Hello All;

Well ready to start a new project; my lower back gives me fits sometimes and almost everytime i get in my truck for the past 2 years really is a pain in my back big time.

I contribute to two main things; the seat cushion being worn and sinking down too much and two.. the damn lumbar hump that sticks out really awkward.

Looking for advise any retrofits form the GEN 3 (even with some modding) and not look retarded; or perhaps other seats out there.

Kinda need the flat back style like some of the newer dodges have and Fords..

Thinking about taking what i have to an apolstry shop and seeing what they can do..

Ideas?

 

I just finished my durango seat swap to replace the bench seat. They aren't gen 3 but they are really comfy.

I usually have issues with lumbar seats too, but these aren't rock hard like other lumbar seats. Also I sit about 2-3" higher than when I had the stock bench, which I like.

I picked up the center console and seats for $110, then sold my bench seat for $80.

I had to use a ton of leather conditioner to bring them back to life but they are nice and soft now.

For the rear mounting brackets, instead of cutting off the brackets or drilling through the floorpan, I just used a 1/4 thick piece of 3" cold rolled steel and bolted it down. (Sorry about the blurry pics)

 

I was messimg around feeling myy seets seems it's just some heavy gage wire in there to give it form think I'm going to open it up might be able to bend the lumbar out driver side the adjust bar would have to come out I bet$$ those seats do look comfortable

 

Yeah, the Durango seats had a lot more cushion built into them. They are like night and day compared to the stock Dakota bench. I am more than happy with them.

You may also try to find some replacement cushions from some seats in a boneyard. You would have to take the covers off to install them, but you can practice on the donor seats first. Just throwing out some ideas that I had before finding the Durango seats.

I remember seeing something about Dodge cushions wearing out early because of the way the bottom bucket is designed. It cuts through the foam from the inside. I think it's worse on Rams though.

 

Just my opinion but I think moding in seats that don't just bolt on OEM that is are a very dangerous proposition. Your truck/car is specifically designed for optimum safety in an accident how it crumples in an accident moding in seats that were not made for that car or truck changes all that so now you don't know how safe the car or truck is and could kill you ASAP in an accident.


If you didn't use bolts with wide washers on the bottom of the seat attachments those just taped in bolts will rip out in a flash in an accident and try to smash you into the dash with great force your seatbelt may help or make things way worse depending.

 

I used grade 8 bolts and 1 1/4" washers on the underside of the steel plate. On the seatbelt-side bolts, I used two washers, one on the top and one on the bottom.

I re-used the bolts from the original seats to bolt the plates to the floor. They are in there pretty solid and if I get into a wreck bad enough to rip out the bolts, I probably wouldn't survive it even with regular seats.

 

Lots of good info..

I think if i can get the bulk of the lower lumbar hump out and get new foam (hell even memory foam upgrade) in the seats reupholstered I think it would solve my issue.

i will look at it this weekend hopefully before i have to drive 400 mile trip with an aching lower back :X lol

 

I have a very bad back and cant well shouldn't take long trips but this works for me.


I purchased a medium quality memory foam pillow the ones that have the neck bump/hump and sit on it every drive high hump side toward my back and works great. I think the hump works best on the butt not the legs that would put too much pressure on the legs. I have been using it for as long as I have had my 98 Dakota and its still in decent shape I just pull the cover off and wash it when needed here is a tip dye the cover black or dark brown or it will get ugly stained ASAP.


I do have a bench seat not buckets so I'm not sure if that would work for buckets the pillow I purchased looks like the Pic and was a cheaper model around $35 I think not the $100 high end ones just be sure its not so cheap a model that if you sit on it it collapses down to a pancake their is veering degrees of quality some are very soft and not usable for anything but the high end expensive ones are almost too stiff for a butt cushion.


When old and damaged you make do as you can to feel comfortable and keep going it sucks but its life deal with it.


When People see the pillow they kind of look at you like what's that but F-K them without the pillow my back would kill me driving.


One more thing see the pic that's almost an exact pic of the one I have see how thick it is I don't think the thinner ones would work as well.

 

A Pic of the pillow when I was removing my Dash that Brown thing.

 

I got a roll of padding from the craft section of wally world and begun the adventure.. worked pretty well actually stuffing a layer between the seats factory foam and the metal frame.. but when i went to zip it.. the weak zipper decided to break.. gotta get a new one sown back on.