Seating position issues / how tall are you?

[thrak]

I've had my 4Runner about a month and a half now and I'm still struggling with getting a comfy position for a long drive. FYI, my commute is about 40mi one way.

I'm 6ft tall.

The problem I have is that the pedals are too close and/or the wheel wont come out far enough. So, its like I'm either reaching to far for the steering wheel and my arms get tired, or my legs are scrunched up and my knees are up by the wheel. I've found a somewhat middle ground now, but still find myself changing my hand position much more often than in my other vehicles. (I have a 85 Vette, 98 Dakota, and 03 Altima and I'm very comfy in all 3)

Does anyone else have this problem?

 

[mrwebb]

I'm 6'3" and don't really have a problem with my 07. I didn't buy one with a sunroof for this reason. You lose a few inches of headroom with one. I've had back surgery twice and my doctor advised to sit closer to the steering wheel to avoid any bending or slumping forward to reach the wheel. It took a while but I got used to it and now actually prefer it. Have you ever noticed how close Nascar drivers sit to the steering wheel. A lot of them don't even extend their elbows out. Over extended time or mileage this is actually the best position. Give it a try, it may work for you.

 

[thrak]

but the closer I get the higher my knees get around the steering wheel... I dont have a sunroof either.

I dont mind being closer to the wheel, but I'd like my legs extended more... which means being further away.

Its just odd.

 

[AlphaQup]

lemme guess... you don't have the telescopic steering adjustment? I'm 6' too and my seating position is pretty comfy.

 

[Barefoot]

lemme guess... you don't have the telescopic steering adjustment? I'm 6' too and my seating position is pretty comfy.

I'm guessing no power seat either... 6' here, and comfy.

 

[SDragon]

I know what you mean.

I've even wonder how costly it would be to add telescoping steering to my 07. Pretty sure it would not be worth the cost though.

What is interesting is I don't have a problem with the sunroof clearance. I'm 6'2", but I must have more height in my legs rather than my back.

One "cheap" solution have have found it to use some padding on the arm rests to "raise" the resting surface for your arms.

 

[thrak]

nah, I have power seat and telescoping wheel... maybe my legs are too long compared to my torso lol... in my previous vehicle (dodge ram) it had adjustable pedals and telescoping wheel.

or I'm just used to a more sports car/sport sedan seating position.

 

[Zmtking]

I'm 5'-9" and found in a short period of time that the seat is a tad short for me too. I found that my drive leg (right of course) doesn't quite rest comfortable while driving even for short trips. My commute is 30MI each way to work.

What I did was to add a 1/8" thick washer under the front bolts of the front seat to elevate it. Drop the seat lowest, and raise the front. This allowed for a better resting position behind the knee. I'm shorter so that worked for me. I don't know how that would be for someone taller.

The bottom line I think is that the seat is made too short due to the nature of the vehicle being a sport truck.

 

[Uneek]

6'1" here. 32" inseam for pants that are perfect length standing up, 34" if they don't rise and show my ankles when I sit. Hopefully that might give some insight, since there may be some differences in body proportions.

I don't have any problems with getting comfortable. My hair does graze the headliner a bit when I sit inside and I have a moonroof. I have the steering wheel pushed all the way in and it's probably a few notches from the highest setting.

Here's a couple pics of my seat and steering wheel positions. I can take pictures from the second row for better perspective of the seat position.

 

[4by4th]

I'm 6-3" with a 36" inseam and have had problems getting comfortable in every car I've owned except for the F150. I wish the manufacturers would make the seats go back further or make them easier to modify to do that. I also added some washers from Home Depot under the front of the seat rails, adding as many as I could while still maintaining full depth of the existing bolts. I got the idea from searching the internet a few years ago and seeing someone selling bushings and longer bolts for the same purpose. I had to use a rotary tool to grind the hole in the seat rail a little longer toward the front due to the angle of the rail when you tilt it up. It only raised the seat 3/8" or so but it made a noticeable difference. I liked it enough that I did the same thing to our Cherokee.

 

[rxshu]

I'm 6' and I have to keep my seat all the way back, but I don't have any problems with head room, and I have a sunroof. And I've had people over 6'5 ride with me and they have never complained about headroom either.

 

[Falls]

I'm 6'2" , have sun roof , have telescoping wheel , Power seat , plenty comfy for me.

I also have long legs 36" inseam

 

[KB084RUNNER]

I am 5'11" and 34" inseam....I had a rip in my driver seat so had the seat repaired at an upholstery shop. The guy added another 50% padding so my seat is now very comfortable. I recommend it. Plus he got rid of the seat pop noise as well.