I worked in E86AT (Advanced Technologies) doing design/analysis on all electric drive ships and subs...did a lot of work on the DDX and Virginia Class sub as well as some future carrier design...we were kind of a catch all engineering group. They've since changed that department to another designation and not sure what they call it now...couple of my buds are still there..one by the name of Jake Verhulst and my former supervisor Bruce Shiffler.

 

I had the work done at a local car/truck customizing shop that specializes in installing car video, stereo and such. It is here in Tulsa and has the name "Kenny's Auto Accessories" (918-627-1400). They bought a kit from somewhere else. The headrests are matching vinyl and have tubes that fasten to inner framework of seat.

My opinion is that this particular kit is "fair" in terms of engineering. However, it certainly is an improvement (for my kids' safety) over "nothing".

 

It isn't stupid at all, ask Phoenix police Detective Jason Schechterle:
<img src="http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/gifs/0811schec.jpg">
The gas tank in those Vic's was poorly designed, Ford knew it, and didn't do anything about it until police officers started dying across the country. It was lawsuits like Detective Jason Schechterle's (and probably the one in Dallas too, although I am unfamiliar with it) that caused Ford to redesign that gas tank so that the cars quit bursting into flame when rear ended. They also offer a retro kit for the older cars to make them safe. Because of those "stupid" lawsuits, many people's lives will be saved. I'm as much against the lawsuit crazy world we live in as anyone, but these lawsuits are definitely NOT frivolous, and have made real changes that are saving lives...my2cents, for what it is worth...

 

Hey, at the risk of "piling on", sir, I believe you are out of line.

I am a survivor, myself, of a five (5) fatality head-on collision with a drunk driver. This accident, which occurred in 1974, might very well be survivable with today's technology--very expensive technology, I agree. Would I pay that price to have my father around today? You bet.

On the one hand, life is dangerous and must be accepted on its terms or we must just stay at home. On the other hand, there are reasonable measures that can and should be taken to mitigate that risk. Not wearing a seatbelt, for example, is inexcusable. Not having 3-point belts and headrests at every position is also unacceptable. Ford does wonderful things, but the Excursion interior / safety equipment is not on that list.

 

Can I ask how much you paid? Also, do you know where they got the kit from? Is it something anyone could install? I found a place that will do a custom job (www.jatdesign.net ) ... for a leather seat with shoulder belts the price is about $1k.

 

Pile on all you want and display all the horrible disfugurment you want...

but understand my point....

I am in NO way saying that some suits are not justified when it is blantant disregard...
but let's put blame where blame SHOULD be put....
Not on Ford, but on the drunk driving 80 mph that rear ended the car...
if part of the requirement for the purchase of a vehcile was for it to withstand an 80 mph rear end crash...

Then NO manufaturer would submit a bid...
or the bids would be so astronomically high that no municipality could afford it...

I am just ensuring we use SOME modicum of common sense in our blame game !

Have a nice day !

 

Well, on the plus side, for an extra $200 now they CAN withstand that crash without bursting into flame... *shrug* AND now they come that way from the factory too.

 

I paid $650 for three (3) headrests. They are vinyl covered, as is the seat. The headrest color match is good, but they used black vinyl buttons (for height adjustment), which did not match.

For the DIYer, it is definitely possible to do. I watched the tech remove the top cover from the seatback without any special tools--some sort of zipper arrangement along the sides of seatback, if I remember right. The only trick would be in getting the holes placed correctly relative to the bracket mounting inside the seat frame.

 

First, apologies if I hurt any feelings...
was a little tipsy when I posted and have a tendency to spout off at the mouth somewhat when I have that condition

Just another hot button for me when it seems it's always someone elses fault....
Sometimes it is...
Especially when the manufacturers won't install the "keep the drunk idiot from behind the wheel" system....

when a manufacturer... ANY mfg,
is designing a product, they calculate the cost/benefit for the target audience they are going for....
ALL products are a compromise to position them in the right price range for their intended usage... otherwise the mfg's would have to price them such that none of us could afford them...

