1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Seat upgrade ideas for a first gen

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by 2004TacomaSR5, May 2, 2015.

  1. May 2, 2015 at 2:31 PM
    #1
    2004TacomaSR5

    2004TacomaSR5 [OP] Nemesis Prime

    Joined:
    Apr 28, 2011
    Member:
    #55722
    Messages:
    5,081
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jon
    Montana
    Vehicle:
    2004 Tacoma DCSB & 1980 Toyota Pickup 4WD
    Tacoma is stock and staying that way, Pickup is TBA as of now.
    Has anyone put different seats in their truck? I'd like some recommendations, I hate the seats in mine, it kills my lower back on long drives. Are seats from a TRD truck better? These thin flimsy SR5 seats just aren't cutting it, they suck and need to go. I know where a guy has a wrecked TRD so I might go ask him if he would part with them if they are worth it. Let me know what you guys have done ore recommend doing.
     
    GQ7227 likes this.
  2. May 2, 2015 at 3:12 PM
    #2
    skeezix

    skeezix Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 31, 2010
    Member:
    #45512
    Messages:
    2,115
    Gender:
    Male
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    1998 Limited
    In 1990 I bought an SR5. In 1998 I bought a Limited TRD.

    The (bucket) seats are identical.

    So is the lower back pain. Mine begins about 5 hours into a drive.

    I had the seat in my SR5 restuffed. No help.

    Hope you find something that suits you, I wasn't able to.
     
    GQ7227 likes this.
  3. May 2, 2015 at 4:01 PM
    #3
    drr

    drr Primary Prognosticator

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2013
    Member:
    #114681
    Messages:
    2,523
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Dan
    Seattle-ish
    Vehicle:
    02 4WD Tacoma
    If you don't mind doing some fabrication, you can fit just about anything in there. Seats from Scion xB's, highlanders, and 2nd gen Tacoma's seem to be the most popular. I've also seen Subaru Forester seats swapped in. There are few, if any, direct fit seats though. The main problem is that they all sit up higher, so you lose what little headroom there is (if you're tall).
     
  4. May 2, 2015 at 8:27 PM
    #4
    2004TacomaSR5

    2004TacomaSR5 [OP] Nemesis Prime

    Joined:
    Apr 28, 2011
    Member:
    #55722
    Messages:
    5,081
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jon
    Montana
    Vehicle:
    2004 Tacoma DCSB & 1980 Toyota Pickup 4WD
    Tacoma is stock and staying that way, Pickup is TBA as of now.
    See that's where I'd run into a problem, I'm 6' tall so anything higher would be pushing it. I like the TRD seats used in second gens, may try those and see.
     
  5. May 2, 2015 at 8:42 PM
    #5
    Speedytech7

    Speedytech7 Toyota Cult Ombudsman

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2014
    Member:
    #123587
    Messages:
    52,297
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    ゼイン
    5520 E Sprague Ave, Spokane Valley, WA 99212
    Vehicle:
    93 80 Series LC & 96 Turbo V6 Taco 4WD
    I've done a mod or two
    My 94 4Runner SR5 seats, these are super cushy have adjustable everything (side bolsters, tilt and rise headrests, bottom cushion angle, back angle, multiple lumbar adjustments) only found on fully loaded second gen 4Runners. Got em for $150 (including some other 4Runner parts) and welded my old seat brackets on with the help of a friend.

    DSCN0398_zps4njqglnu_31441d0b457f74ea0486e35a04034bcf69604d11.jpg

    Comparison from when they were being put in
    DSCN0171_zpsa283448f_926c069dbd485bc4e0b28e05d7765b982a1d51cf.jpg
     
  6. May 3, 2015 at 6:02 AM
    #6
    miker27

    miker27 Member

    Joined:
    Apr 7, 2015
    Member:
    #152700
    Messages:
    7
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Mike
    Denver
    Vehicle:
    2000 trd
    dents
    I swapped in a pair of 3rd gen 4runner seats. Definitely an upgrade in comfort without too much loss of practicality without the tilt/slide lever. Getting them in wasn't an awful process. The transmission side rails line up perfectly, the outer rails and brackets can be swapped on with minor grinding and hammering; no welder required. I ended up spending $60 on the seats on craigslist and they match better than any covers would. Pleased.
    20150320_190807.jpg
     
