Seat Question

[aldive]

Having just completed a 1000 mile trip in my'99 XLT, I finally realized how uncomfortable the front seats are.

Has anyone found a comfortable ( for long trips ) replacement seat? Also, are the seats from the different models different ( other than the controls )?

Thanks in advance.

 

[410Fortune]

I love my 99 Eddia Bauer leathers in the BII, and the 98 leathers from the Mounty are super comfortable too!

 

[aldive]

I love my 99 Eddia Bauer leathers in the BII, and the 98 leathers from the Mounty are super comfortable too!

How old are your seats?

Have you used them on long ( 1000 mile plus ) trips?

Is there a difference in the seats from a Limited or an EB vs an XLT?

 

[410Fortune]

I am not sure about the differences between models, more like between years.
I had 97 buckets before these for about 5 years, yes I drove my truck to CA and back twice, to oregon, to Wyoming, many many 500 mile one way trips (making round trips)...
of course if I sit in my moms touareg my seats seem kinda cheap, but then in my friends 2002 grand Cherokee his seats seem like bulbus balloons, so I think its personal preference.

Also on long road trips I have to adjust the seats differently every few hundred miles, it helps keep you from getting stiff/sore etc.
I also do hand and feet exercises hahaha I know it sounds funny but I live for raod trips, I have been taking them since I was a kid with my parents and when I go on road trips its usually for vacation, I am excited and I tend to drive straight through....so you pick up tricks along the way, IMO there is no seat made for a car that doesnt suck after 500 miles.

 

[pabille]

Having just completed a 1000 mile trip in my'99 XLT, I finally realized how uncomfortable the front seats are.

Has anyone found a comfortable ( for long trips ) replacement seat? Also, are the seats from the different models different ( other than the controls )?

Thanks in advance.

I always wondered about different seats in different models. My Sport has high side leg bolsters that power adjust to keep you snug when cornering or give you wiggle room. The seat cushion also has an extension that goes further out than most vehicle seats for additional under-thigh support. Do XLTs and EBs have these features?

 

[aldive]

bump

 

[03ExplorerSPT]

The seats in my Sport are extremely comfortable. The longest trip I've taken is 640 miles and they were very comfortable the whole way. The 2003MY seats for the Sport/Sport Trac is different from the '01-'02 years I think. I remember the seats in my '95 XLT weren't the best but in my '03 they fit like a glove.

 

[kfkodiak]

Limited seats are probably more comfortable than the buckets. They have adjustable headrests, and no side bolsters. I imagine they would bolt right in.

 

[Spdrcer34]

Speaking First Hand, with my experience with First Gen's ONLY....

The Standard Buckets in our 93 (and the originals in my 92) get very uncomfortable if driving for 2+ hours...

The Eddie Bauer seats in my sisters X were only a slight upgrade, they still lacked some padding in the lower back, and bottom, tolerable for about the same 2+ ride

The `94 Limited Seats in my `92 now are about as comfortable as anything else I have ever been in. I haven't been on any 1000 mi. trips yet, but I have been in them long enough to know the difference between them all.

The Limited Buckets look alot like the buckets found in a Mustang/Thunderbird.

But of ALL the vehicles I have ever been in, the most comfortable seats I have ever been in was in my father-in-law's `02 Mountaineer (AWD, V-6)

Ryan

 

[EMG7895]

the eddie bauer buckets in my 93 are not bad, much better than many others I have ridden in. the best seats that I have ever driven in are in a 05 760li, did a 8 hour trip one way and I still felt great when I got out of the car, but those seats are worth more than my explorer.

 

[Jefe]

I never really liked my '00 cloth seats. I upgraded to '97 leather seats and they were less comfortable. I apparently have short thighs and had to crank/pump (depending on year) the lumber support all the way up and the edge of the seat was still in the back of my knee. The air lumbar is much more comfortable, but less useful for adjusting the seat size. I pulled the seat apart and cut and rewelded the hinges so the back was a full 2" further forward, and now my seat is the most comfortable seat I can dream of. The interesting thing was even though the seats felt entirely different from each other, the seat frame and padding is identical between those seats, only the lumbar support and cover shape and material is different.

Now I need to figure out what to do with my crappy focus seat as I get tired of it after an hour.

 

[DDEBEXP]

my seats in my 01 eddie can get pretty uncomfortable. i have made the dallas to el paso trip, about 580 miles plenty of times and i have to stop a lot because i get uncomfortable. I think i would like to try some limited seats because of the head rests and other things that the eddie bauer seats don't have.

 

[zhanx]

I went and did the seat bounce test on a few aftermarket seats, found nothing i like..

I loved the leather seats in my old audi, they were great for long trips. I've made a few trips home on my stocks seats and i did alright (granted a few were after just driving hummers around).

Maye you can swap in a set of thunderbird seats, I had one a few years back and trips from MI to KS were great in those seats.

 

[scottyg]

range rover seats are by far the best ive ever sat in, 9 hours non stop with a bad back and no problem...now that my lumbar bag blew up and my recliner pull thing broke off im lookin for somethin myself

 

[willy2]

Sorry to revive such an old post, but having the same question. My driver seat won't lock in the full upright position, so considering getting an aftermarket to replace..

Found this guy that installed a "Flofit" seat that apparently also was a bit higher and gave a bit more legroom (which would be nice)
http://www.explorerexpress.com/reviews/polite_company.php

Otherwise Corbeau seems to be a "less expensive, but still ok" aftermarket seat, looks like $94 for the bracket then $320 for the seat (or $220 for the uncovered version)
http://www.corbeau.com/products/reclining_seats/sportseat/

Anybody found anything better? I have a 98 Sport. Part of the reason for going aftermarket is that I think any 11yr old seats I find in the junkyard will have seen better days...

BTW, this happened about a week after I brought it in for the bolt recall, but the dealer says the two are unrelated (don't believe them but what can I do??)

 

[CDW6212R]

Try to find out more about this Summit seat, they are only $200 each.

 

[willy2]

Found this one for $113 shipped.. But they couldn't tell me what I needed in terms of brackets etc.. It's JC Whitney ZX538148

 

[CDW6212R]

That looks like an even cheaper version of the same thing. I had first seen seats almost identical to those on eBay, from sellers in Hong Kong. Those were both vinyl and leather seats, from between $370 a pair to about $500 for leather. These are all basically copies of high end Recaros or other race seats.

The quality of the seat maker will have a bunch to do with how comfortable and reliable it will be. I liked finding it from Summit as a seller, instead of some odd importer on eBay.

If those are similar in dimensions to those from Summit, the base is very close to easily working on the stock Explorer tracks. I figured two of the holes would be fine, and two new holes would have to be added in the tracks. Someone needs to try one out. I'm slow so I have mentioned these before figuring somebody will try them first.

 

[Cozmik]

I don't know about fitment between generations, but I just ran 600 miles to Chicago in my 05 EB and was I very comfortable. Cushioning was not too hard or soft, support was good.

 

[blueka]

I find that the bucket seats are more comfy than the ones with seperate headrests like I have now...


Si