How Comfortable Are The Low-Back Bucket Seats?

[Gary Lewis]

I've considered getting a pair of low-back bucket seats for Big Blue as I think they would be a more secure seat for offroading than the bench seat. I recently was discussing that option with someone else and he said his are not comfortable at all.

Having said that, he did admit that his might be badly worn. Maybe the lack of comfort is due to mashed foam?

So I'd like to hear from those of you who either have those seats or have ridden long distances in them. How comfortable have you found them?

And, how hard would it be to rebuild and recover them? Might there be something like memory foam for them?

[grumpin]

I have bucket seats in my truck. Are those what you’re calling low-back bucket seats?

I’ve driven 4 or so long trips with my truck and a lot of what I’d call medium trips.

They are comfortable enough, I’ve never thought man I need new seats.

Interestingly though, the other day I noticed my left leg felt like it was hitting a bar or brace. And I wondered too if the foam isn’t flat or worn or compressed, however one might explain it.

So I schooched over a bit!

[Gary Lewis]

I have bucket seats in my truck. Are those what you’re calling low-back bucket seats?

I’ve driven 4 or so long trips with my truck and a lot of what I’d call medium trips.

They are comfortable enough, I’ve never thought man I need new seats.

Interestingly though, the other day I noticed my left leg felt like it was hitting a bar or brace. And I wondered too if the foam isn’t flat or worn or compressed, however one might explain it.

So I schooched over a bit!

Dane - Ford had two seats: bucket seats and captain's chairs. On the left, below, are Jerry/Ozark1's bucket seats, and on the right are the captain's chairs for Dad's truck.

I was confused when I started into this on Dad's truck and didn't realize the difference and wound up with captain's chairs. And after having them rebuilt, twice but don't ask, I found that the top will hit the rear window unless I somehow tilt the seat forward. So I'm thinking that bucket seats would be better.

Anyway, my use of the term "low-back bucket seat" was to differentiate between the actual bucket seats and the captain's chairs. So, is that what you have - buckets? And they are comfortable? And more "supportive" than a bench seat?

[Gary Lewis]

Dane - Ford had two seats: bucket seats and captain's chairs. On the left, below, are Jerry/Ozark1's bucket seats, and on the right are the captain's chairs for Dad's truck.

I was confused when I started into this on Dad's truck and didn't realize the difference and wound up with captain's chairs. And after having them rebuilt, twice but don't ask, I found that the top will hit the rear window unless I somehow tilt the seat forward. So I'm thinking that bucket seats would be better.

Anyway, my use of the term "low-back bucket seat" was to differentiate between the actual bucket seats and the captain's chairs. So, is that what you have - buckets? And they are comfortable? And more "supportive" than a bench seat?

In the chance that I'll get these seats I'm going to use this post, updated as I find things, for documenting things like seat covers, etc.

• Stock Interiors: I sent them an email as I didn't find anything for the Bullnose trucks, but did find it for the 78-79 buckets, but my understanding from FSB is that those buckets are the same as ours. Stock Interiors said they don't have the covers for the F-Series buckets. Which is interesting as the MPC doesn't show the bucket seats in the F-Series, just the Broncos. F-Series show to have the bench seat or captain's chairs.

• Profit Auto Interiors

[grumpin]

Dane - Ford had two seats: bucket seats and captain's chairs. On the left, below, are Jerry/Ozark1's bucket seats, and on the right are the captain's chairs for Dad's truck.

I was confused when I started into this on Dad's truck and didn't realize the difference and wound up with captain's chairs. And after having them rebuilt, twice but don't ask, I found that the top will hit the rear window unless I somehow tilt the seat forward. So I'm thinking that bucket seats would be better.

Anyway, my use of the term "low-back bucket seat" was to differentiate between the actual bucket seats and the captain's chairs. So, is that what you have - buckets? And they are comfortable? And more "supportive" than a bench seat?

I have the captain’s chairs. Of course no problem with hitting the rear window with a super cab.

I tend to think buckets are more comfortable than bench seats. But I spent a lot of time on bench seats. 68 Chevy 1/2 ton had a bench and the 74 Ford I had, had bench seats I believe.

 

[Gary Lewis]

I have the captain’s chairs. Of course no problem with hitting the rear window with a super cab.

I tend to think buckets are more comfortable than bench seats. But I spent a lot of time on bench seats. 68 Chevy 1/2 ton had a bench and the 74 Ford I had, had bench seats I believe.