  7. May 3, 2015 at 6:27 AM
    #7
    Mush Mouse

    Mush Mouse Club Soda Not Seals

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2010
    Member:
    #35188
    Messages:
    4,741
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    mush
    where ever you want me to be
    Vehicle:
    2013 SR5
    its a Toyota truck and that's all the modifications needed
    I had the same issue(sore back and butt) with my seats got these>http://www.amazon.com/CONFORMAX-COC...sr=1-1-spell&keywords=comformax+seat+cushions they are awesome.
     
    robertjohnsonjr likes this.
  8. May 3, 2015 at 6:49 AM
    #8
    lotsoftoys

    lotsoftoys pavement is boring....

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2010
    Member:
    #35790
    Messages:
    7,299
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jace
    Denver
    Vehicle:
    98 lifted panda taco
    bunch of crap
    I have subaru forester xt seats in mine. I am 6'3". The seats definitely sit higher than stock but with adjustable lumbar, good size bolsters and heat, i dont give a damn about being closer to the ceiling. Mine did take quite a bit of fab Work.
     
  9. May 3, 2015 at 8:34 AM
    #9
    2004TacomaSR5

    2004TacomaSR5 [OP] Nemesis Prime

    Joined:
    Apr 28, 2011
    Member:
    #55722
    Messages:
    5,081
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jon
    Montana
    Vehicle:
    2004 Tacoma DCSB & 1980 Toyota Pickup 4WD
    Tacoma is stock and staying that way, Pickup is TBA as of now.
    Going to be on the lookout for 4runner seats!
     
  10. May 3, 2015 at 6:00 PM
    #10
    truck1

    truck1 Member

    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2015
    Member:
    #151620
    Messages:
    14
    Gender:
    Male
    Arkansas
    Vehicle:
    04 tacoma
    How muck work would it bi to put 02' Landrover Freelander SE 4x4 seats will fix into my 2004 tacoma reg cab ?
     
  11. May 3, 2015 at 6:28 PM
    #11
    mrfish27

    mrfish27 MrFish27

    Joined:
    Apr 24, 2014
    Member:
    #128400
    Messages:
    213
    Gender:
    Male
    Sonoma County, CA
    Vehicle:
    Horatio: 99 Tacoma
    Air lockers, RTT, aluminum armor, lithium 2nd battery
    I have experienced the discomfort and was highly motivated to look into getting different seats. The 4Runner seats with all the adjustments seem like the way to go, if you can find a pair in good shape. I did not enjoy the process of shopping for used seats.

    I tried rebuilding my seats with additional foam but all that I accomplished was to make them uncomfortable in a different way. Since I use my 99 4x4 for extended trips in the desert, I was unhappy every time I got in.

    Decided to move in a different direction: Recaro. Yes, more money, but I didn't encounter any negatives in my research. I bought a Recaro Expert M with the mounting adapter, sliding mechanism and pump lumbar support. $1500/seat. Here's the negative: it takes 6-8 weeks for it to be made. I plan to order another soon.

    Yeah, the windshield is out to repair rust.

    recaro.jpg
     
    Hamer95USA likes this.
  12. Mar 29, 2018 at 11:13 AM
    #12
    00black5lug

    00black5lug DCSSM18

    Joined:
    Oct 10, 2016
    Member:
    #199425
    Messages:
    79
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Dalton
    Vehicle:
    2018 DC Sr5
    So the SR5 buckets in the pre Tacoma trucks will bolt right into the Tacoma floor pan with no modifications?
     