My group writes software.... having done one or two apps in my 30 years or so...
we KNOW what should be there... and what COULD be there...
ALL the features take time... and it's always a compromise to determine what is REALLY needed and what is a "nice to have'... in my case, I find it easiest to give the "ownership" of that decision to the people that will use the software by giving them the cost and benifit info so they can make the decision... but with a car mfg, you can't do that all the time....

Obviously we want more for less... but how many are willing to pay for it if it really cost ?

 

Completely agree.

However, the oversight of simple safety equipment is unexcuseable.

Most everyone here knows that Ford simply rushed the execution of the interior of the Excursion. That third seat looks as if it was sourced from an old stock pile of van seats from the 70's. They saved money and then charged $45,000 PLUS!?

The absence of headrests is probably because they would limit the rearward vision because, once again, they rushed the execution of the interior of the truck to plan for that.

To think that they are missing because it would help put the price in their target market range is well...seemingly derived from the same thought (or absence thereof) that the truck should be canned due to lack of sales yet no advertising is ever done with it.

It is the seats in my 03 Expedition (headrests and 3 point seatbelts all around) that keeps me from plunking my money down on another Excursion as the family's prime mover. (I've tried 3 times since I sold my last Excursion.)

Although the rest of the truck certainly doesn't really stack up against the Excursion in space, storage and other forms of comfort, the seats are far superior in comfort and safety. A trade off I'll accept since my family and I spend 99.9999991% sitting in them when I drive it.

 

Had a 97' Expy & the 3rd row bench seat was identicle in every way to our 02' X 3rd row bench seat. The X is wider & needs about 6 more inches on the drivers side. It's obvoius Ford didn't see a need to manufacture a better seat, they already had something close enough that fits loosely in the X.

These things handle so poorly from the factory, it's amazing they can come without a rear swaybar too!

How can I BUY some of these Radius Rods anyway? Where or who can I contact without causing a problem with FTE?

Thanks

Dennis

 

I noticed that some Expy's at least had "bump ups" where headrests would be.

Talk to LANDYOT for more info on radius rods.

 

dddenio - While I am allowed to discuss what the radius-rods have done for my truck, FTE guidelines forbid me from discussing them in any manner that sounds, appears, or smells like I am selling them. I also cannot send any information about them via the FTE e-mail router. I have not used the FTE website, nor their e-mail router, to solicit any business for the radius-rods I have sold. I will obey the FTE guidelines because I enjoy talking with, and learning from you guys too much. I apologize if that sounds elusive, but it must be that way if I wish to continue posting on this website,
Ken E.

 

landyot, I understand & have no intention of causing trouble with another member which could cause someone to lose there ability to be on this site! I too have enjoyed talking / sharing experiences about my SuperDuties. They are addicting!

I come from a very loyal family of GM owners & my purchasing Ford's has created some unbelieveable tension! After owning a 99' 3/4 Burb 454 & it towed like a dream, I have been amazed Ford sells the X with a rear swaybar as an option, no headrests on 3rd row bench. The front suspension rides on rubber blocks! Not to mention all of the upgrades people are doing to quiet the 7.3.

The motor pulls like a train & gets good mileage, it looks way better & has more room than the burb. If I could get handling on par, I'd be happy!

I guess if I have to make Radius Rods, well that will take a long while. Will Radius Rods help with sway? Will they likely end my search to fix the handling while towing? I have bought and gave away more E rated tires than I care to admit trying to solve the handling issue. Believe it or not, tires makes a BIG difference!

Thanks

Dennis

 

Or you could just get Landyot's personal email address from him and take the discussion of his radius rods off line and get all the answers to your questions that way. The people that I have talked to are very happy with theirs. Some day I will also get a pair.
Good luck and welcome.
Pat