Lower 3rd Gen 4Runner driver seat

[BlewWest]

Hello all,

I love my 99 4runner SR5, manual seats with moonroof. My head hits the headliner. So I tilt the seat back and my back starts hurting after 1 hour driving. I've decided to explore all options to lower my seat because SoCal takes awhile to get anywhere.

My goal is to lower overall seat height and extra overall comfort for lower back which might include thigh support. It seems the powered seats more ways to adjust for maximum comfort. I might need to hire welder to lower the overall bracket too.

I'm looking at the following:

Recaro Ergomed or Orthoped - thigh support
BMW Sport Seat - thigh support
Nissan Altima, Murano, Roque with Zero Gravity seat

Are aftermarket seats lower than 4Runner seats?

PS I talked with my uncle about it and he says sell it due to the wiring issue.

 

[AntleredRuin]

Just get a powered seat from a Limited. You can adjust the tilt/height of the seat itself. That'll help your head against the ceiling, as well as take pressure off your thighs and back.
Same brackets, to my knowledge; you just need to run power to it.

 

[BlewWest]

Just get a powered seat from a Limited. You can adjust the tilt/height of the seat itself. That'll help your head against the ceiling, as well as take pressure off your thighs and back.
Same brackets, to my knowledge; you just need to run power to it.

AR, Have you done it? Do you know how much lower it will go?

 

[Scramble]

AR, Have you done it? Do you know how much lower it will go?

I have a manual (no sunroof) & a Limited (sunroof) & I'd say you can lower the power seat maybe 2" tops. I find it uncomfortable all the way down because then you have no thigh support. I'm 6ft & have no issues in either unless my hair is spiked! LOL But these seats suck in any model. The leather are the most comfortable with the 01-02 Sport seats second. The leather seats in my 09 Accord EX-L Coupe are amazing & go into 1000 different positions with plenty of thigh & lumbar support. But yea, if you're over 6-1 you want the power seats.

 

[BlewWest]

I have a manual (no sunroof) & a Limited (sunroof) & I'd say you can lower the power seat maybe 2" tops. I find it uncomfortable all the way down because then you have no thigh support. I'm 6ft & have no issues in either unless my hair is spiked! LOL But these seats suck in any model. The leather are the most comfortable with the 01-02 Sport seats second. The leather seats in my 09 Accord EX-L Coupe are amazing & go into 1000 different positions with plenty of thigh & lumbar support. But yea, if you're over 6-1 you want the power seats.

I do have the moonroof. I would have been better off without the moonroof. I tilted seat back in the test drive. The guy who I bought this from bought the moonroof and leather for the SR5.

I was designed with a LONG torso and short legs. I'm only 5-11 but I've been told by physical therapist that I should 6-3. I guess Michael Phelps has a long torso.

I just bought a BMW E90-E91-LEATHER-POWER-SPORT SEAT. I am going to test it out to see if it will work.

 

[TheRandyMan]

I'm 6'3 with a longer torso, and made the stock seat work. If you look underneath the seat, the foam is supported by a mesh of wires. I snipped a couple of the wires, now my butt is at the perfect height, and its still comfortable with good thigh and back support. I've had it like that for two years, its held up (or I guess down) fine.

 

[BlewWest]

I'm 6'3 with a longer torso, and made the stock seat work. If you look underneath the seat, the foam is supported by a mesh of wires. I snipped a couple of the wires, now my butt is at the perfect height, and its still comfortable with good thigh and back support. I've had it like that for two years, its held up (or I guess down) fine.

I might just fall through by cutting wires.