  13. Mar 29, 2018 at 11:15 AM
    #13
    Speedytech7

    Speedytech7 Toyota Cult Ombudsman

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2014
    Member:
    #123587
    Messages:
    52,297
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    ゼイン
    5520 E Sprague Ave, Spokane Valley, WA 99212
    Vehicle:
    93 80 Series LC & 96 Turbo V6 Taco 4WD
    I've done a mod or two
    No, they will not. I had pre taco seats and I had to weld my taco mounts to them.
     
  14. Mar 29, 2018 at 11:24 AM
    #14
    00black5lug

    00black5lug DCSSM18

    Joined:
    Oct 10, 2016
    Member:
    #199425
    Messages:
    79
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Dalton
    Vehicle:
    2018 DC Sr5
  15. Mar 29, 2018 at 11:26 AM
    #15
    Speedytech7

    Speedytech7 Toyota Cult Ombudsman

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2014
    Member:
    #123587
    Messages:
    52,297
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    ゼイン
    5520 E Sprague Ave, Spokane Valley, WA 99212
    Vehicle:
    93 80 Series LC & 96 Turbo V6 Taco 4WD
    I've done a mod or two
    Pretty damn far and they mount their seatbelts differently so you have to get creative there too. The back legs don't line up and the fronts don't either. I wouldn't just try to bolt one in.
     
  16. Mar 29, 2018 at 11:33 AM
    #16
    00black5lug

    00black5lug DCSSM18

    Joined:
    Oct 10, 2016
    Member:
    #199425
    Messages:
    79
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Dalton
    Vehicle:
    2018 DC Sr5
    @Speedytech7 yeah man I’ve been looking for a set of 1st gen Tacoma buckets and they are very hard to find.
     
    QMEDJoe likes this.
  17. Mar 29, 2018 at 2:42 PM
    #17
    SellyKlater

    SellyKlater Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 8, 2017
    Member:
    #210037
    Messages:
    753
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ryan
    Ponce Inlet, Fl
    Vehicle:
    2004 Tacoma 3.4L Double Cab TRD
    3" ome lift 883. Fnfx pros.
    I've been looking at some scion frs or suburu brz seats on ebay...you can get a decent set for under 500 and seem to have the added comfort over the stock seats
     
    This site contains affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
    #17
    beez likes this.
  18. Mar 29, 2018 at 3:08 PM
    #18
    Sperrunner

    Sperrunner Respect the International Dibs Law

    Joined:
    Feb 23, 2018
    Member:
    #245334
    Messages:
    48,278
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Miguel
    Berkeley, Ca
    Vehicle:
    2016 ford transit
    Wd40, zipties, duck tape, and my hopes and dreams
    You could always bring your oem seats into a car upholstery shop and have they redo all the foam with something nicer and even have the seat shaped to you a little better buy keep the oem look
     
  19. Mar 29, 2018 at 3:20 PM
    #19
    Brake Weight

    Brake Weight But it hasn't rained in weeks...I'll make it.

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2015
    Member:
    #147363
    Messages:
    2,819
    Gender:
    Male
    Deep South near the Third Coast
    Vehicle:
    Taco pulling 33s and a B6 pushing 33psi
    Weld on sliders, fiberglass shell, 12k winch in an Elite Offroad bumper, front Aussie Lunchbox
    Years back I remember seeing a truck with some fancy seats out of a Maxima.
     
  20. Mar 29, 2018 at 3:28 PM
    #20
    MagicMexican

    MagicMexican Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2017
    Member:
    #221330
    Messages:
    775
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Alejandro
    Pueblo, Colorado
    Vehicle:
    1998 Tacoma Xcab TRD 4WD 5-Spd
    Aftermarket Wheels
    Mine came with those (98 TRD model), and they sucked. A lot. The headrests were also worn through to where you could feel the metal if you leaned back onto them. And they felt rickety. Nevermind comfort, I didn't trust them at all in a fender bender, let alone a real accident. I replaced them with seats off a third gen 4-runner. 80% bolt on, just needed a bit of persuasion.

    My other vehicle is a BRZ. And I can definitely vouch for those being some very comfortable and supportive seats.
     
    This site contains affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
    #20
    SellyKlater[QUOTED] likes this.

Products Discussed in

To Top