Do you get tired driving more than an hour?

[Expat]

I guess it might be age creeping up on me, but I find myself getting very dozey (is that a real word - aka doze off) if I drive more than an hour.

Even when well rested, I get heavy eyes at the wheel if I'm on the road for more than an hour.

It's really frustrating as I use to be able to drive for 3-4hours before needing a break but now....geeez....I'm gonna need to start taking No Doze tablets just to get to a trail meetup.

I wonder if I have an exhaust leak somewhere? Hmmmmm...

Right now to keep myself going beyond an hour even loud music, uncomfortable seats (Runner seats suck!) and an open window doesn't stop the veil of sleep from mine eyes!

How about you guys? Can you cruise for hours or do you too feel the need to be a wimp and pull over for a stretch ever hour?

 

[05V8SPRT]

The constant PAIN from the uncomfortable seats in this 4Runner keep me awake with no problem....

Only thing I hate in my 05 Runner.... THE SEATS SUCK and are too close to the floor. Feel like I'm in a Chevy Z28.

Sounds like you need more sleep! I get 8-9 hours every night. So driving is not a problem.

BTW: thats a deadly problem you got there. More deadly than drinking!

good luck with that...

 

[olliebear]

Fine for me.

I used to drive from New Mexico to LA after a whole day's work....13 hours on the road. Now that's a killer even for a 23 year old. Now, I can still do 10 hours with ittle problem, but only if I am not working.

The 4Runner's seats are comfy to me, just a bit cramped like I've ranted about as compared to my Tahoe. I normally get tired about 2-3 hours into the drive, but a stop, gas, some coffee, and stretch normally gets me a second wind and I am good for another 5 hours before I need to stretch again.

Drove from Sacramento to Sandy Eggo in May. No problem. Drove from LA to Tahoe and Auburn by way of Hwy 395, no problem. Lots of stops for pictures and fud.

 

[Good Times]

even though talking on the cell phone is probably not the safest thing to do while driving, they are your friend. with the right headset it can definitely keep ya awake on those long drives.

it's almost like having a copilot!

other than that, start singing!

one last suggestion: munchies will keep ya going. check out the truckers, they got munchies up the ying yang! then again it shows too

 

[Northof49]

Coffee in the morning, Pepsi and water the rest of the day keeps ya goin

I kinda enjoy driving for long periods of time.....provided traffic and weather aren't too bad, of course.....but I think some people tire of it quicker, I can go for 8 hours or whatever, but I have friends that are spent after an hour.

 

[Fro-Runner]

The constant PAIN from the uncomfortable seats in this 4Runner keep me awake with no problem....

Only thing I hate in my 05 Runner.... THE SEATS SUCK and are too close to the floor. Feel like I'm in a Chevy Z28.

Sounds like you need more sleep! I get 8-9 hours every night. So driving is not a problem.

BTW: thats a deadly problem you got there. More deadly than drinking!

good luck with that...

I AGREE with you wholeheartly about the low seat design being so FREAKING uncomfortable. This will be a MAJOR issue for me whenever it comes to purchasing my next Runner. I may move up to the new redesign Sequoia when it becomes available.
I took a 5000 mile round trip from the west coast back to the south and my body never ached so freaking bad. Also, I dislike the fact that I can NOT find enough space to rest my feet/stretch legs when on the open road with the cruise set. The big center console takes away valuable floor space beside the gas pedal for a driver to relax his leg. My left leg could never get comfy because of the parking brake pedal setup. The left foot rest is also uncomfy to me. These seats are my BIGGEST dislike for the 4 Runner.

 

[ErikJeanna]

Originally posted by 04Runner I wonder if I have an exhaust leak somewhere? Hmmmmm...

This was my first thought considering you used to be able to drive for longer periods of time. I would go to Home Depot and invest $20 in a carbon monoxide detector and place it in your car next time you drive. When you're done, install it in your hallway in between all of the bedrooms! Kill 2 birds with 1 stone! Good luck and be careful!

 

[biglatka]

I guess it might be age creeping up on me, but I find myself getting very dozey (is that a real word - aka doze off) if I drive more than an hour.

