Seat heater
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Seat heater
It's getting cold enough to finally give the seat heaters a test in the new truck. We're very disappointed in the crude, archaic system in our Lmtd. Maybe it wouldn't seem so bad if we didn't know better but the sytems in our last 3 GM trucks ('burb, HD2500, escalade) all put the ford system to shame. They all offered hi and low settings and stayed on as long as you wanted them to, not what some ford engineer thinks is long enough.
So I'm looking for alternatives. I see some on rostra.com for $130 which look okay but I'm wondering about a couple of things. First, is there anyway to improve the current system. It'd probabaly need a resistor cut down the power/heat level a little and some way for the system to stay on until told to turn off.
Second, is there some other aftermarket company that I should look at along with Rostra?
It's a fairly important function up here in MN. It bother's the wife a lot more than me so it bothers me a lot, if you get what I mean. If she ain't happy, I ain't happy.
Thanks
So I'm looking for alternatives. I see some on rostra.com for $130 which look okay but I'm wondering about a couple of things. First, is there anyway to improve the current system. It'd probabaly need a resistor cut down the power/heat level a little and some way for the system to stay on until told to turn off.
Second, is there some other aftermarket company that I should look at along with Rostra?
It's a fairly important function up here in MN. It bother's the wife a lot more than me so it bothers me a lot, if you get what I mean. If she ain't happy, I ain't happy.
Thanks
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 11,314
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Jeb,
I feel your pain !!!
My wife-unit would like her heater on year round !!!
I've thought of checking the switch to see if I could bypass it...
Maybe why "they" have it timed is that it could get TOO hot and so their solution was to shut it down after a while...
I feel your pain !!!
My wife-unit would like her heater on year round !!!
I've thought of checking the switch to see if I could bypass it...
Maybe why "they" have it timed is that it could get TOO hot and so their solution was to shut it down after a while...
Tuned
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 394
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From: SEVA
Uhhh ... please don't take this wrong ... but maybe someone might need to see a doctor? Ha-ha! Just kidding! I once had "posterior problems" many years ago, and warmth in that area felt oh so good!
I believe what the Ford engineers had in mind with the seat warmers was to warm the seat only to a comfortable level, and until such a time that your natural body warmth takes over. Just this morning (had frost in southeast Virginia), I found myself shutting my seat off because it was getting a little too warm for me. Last winter, I always shut it off before it did so on its own.
Jus' my own observation on this issue ... and you're free to think I'm looney, and make your own opinions.
Have y'all considered Ford's remote starter option? Then everything should be nice & toasty BEFORE you step inside. Granted, the remote does not turn on the seats or rear/mirror defroster.
I believe what the Ford engineers had in mind with the seat warmers was to warm the seat only to a comfortable level, and until such a time that your natural body warmth takes over. Just this morning (had frost in southeast Virginia), I found myself shutting my seat off because it was getting a little too warm for me. Last winter, I always shut it off before it did so on its own.
Jus' my own observation on this issue ... and you're free to think I'm looney, and make your own opinions.
Have y'all considered Ford's remote starter option? Then everything should be nice & toasty BEFORE you step inside. Granted, the remote does not turn on the seats or rear/mirror defroster.
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Here in the land of -30f winters, it's a little different matter. We'll have cold snaps were it won't get above 0f for a week or more. And we're in southern MN! The seat foam actually gets solid.
Sure, we lived without them in the past but I didn't pay $52k for trucks then either. If it has a seat heater, it'd ought to work decently, IMO. The high and low settings in the GM's were so you could warm them up quickly and then leave them on low, if you choose. Key being YOU.
The ford system does seem too hot for me with the current temps but the wife eats that stuff up. Does the navigator have this same system?
BTW, I did see a doctor. Said hip is broke (darn ATV's), can walk again in 12 weeks. That's coming right up, too. I hadn't thought about if my hip will be more cold sensitive this winter. Could be, I suppose.
Sure, we lived without them in the past but I didn't pay $52k for trucks then either. If it has a seat heater, it'd ought to work decently, IMO. The high and low settings in the GM's were so you could warm them up quickly and then leave them on low, if you choose. Key being YOU.
The ford system does seem too hot for me with the current temps but the wife eats that stuff up. Does the navigator have this same system?
