Adding a power seat

I'm looking for a Limited because they are equipped stock the way I want a Tacoma. There are some pretty good deals for new and used 2018 and 2019 Limited's, but only the 2020's come with a power seat. So, I'm wondering if the non-powered Limited is wired for a powered seat so I can switch in a power seat later.

Beary

 

I don't think any 16-19 are wired for that function.

 

Power seats weren't even available until 2020, so I'd bet dollars to donuts there's no wiring in any 2019s and older.

 

No they are not wired.

 

That isn't good. I drive 60 miles everyday for work and I need to readjust now and then for comfort. Non powered seats are dangerous to adjust while driving.

Most of the 2020 Limited's I'm looking at have power seats.

Beary

 

This doesn't directly address your question but may be helpful if you do decide to purchase an earlier model...

Adding a power seat to a 2019 or older Tacoma sounds like a big expense and a decent amount of work unfortunately.

Have you considered adding the front seat spacers? These helped the seat ergonomics greatly for me.. perhaps they might help you also.

A lumbar pad that you can move (or remove) while driving may potentially help too (depending on where you're feeling discomfort.)

Just to be clear.. I'm not talking about simply adding washers under the rear of the seat as that alone does not improve ergonomics in my opinion.

 

I was hoping that switching a power seat would be just plug and play. Ignoring of course the leather would need to be switched as well.

I might consider seat spacers, but I didn't really want to do something like that with a new truck. And, I didn't want my 5 ft. 4 inch wife to hassle with the seat adjustment when she takes the truck. I'm 6 ft.

Beary

 

I have a 2019 OR. Talked to a dealer parts person about cost of getting a power seat. He felt it was doable, but would involve a new harness somewhere in the truck, and you then have to buy/build the seat part by part, it's not sold as a "seat". Once he get in the 2k ballpark area, and didn't seem done yet, I let him off the hook.

No exaggeration here -- The stock seat literally hurt my back after 15/30 minutes of driving, and I couldn't find any comfortable position. The height is not adjustable to even-out the slope of the seat, and the lumbar seemed like a medieval torture device.

In the end, I had to:

Add 1.5" spacers (I want another .5 or 1", but I'm worried about stressing the seat too much). This isn't about height, it's about evening out the slope of the seat.

I removed the Lumbar wires. This then exposed the active headrest panel, so had to remove that. The "lump" of the seat is still noticeable. I don't think it's the leftover lumbar lump itself, I think it's the difference between it and the downward angle at the back of the seat cushion.

In all seriousness, the best I can say is, now it doesn't literally hurt my back. It's still uncomfortable.

I've been experimenting with store-bought and self-made seat cushions. I found a combination that levels out the seat position, fills in the difference with the lumbar. Harder than it sounds, because seat cushions can just trade one annoyance for another.

All this to say, Toyota's seats suck, and part of me still thinks I should have gotten a 2020 SR5 instead of a 2019 OR, since that was my budget choice at the time.

This is a deal killer for my next truck. If the Tacoma seats are still this uncomfortable, I can't buy one again.

(And, yeah, I get it, someone's going to say I'm a Snowflake or Nervous Nancy or a Simp or shouldn't have bought a truck or I'm not a man or whatever. Heard it all on TW before. Whatever. Fatal flaw in an good truck to me.)

 

All this to say, Toyota's seats suck, and part of me still thinks I should have gotten a 2020 SR5 instead of a 2019 OR, since that was my budget choice at the time.

This is a deal killer for my next truck. If the Tacoma seats are still this uncomfortable, I can't buy one again.

(And, yeah, I get it, someone's going to say I'm a Snowflake or Nervous Nancy or a Simp or shouldn't have bought a truck or I'm not a man or whatever. Heard it all on TW before. Whatever. Fatal flaw in an good truck to me.)[/QUOTE]

My plan was to find a seat out of a wrecked truck and switch the seat covers.

Well, it may be a deal breaker for me too. I can't spend that kind of money for a vehicle only one person can drive. And that one person (me) may not even be comfortable. As I said, at the minimum, the truck will log 60 miles a day.

Really sucks because the Colorado is the only other vehicle this size that fits my needs. But, it doesn't have all the safety stuff the Tacoma has. Bummer.

Beary

 

So apparently your pre purchase test drive was pretty brief?

Maybe. Did the SR5 test drive well after 30 minutes?

Since you're into altering the seat, a good upholstery shop that specializes in things like hot rod seats probably would have saved you considerable time. And maybe had a better result for you.

 

I'd be looking at a comfy CUV, SUV or sedan.

Better comfort, better MPG

 

Please send a picture of a 4x8 sheet of plywood in the trunk of your sedan.

Beary

 

What needs to be checked out is the bolt pattern on the 2020 seats vs the 16-19 and even the second gens.

IF the floor and seat bolt positions are the same.... then installing power seats will be almost plug and play!

You would not need a whole new seat just the power adjuster, side outer plastic trim and the knobs.
Run power to a new fuseblock or inline fuse and connect to the battery.
Run through firewall under center console to seat are.
Unbolt seat, bolt in adjuster,
plug into new wiring,
bolt seat to adjuster put on side cover and knobs.
Done. 2-3 hrs (probably less than an hour)

IF the patterns are different then adapter plate(s) can be made....

TBH it does not have to be a Toyota seat adjuster you put in if you want power seats.
It just makes it easier because the side cover will be the right size and colour.

Electrical part is the easiest. It just needs power.

 

It sounds like a 2020 might make sense for you. If you're still having trouble deciding perhaps the two of you should visit a dealer together and decide if the $,$$$ difference is worth buying a 2020.

My girl is about the same height as your wife and drives my 2018 truck about once a week.. the spacers have made the height acceptable for her (I did add 1" spacers to the rear attach points in addition to the 1" front attach point risers.) Without them she didn't feel comfortable trying to peer over the hood.

Since she prefers the lifted seating position I added the same setup to the passenger seat also.

For better comfort and visibility she sits on a folded beach towel if she's driving on a long road-trip.

 

Are you absolutely sure?! There are air bags in the seat.

 

The seat harness will just connect to the old seat harness you don't need to change the original seat or harness wiring at all.

Remove manual seat adjuster,
replace with power adjuster,
run new 12V power for adjuster.

Big question is the bolt patterns, power vs manual (will be the same on the 2020's) but is the 2020 bolt patters the same as what it was on the 16-19 and previous generations?

 

Lol you see what you've done now....

 

Yes, the lowly keyboard surfers looking for waves to raise self esteem. For one fleeting moment they like themselves better. But only themselves, and only for a moment.

Hey, thanks all for the replies. I will take her for a test drive. And, your post does give me some hope.

Beary

 

I never said it would.

But I would ask how often this is a need? A utility trailer is a great thing to own if it's frequent and you have a place to store the trailer. And way cheaper than a truck.

If infrequent, a rental truck is always handy.

Since my truck does not have a topper, I've dry hauled more / larger stuff in my '04 Highlander (with an 8 way seat BTW) than in the truck bed.

But you want a truck. And a power seat.

Best wishes in your choices of how to get there!