Drivers Seat Lowered - Modification

[WeeksM37]

Questions to all - Has anyone implemented a successful modification which lowers the drivers seat 4-6 inches? I am on the taller side (6'5") and my line of sight is pretty much directly at the windshield wiper mechanism. Now, I see great with the windshield folded down on the hood but the bugs in the teeth gets problematic.

The best solutions I've theorized is to cut 6" of the support structure off and then re-attach the original seat. This would keep the original look but diminish space in the storage area. Has anyone attempted this? Markus

[RMS]

at 6 ft 1 I feel your pain. I now have a good hump and bad posture witch allows me to run the stock spring base. before pounding out my spine I used a 2inch thick spring base from a landrover or maybe a m151 it moved my line of sight to the center of the window.

I would try a lower spring base before any cutting.

[isaac_alaska]

If you load the bed to capacity, that should squat the back of the truck far enough that you're looking through the center of the window

But yeah I would suggest a new seat cushion before cutting sheet metal out. I even have a spare seat bottom you could build up with some foam rather than the springs. Although cutting a new one would probably be cheaper than shipping mine.

[ZGjethro]

I am just under 6'-5" and have the same problem. I have to crouch down to see traffic lights and to drive the truck in general. I got pulled over last year for running a traffic light, which I did not see, but which I know is there. I got off with a warning

I have though about a lower seat cushion, but I am not sure if my knees would be too bent with a lower seat. I might have to do a mock up to see what works

[just me]

I cut 2.5" from the bottom cushion and 3" from the back cushion. Driving is very comfy and I can see. (6'-1")

[Cal_Gary]

Well I'm 5' 9'' and have a foam driver's seat cushion with 4 inches of height-if that were cut down to say, one inch I'd be more comfortable myself. Sorry for you tall guys, as I even have to crane my head sometimes to see traffic lights.
Gary

[WeeksM37]

Thanks everyone for your replies, I do love driving my big beast around the neighborhood but, I can honestly see the traffic lights clearly right over the darn windshield (top off of course). I've thought about taking out the springs, then just making a flat short padding, but, the springs take out so much of the trucks bumpiness. I'm not sure I want the ride to be too much harder. So, I may make a second seat cushion to try it out. Then if that fails, I may consider to cut the seat. We will see!!

[w30bob]

Hi Weeks,

A couple of things to consider or try......remove the seat adjustment rails from the bottom of the wooden base. Drill holes in the wooden base to line up with the holes used by the adjuster rails. I don't know if the wooden base will reach the holes in the back of the steel platform, if not you'll have to use two pieces of flat bar to replace the adjusting rails and then mount the board to the flat bar. That should pick you up a good inch or inch and a half.

The other more complicated thing to do would be to move the cushion springs UNDER the wooden base and use a piece of high density foam under the cushion cover. You'll need to modify the seat springs to make them fit in the steel box under the seat.....it might be easier to find/make a new set of springs that fit in the box. Then use a wooden board the size of the springs and mount a high density foam pad to it. This way when the springs flex down the cushion will fit in the box. Not sure how it will look when done, but it will allow you to lower the seat substantially.

I'm surprised no one suggested making the windshield taller.

regards,
bob

[jim lee]

About 6'-4" here. I have the same issue where my eyes line up with the windshield wiper motor. For stoplights, look at the color reflection on your hood. When your hood goes from red to green.. Look under the windshield wiper motor to make sure its ok to go. At least this way it saves your back some.

A bigger problem for me is with winter's filling in, I found out today that I can't wear my boots and drive at the same time. The distance from my foot to my knee is longer than the steering wheel to the clutch petal. The only way I can push the clutch is to open the door and let my knee stick out. Thought I was going to drive through the front door of our house trying to park.

Any Ideas on this?

-jim lee

[w30bob]

Jim,

I guess the obvious answer is to find a good surgeon and have 4 or 5 inches taken out of our left leg. Seriously, I think the clutch linkage for a Powerwagon has an adjustable end, which should help a bit. The other thing to do would be to modify a clutch pedal to provide more mechanical advantage with less travel, and then shorten the pedal throw. I don't have one in front of me now, but I'll see if I can find one in my "pile" to see if that makes sense. Also, using a thinner seat back cushion would also help.

regards,
bob

[isaac_alaska]

my truck was treated to a body lift, but the steering wheel, being hard-mounted to the frame at the steering box, instead of being lifted with the body, was kept in the same location and a spacer placed between the steering column and the cab. i have nearly the same problem with my clutch. i think i'll put in a U-joint and raise the steering wheel back up where it goes, when i add power steering. SnakeRiver 4x4 sells a new steering column that lets you run a modern, smaller steering wheel, as well as tilt, but you'd probably need the power steering that it's meant to go with, due to the smaller diameter.