Even when well rested, I get heavy eyes at the wheel if I'm on the road for more than an hour.

It's really frustrating as I use to be able to drive for 3-4hours before needing a break but now....geeez....I'm gonna need to start taking No Doze tablets just to get to a trail meetup.

I wonder if I have an exhaust leak somewhere? Hmmmmm...

Right now to keep myself going beyond an hour even loud music, uncomfortable seats (Runner seats suck!) and an open window doesn't stop the veil of sleep from mine eyes!

How about you guys? Can you cruise for hours or do you too feel the need to be a wimp and pull over for a stretch ever hour?

I would go to the doctor for a check up if I were you. You sound like you could easily fall asleep at the wheel. There is a possibility that you suffer from sleep apnea (this condition is not uncommon and is very serious), especially if you are overweight. I could go into it at length if you like (email me).

Although carbon monoxide is odorless, the exhaust gases that contain it are not. It should be pretty obvious if you have an exhaust leak. So if its not an exhaust leak I would suspect lack of sleep (REM kind) as the culprit.

 

[Offroader]

My personal experience with the 4th Gen T4R is that every time I get into the seat I have to make some sort of adjustment:
-Tilting the front of the bottom part of the seat.
-Tilting the backrest.
-Adjusting the Lumbar Support.
-After I adjust the backrest inclination or lumbar support, I have to slide the seat front or back.
-After doing all this, I have to readjust the steering wheel tilt and depth.

AFTER DOING ALL THIS I'M STILL UNCONFORTABLE, and I end up in extremely akward positions, which can't be correct.

There must be some design error with these seats.

Can someone please tell me the ergonomically correct way of adjusting the driver's seat??????

 

[Solice]

I agree with the seat being uncomfortable but I think I just love to drive. Even just cruising around town wasting gas, I just like it. The only time I ever feel tired at the wheel is if I'm physically exhausted. When that happens the windows go down and the music goes up. It helps to have a cold drink too (water, soda, or icetea... beer is not recommended for this ).

 

[kimboy]

I admint to jamming on the breaks at times when I get drowzy. I guess the 4runner makes things seem more calm and peaceful than things really are (ala lexus, you can't feel the road cause it feels like butta).

The seat is uncomfortable for me at time (5'9") but I've been good about pulling to the side of the road when I'm really tired to take a 30 min nap. That's when the seats are the most comfortable.

I've heard that the passanger seat is the best place to take a nap. Is that true or just a myth?

 

[Zachary]

First time poster here. I really like this site.

I used to own a 2000 Sport V6 with leather. That 4Runner bounced around like a bucking bronco, but the seats (and the seating position) made it comfortable. I have put a deposit on an '05 Sport 4x4 V8. While the new generation models are MUCH SMOOTHER and handle much better, I absolutely HATE how the seats are so dang low to the floor. It's like driving my BMW (which is fine for a car, but not in an SUV). Also, the seats in the new gen models do not have the side boslters as supportive as the 2000 models.

While the ride quality in the 05 is excellent, I too am not happy about the seats and their position. Hopefully this is something that I will get used to. If not, then too bad, because I buy 4Runners because they are the ultimate in reliability, dependability, and virtually zero maintenance (although I still take very good care of them).

Zachary

 

[skman]

drink lots of water. i find that i get sleepy if i'm not hydrated. if anything, you'll have to go to the bathroom more often, forcing you to stop and stretch your legs.

 

[91T4R]

From a Texas Trooper

Good tip about the water, Steve.
Another one I heard came from a Texas State Trooper (proper term?). He lifts his heels off the floor an inch or two so that when he dozes off, his heels hit the floor and wake him up. You can't do it for long at first, but after a while you can go forever. I've tried it a little, but I'm too darn lazy to keep my legs up that long. ;-) Maybe you'll have better luck.

Robert

 

[Expat]

drink lots of water. i find that i get sleepy if i'm not hydrated. if anything, you'll have to go to the bathroom more often, forcing you to stop and stretch your legs.

Yup - I think that's my weakness - not enough H20. Leads to so many other problems.

Thanks for the suggestions although the thread had gone somewhat of topic (bloody uncomfortable seats!)