Passenger seat upgrade.

[bgreeni Member Find all posts View Profile Close bgreeni]

I want to upgrade the front seats in my Prado so as to improve the ride and for greater comfort on long drives. Has anyone done this and with what success, difficulty and cost?

[samo Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close samo]

Re: Passenger seat upgrade.

only guessing but if you go to a suspension seat it will not be cheap but the ride will improve, have you considered a suspension mod if you havent got it done already. cheers samo

[leachy_9 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close leachy_9]

Re: Passenger seat upgrade.

Bruce,

We tend to do a lot of long range driving (1000+ kms a day) and with the standard seats I was getting a sore lower back and sciatica.

I have changed the front driver and passenger seats to Recaro Specialist L seats with lumbar support. These seats provide significantly more support than standard and I can now drive all day without any pain or stiffness. The one downside is that the side bolters make then harder to get in and out of the Prado than standard seats, I don’t find it an issue but others might.

When I was looking for seats I went to Recaro and sat in every seat they have available in Australia , without looking at the price, and I found these the most comfortable. I also found that the pneumatic lumbar support seamed to offer a great range of lumbar adjustment over the electric models.

The cost was $1734 each including base frames, pneumatic lumbar support and shipping to Perth. - Though this was a show special price.

Your most welcome to come a try mine out if you wish.

Leachy

[Pedro Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pedro]

Re: Passenger seat upgrade.

A lumbar support would be a lot cheaper
http://www.pradopoint.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=6288

Following installation,for passenger and driver, we went around oz in 3 months and no back pain.

Worth a test I reckon

[prado4x4 Member Find all posts View Profile Close prado4x4]

Re: Passenger seat upgrade.

Bruce,

We tend to do a lot of long range driving (1000+ kms a day) and with the standard seats I was getting a sore lower back and sciatica.

I have changed the front driver and passenger seats to Recaro Specialist L seats with lumbar support. These seats provide significantly more support than standard and I can now drive all day without any pain or stiffness. The one downside is that the side bolters make then harder to get in and out of the Prado than standard seats, I don’t find it an issue but others might.

When I was looking for seats I went to Recaro and sat in every seat they have available in Australia , without looking at the price, and I found these the most comfortable. I also found that the pneumatic lumbar support seamed to offer a great range of lumbar adjustment over the electric models.

The cost was $1734 each including base frames, pneumatic lumbar support and shipping to Perth. - Though this was a show special price.

Your most welcome to come a try mine out if you wish.

Leachy

I can second Leachy on the Recaro's.

I've got an Expert-M in my 79 series (leaf springs in the rear aren't the best for ride comfort - so a good seat is important).
I went for an 'M' series seat rather than an 'L' series like Leachy simply for the lower seat bolsters to make getting in/out
of the vehicle easier. I can also agree on his comment re the pneumatic lumbar support - well worth it. The adjustable side
bolsters are useful also. You can adjust them to suit your torso width so they hold you in snug.

I know it's in a 79, but you're welcome to come have a sit and try it out (And Leachy is just 10 min down the road, so you
can do a comparison if the timing is right, lol).

John

[LadyTravel Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close LadyTravel]

Re: Passenger seat upgrade.

Hi Everyone

If you are looking for a Recaro driver's seat LX-Vs Black (351), my late husband had one in his 2006 Prado which I have now had removed and both car and seat are for sale. They were hardly used due to his illness. Anyway thought I would let you folks know. I live in Mullaloo. Great seat and car sadly just too big for me to keep.
Cheers and Happy Driving

[Simo Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Simo]

Re: Passenger seat upgrade.

Do many find the Prado seats uncomfortable? My Prado is my 35th vehicle (I know, I have a problem) and it would have by far the best seats I have ever sat in. It was a big consideration, and concern (with no real lumber otions), when I bought the Prado due to having a lower back problem, and previously being able to only do about 8-10 hours before having some pain set in. I regularly drive now from home to Longreach (approx 1900kms) before stopping for a sleep...and that is only due to fatigue. I have not had driving related back issues since owning her

[Offroader Member Find all posts View Profile Close Offroader]

Re: Passenger seat upgrade.

If you're going to spend the money on a seat upgrade go the Recaros. They are expensive but you will not buy a better seat. The difference they make to driving comfort outside a suspension upgrade is tremendous. The OEM Prado seats are quite good although the lack of lumbar adjustment was clearly an oversight by Toyota. IMHO stay away from the brand sold by ARB, the foam base has sacked in our work vehicle after only 45 000K and they are not particularly comfortable for larger drivers.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Re: Passenger seat upgrade.

Hi, if lumbar support is your main reason for wanting to upgrade one of these from MSA might be a good option.



They look neat and fit the prado seats perfectly.

It has an inflatable bag in side that can be adjusted to any position, more than 1 bag can be fitted if necessary, ive not had mine for long but so far it is great.

Cheers Andrew

[Way2go Member Find all posts View Profile Close Way2go]

Re: Passenger seat upgrade.

Or fit some Grande electric seats (wreckers should have some to save paying Toyota new prices).

Fully electric adjustment - including lumbar. Very comfortable (about the best since the seats in my Porsches).

I had a spinal fusion late last year (L5/S1) and even so I've managed to get these seats adjusted to enable me to sit for long periods without any back or leg pain (this was part of the reason why I went for the Grande).

[bribiejohn Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bribiejohn]

Re: Passenger seat upgrade.

Hi I have used Stratos suspension seats in my Patrols but have not found the need for them in the Prado,I have had back problems and found the suspension very good particulary off road. I do have a Startos Turbo suspension seat currently on Patrol runners how ever you can change them over to suit most vehicles if anyone is interested cheers
.Bribiejohn

[Hutch Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hutch]

Re: Passenger seat upgrade.

You boys are Just SOFT!!! harden up we drive Prado's!!!!! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Ducking for cover now, waiting for the stones. :twisted: :twisted:

[IRON-PAWW Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close IRON-PAWW]

Re: Passenger seat upgrade.

The seats are supposed to be soft! Can we help it if they feel like lumps of warped marine ply after 5 hours in the drivers seat? :lol: Threatened to change mine out too, just for the record. Recaro has been mentioned to me also. If I wasn't buying a house the threat may well have been a declaration of war. As it is..... marine ply city for the foreseeable future. :?