I've toyed with the idea of bolting those red captain's chairs in for one of the trips. They are completely rebuilt and are ready to go, but are obviously RED. (Although not Retired & Extremely Dangerous as that's me.) I have the base that bolts in and the bases that bolt to that. And, I have the console that bolts to the base. It is all ready to go.

That might give me an appreciation for at least the captain's chairs, if not the buckets. And surely one trip won't damage them.

[salans7]

I've toyed with the idea of bolting those red captain's chairs in for one of the trips. They are completely rebuilt and are ready to go, but are obviously RED. (Although not Retired & Extremely Dangerous as that's me.) I have the base that bolts in and the bases that bolt to that. And, I have the console that bolts to the base. It is all ready to go.

That might give me an appreciation for at least the captain's chairs, if not the buckets. And surely one trip won't damage them.

I have a similar size seat in my Ranger, except mine have headrests. They came from a 2001 Explorer Sport, and I LOVE them. The bolstering is incredible, and they hold me in the seat well. I don't offroad my truck much anymore, but when I did, they always kept me planted.

Anyways, I like the low back style of seat, but you need to make sure the bolstering on the bottom cushion is up to par or they will be no better than a bench seat.

My Explorer seats shown below in my F350:

https://forum.garysgaragemahal.com/Need-opinions-on-possible-seats-tp52403.html

[Gary Lewis]

I have a similar size seat in my Ranger, except mine have headrests. They came from a 2001 Explorer Sport, and I LOVE them. The bolstering is incredible, and they hold me in the seat well. I don't offroad my truck much anymore, but when I did, they always kept me planted.

Anyways, I like the low back style of seat, but you need to make sure the bolstering on the bottom cushion is up to par or they will be no better than a bench seat.

My Explorer seats shown below in my F350:

https://forum.garysgaragemahal.com/Need-opinions-on-possible-seats-tp52403.html

Thanks, Shaun. I like the look of those, without the headrests, and they do look similar, But yours, on the left, and the ones I'm looking at, on the right, are different in the bolster area of the seat bottom. Yours has a lot more bolster than the buckets.

I wonder if that is something that can easily be changed? I wonder if I should contact the people that re-built and recovered the seats for Dad's truck and see what they have to say.

And speaking of Dad's seats, Janey seems to agree that bolting them in for a trial is a good idea. So perhaps for our trip in January we'll do that. That will probably help me think through what they'll look like. Or maybe I should day, what the storage unit behind the seat will look like. The bench seat covers it neatly, but the buckets won't.

 

[Nothing Special]

Thanks, Shaun. I like the look of those, without the headrests, and they do look similar, But yours, on the left, and the ones I'm looking at, on the right, are different in the bolster area of the seat bottom. Yours has a lot more bolster than the buckets.

I wonder if that is something that can easily be changed? I wonder if I should contact the people that re-built and recovered the seats for Dad's truck and see what they have to say.

And speaking of Dad's seats, Janey seems to agree that bolting them in for a trial is a good idea. So perhaps for our trip in January we'll do that. That will probably help me think through what they'll look like. Or maybe I should day, what the storage unit behind the seat will look like. The bench seat covers it neatly, but the buckets won't.

No experience with the buckets, but back when I had my '85 F-250HD (from '84 - '98) I thought the bench seat in it was one of the most comfortable and secure seats I'd ridden on. There actually was a pretty decent bolster on the outside. I can't say I've ever had a seat I like better since that truck.

Of course that seat was brand new when I started with it, and no where near as old as Big Blue's is now when I sold that truck. And I was a lot younger 30 years ago too!

I don't know what (if anything) that means to your question, but that's what I've got.

[Gary Lewis]

No experience with the buckets, but back when I had my '85 F-250HD (from '84 - '98) I thought the bench seat in it was one of the most comfortable and secure seats I'd ridden on. There actually was a pretty decent bolster on the outside. I can't say I've ever had a seat I like better since that truck.

Of course that seat was brand new when I started with it, and no where near as old as Big Blue's is now when I sold that truck. And I was a lot younger 30 years ago too!

I don't know what (if anything) that means to your question, but that's what I've got.

Big Blue' seat doesn't seem to have the bolster on the sides. But it is fairly comfortable.

Oddly enough, John/Machspeed went to see a guy about having his new bed bolts chrome plated and the guy has an '86 and might join. In addition, he has a blue seat from it that he says is in "excellent condition" that he wants to unload.

Which then begs the question of what seats he put in it?