BTW, I did see a doctor. Said hip is broke (darn ATV's), can walk again in 12 weeks. That's coming right up, too. I hadn't thought about if my hip will be more cold sensitive this winter. Could be, I suppose.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2002
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Leave it to LandYot to suggest that 
Actually, I don't mind for her to keep 'certain areas' warm
And now to get back on theme, the other forum had this Seat heaters
Actually, I don't mind for her to keep 'certain areas' warm
And now to get back on theme, the other forum had this Seat heaters
Tuned
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 394
Likes: 6
From: SEVA
(hee-hee)
What I need is one of those seat heaters on the KLR650 I'll be riding into work tomorrow morning. I used to ride a Yamaha Enduro to high school in 15-degree weather (back in the 70s ... uh-oh ... just told my age), and I love downhill skiing ... but my ol' bones are starting to feel the cold. (brrr)
One nice thing about cold weather ... seems you can dress for about any degree of cold. Hot & HUMID is what we get here in the summer. I've been in Phoenix on 115-degree days, and it felt like about 85 here. "It ain't the heat! It's the humidity."
Now, if you want cold, come on down to the waterfront where we build aircraft carriers, on a cold AND humid day ... and the wind is blowing in off the water. I've gone skiing in minus-15-degree weather and was much more comfortable than on one of those flat-tops at 30-degrees.
What I need is one of those seat heaters on the KLR650 I'll be riding into work tomorrow morning. I used to ride a Yamaha Enduro to high school in 15-degree weather (back in the 70s ... uh-oh ... just told my age), and I love downhill skiing ... but my ol' bones are starting to feel the cold. (brrr)
One nice thing about cold weather ... seems you can dress for about any degree of cold. Hot & HUMID is what we get here in the summer. I've been in Phoenix on 115-degree days, and it felt like about 85 here. "It ain't the heat! It's the humidity."
Now, if you want cold, come on down to the waterfront where we build aircraft carriers, on a cold AND humid day ... and the wind is blowing in off the water. I've gone skiing in minus-15-degree weather and was much more comfortable than on one of those flat-tops at 30-degrees.
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You're nuts to go skiing on a day that cold. Been there, done that, never again. The snow gets ice rink hard and makes for a heck of a ride on those black diamond hills.
I also find as I get older, I spend more time in the chalet warming up internally and externally.
Thanks for the link, JD.
I also find as I get older, I spend more time in the chalet warming up internally and externally.
Thanks for the link, JD.
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Tuned
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 394
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From: SEVA
I'm nuts? OK by me. We're all fanatical about some thing or activity in our lives ... it's that ol' pursuit of happiness thing I love so much. God bless the USA.
East Coast skiers are used to icy conditions. Skiing out west is easy ... been there (all around Lake Tahoe), done that, didn't bother buying a tee-shirt ...and since I tossed the long skis for a pair of SnowBlades, I actually prefer the ice over deep powder. Packed powder is fun, but after a day of skiers pushing the powder off the slopes, eventually the ice-base will be exposed ... and that's when the 'blades shine. Come "spring conditions," the SnowBlades seem to make the slush disappear.
If you get the chance, rent a pair ... and if you do, I can almost guarantee you'll buy a pair. I've wound up buying 2 extra pair for friends who come along and want to try 'em. 85% bought their own afterwards.
East Coast skiers are used to icy conditions. Skiing out west is easy ... been there (all around Lake Tahoe), done that, didn't bother buying a tee-shirt ...and since I tossed the long skis for a pair of SnowBlades, I actually prefer the ice over deep powder. Packed powder is fun, but after a day of skiers pushing the powder off the slopes, eventually the ice-base will be exposed ... and that's when the 'blades shine. Come "spring conditions," the SnowBlades seem to make the slush disappear.
If you get the chance, rent a pair ... and if you do, I can almost guarantee you'll buy a pair. I've wound up buying 2 extra pair for friends who come along and want to try 'em. 85% bought their own afterwards.
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I don't ski out west. I have a season pass to a local ski area but they're just hills. No mountains in MN. It's almost always the same conditions you're talking about. 90% man made snow, hard pack stuff.
No insult intended, BTW. I just hate skiing on that hardpack on cold days. Hockey skates would be more like it.
Have to check out a pair of blades. My son is pushing me to try snowboarding. Might have to do that this winter.
No insult intended, BTW. I just hate skiing on that hardpack on cold days. Hockey skates would be more like it.
Have to check out a pair of blades. My son is pushing me to try snowboarding. Might have to do that this winter.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 197
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From: Limington, Maine
Anyone know a way around the 'sitting in the seat' interlock on the heaters? I would like the turn it on when I start the truck to warm up... but alas, you have to be sitting in the seat. 
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 192
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From: Scandia, MN
Heat works good
I also live in MN where men are men and women are cold. I always start my X in the cold mornings and push the heat button for the seats it works great! But I definately notice the slowing down of loving from my honey when the temps drop!
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