Front seat recommendations?

[DesertLake]

Anybody have suggestions for front seats? What have you tried, and what works?

My '74 front bench seat is a goner, and I never liked it that much anyway.

I liked the not-quite-bucket not-quite-bench in my 97 F150, but I'm pretty sure it was too wide for the 55. Is there something like that from minitrucks that will fit? I know buckets are more comfortable, but I like being able to slide out the passenger side, and to occasionally put a passenger there.

 

[nuclearlemon]

one of the aftermarket seat companies that jc whitney used to carry (keep in mind this was about 18 years ago, when i had my first pig) used to have a "33 /1/3" split bench that i figured out would fit. might check there. think it might've been for mid size trucks like the dakotas.

i never actually installed it, just got the measurements.

 

[inkpot]

Howdy! I went to buckets early on. They were at a yardsale, so I have no clue what they came from. Look like early full sized van. Hi back, but no arm rests. Good slide rails. I used the outer towers from the original bench, and then fabbed up some inboard towers. I even added a JC Whitney console from my 88 Astro van when I sold it. Console is flush with the seat bottoms, so it is easy to slide over to the other side, if you can keep your feet out of the 3 shifters sticking up on the floor. I throw a set of cheap seat covers on them about every two years, so they have held up for nearly 20 years. John

 

[porkysan]

PO swapped in late model (95-2002ish?) Chevy seats out of a suburban or fullsize pickup. Dark grey, comfortable. The nice things is, they have an integrated shoulder belt on the seat, so no extra holes, and you get shoulder belts with the swap!


If you're dead set against buckets, some tacomas have 60/40 benchs up front. No idea how that would look, but they may not be any more comfortable than stock. Definitely small enough to fit. Probably have more luck finding them in the regular cab mini trucks(not the lifted prerunners or 4x4)

I had an '89 Bronco that also had a comfortable bench in front, probably the close to the same as the 97 F150.

 

[brider]

A previous poster mentioned 2002-ish Silverado truck seats, the ones with the aforementioned integrated shoulder belts. I did a search on Ebay, and they are readily available, and the mentioned poster said they pretty much bolted in with a little shimming. I saw some with a center seat, also. I also some some in beautiful charcoal leather, heated!

I've been thinking of doing the swap, and THOSE are the seats I'd use.

 

[DesertLake]

Mmmm, heated. I might have to find a Silverado to test sit.
Those look like the right idea.

 

[LC_Hamma]

Seat belt mounts aren't very difficult to locate. Would you rather have a console in the middle? The heated option is nice to have if yer a I wanted headrest speakers as well as a reclining option so I installed some from a Fiero & a console from a Ford Explorer:

 

[DesertLake]

I usually prefer a third seat/armrest, so i can slide out the other side when necessary. Console can be tricky with long legs.

I laughed about heated seats right up until I drove from Bozeman to Reno with one. I don't use them much, but on long trips they help. Even with the pounds I put on from quitting smoking, I've still got no ass. Good seat is a must for long trips.

 

[DesertLake]

Cool cage, btw.

 

[nat]

I love my Silverado seats, so does the wife. I have a Tuffy mounted in between them.

 

[laguna80]

I think I'll be going nat's route. Found some on craigslist.

 

[Luke111]

seats

Iron Pig offroad sells a this bucket and bracket.

Lou

 

[kar5555]

Nat - any chance you could post a pic? I too will have to replace seats and soon.

 

[Goebeler]

Ironpig sells Procar seats for the 55. They are amazingly comfortable. They have sales once in a while that make these seats difficult to pass on.

 

[71-CRUISER]

I also used Procar Elite seats but I made the seat frame. Also has 8" Tuffy CD Console.

 

[DesertLake]

Those Procars do look good. How's the height? They look lower, but that may be camera angle.

 

[toddslater]

Pigwald got some electric seats out of a Kia...leather, charcoal matches pretty closely to the original rear seat.

 

[cruiser_guy]

I just had my stock bench resprung. The vinyl was fine. It actually sits not too bad now and I sit about 2" or more higher than I used to!

 

[PabloCruise]

I am looking to re-do my seat in my '74, get some nice new foam in there...

 

[n2666s]

drove my 78 piggy about 300 miles thursday on refurbished original benches and it rides well; not as comfortable as a set of new buckets but with 4 kids and the front bench comes in handy

Lou