cornfed spacer in the front helps alot with seat comfort (improves seat angles)