When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
At work we have 2008 & 2009 Ford F150's ( fleet) all with standard bucket seats , not power. They are the least comfortable seats I have ever sat in in recent years. I and at least half doz. others complain of how sore our backs are from ridding in these trucks for more than 15 min. at a time. I have been going 1 1/2 hour drive one way to a job and my back aches after ( worse than a day of shingling a roof !!!) I am 6 ft. and 170 lbs. so I am defenatly not to big for these seats. My Dad's 1995 F150 had great seats and my 1995 GMC is a real pleasure to drive for 3 + hours one way. I drove a 2010 Dodge Ram 1/2 for the same 1 1/2 Hr trip and was a dream to drive and ride in also. I would never buy a Ford or recommend one to anyone who drives a lot of miles. Has enyone else had this problem and is there a solution .
At work we have 2008 & 2009 Ford F150's ( fleet) all with standard bucket seats , not power. They are the least comfortable seats I have ever sat in in recent years. I and at least half doz. others complain of how sore our backs are from ridding in these trucks for more than 15 min. at a time. I have been going 1 1/2 hour drive one way to a job and my back aches after ( worse than a day of shingling a roof !!!) I am 6 ft. and 170 lbs. so I am defenatly not to big for these seats. My Dad's 1995 F150 had great seats and my 1995 GMC is a real pleasure to drive for 3 + hours one way. I drove a 2010 Dodge Ram 1/2 for the same 1 1/2 Hr trip and was a dream to drive and ride in also. I would never buy a Ford or recommend one to anyone who drives a lot of miles. Has enyone else had this problem and is there a solution .
Wow, first post and slammin' Fords already. Welcome to FTE sir. You are entitled to your opinion but I don't think it'll be very popular around here.
Did they change the seats much from 08 to 09? I ask because I'm 6'4'' 270 and I'm comfortable in these seats and can ride for hours in them without a problem.
If your back aches after 15mins of sitting in the seats, it's a problem with you're body and not the seats. I could see getting uncomfortable after 5-6 hours but 15mins? C'mon really?
I guess the solution would be to not sit in them if they bother you so much. Or suggest that you're company switch it's entire fleet to GM trucks because the seats are more comfortable.
I have 1983 Ford F250 4 x 4, 460 that was my main truck for 10+ years . Still use it for hunting and haulin firewood ( Robert the Red Ford) I have Elderbrock intake and carb, limited slip. Love the power But the mileage wasn't great . 11 mpg cdn, and Dad's 1995 2wd F150 w/ 351 only got 11. So went to GM . Why would anyone , no mater what brand, defend a major deficency in a vehicle? There are good things about these truck, they do have good power and decient mileage . I slaming the oversite of designers who are going backward. I see all companies doing this. A lot of new vehicles will never last 10years, let alone 20+.
I'm guessing fleet vehicles don't have limbar cushions? Even if they don't I'm guessing the seat being too far reclined and bad posture have the most to do with the issue. I've driven over 1900 miles in the last week and a half and have only gotten uncomfortable after more than 6 hours on the road
We are supplied these trucks by Gov't fleet. I think because they are a non powered , basic seat that we can't get enough adjustment. Guy's with power seats don't seam to have a concern. , I posting here to try and find a solution. I in pretty good pysical condition and do not have a history of back problems. AND AM NOT the only one at work that is complaining.
At my last job we has a 2000 F250 XL 2wd std cab long bed. It had the basic vinyl bench seat. It had little support for comfort but the way the truck road with an empty bed, only a seat on airbags would be 1/2 way comfortable. That being said, the XL basic work truck is not built for comfort, it is built to be as cheap as possible and get the job done. Stepping up to an XLT seat would help if you drive the same truck daily and want more comfort. Or go buy one of those cheap, lumbar pads to put in the seat to support you better.
Okay, what has me wondering is that I didn't know Ford even offered a base level bucket seat in these trucks anymore. I thought the base seat in an XL is the 40/20/40 vinyl bench seat (optional cloth). So if we're talking about the 40/20/40 which is basically the same seat found in the XLT (just without the power adjust or the lumbar support) I'm having a hard time believing that it is such an unpleasant seat to use.
Anyways, if the seat is that unpleasant then just stop by an auto parts store and pick up a lumbar cushion for 10 or 20 bucks that might help make things a bit more comfortable because otherwise your only options are to get the boss to replace the entire fleet with some other trucks that have a nicer seat (as per you and your co-workers), or talk the boss into letting you guys go the salvage yard to find some wrecked XLT's that you can pull the seats out of and swap into your trucks (and I'm kinda doubting that either of those options is gonna fly too well...). Regardless, best of luck to you on figuring out a way to drive comfortably.
My 2010 has more comfortable seats then my '05 had, but long ride backaches were not a big issue in that truck. I'm 5'8 and have a lumbar spinal fusion since age 12 and know a thing or two about backaches and I do agree some of these seats aren't too comfortable, but like was already mentioned, there are pads and such to use to help with these issues.
Artworks - welcome to FTE
awq134 - Congrats!
I used to commute 50 miles each way to work and over time, in various vehicles started to notice back discomfort, (age? naw......) While it does not address the concern of a seat on a specific vehicle - the biggest thing I did was to get my wallet out of my back pocket while driving. Take a look at that shim you put in your pants (1/2, 3/4, 1") and think about the cant it's giving your hips and spin.
I am going to get pillow / foam and try something. The seats seam to be to reclinded and legs are bent like a squat ( knees up higher than my butt) so doesn't seem natural and there is not enough adjustment. These trucks are owner by gov't and leesed to us for 10yrs, so kind of stuck with them. Come spring I get my regular work truck back on road, a 1992 Chev, 4.3 v6, bare base PS, PB Auto and that is it, AM radio doesn't even work. w/ 323,000 kl. still runs like top, put a used bench seat in it 2yrs ago cause springs were coming through the fabric!!!
I am going to get pillow / foam and try something. The seats seam to be to reclinded and legs are bent like a squat ( knees up higher than my butt) so doesn't seem natural and there is not enough adjustment. These trucks are owner by gov't and leesed to us for 10yrs, so kind of stuck with them. Come spring I get my regular work truck back on road, a 1992 Chev, 4.3 v6, bare base PS, PB Auto and that is it, AM radio doesn't even work. w/ 323,000 kl. still runs like top, put a used bench seat in it 2yrs ago cause springs were coming through the fabric!!!
that knees higher than hips thing is something I've noticed about my girlfriend's 2011 Subaru Outback Sport. I just figured it was because my legs were too long for the car but having that angle on the seat bottom is DEFINITELY NOT comfortable for my back on any drive over 30 minutes. If the seat on the truck you are driving is like that then I can certainly believe that you would be having some back issues. For comparison I've driven my '06 XLT from Chicago to Colorado and back without a single twinge.