USA FG/FE Alternative OEM Seat Options?

[MSGGrunt]

For owners of FGs and FE's in the USA, what seats did you use to replace the factory seats?

I am not looking for air ride. too bouncy, too complicated, too expensive and I have read they aren't as big of an improvement as expected. The most improvement in ride comfort coming from proper tire air pressure, proper shocks and springs designed for the weight carried.

I prefer an OEM seat for build quality and availability in a wrecking yard or sourced used on Facebook Marketplace.

Feel free to post any pictures of the seats installed, what it took to mount them and your thoughts on comfort.

 

[gator70]

I'm installing factory seats in my Isuzu cabover (Corbeau Universal seat bracket)

 

[SkiFreak]

I have heard some say the the seats out of a Toyota MR2 are a good option, but I cannot confirm that.
Some seats have a sprung seat swab, opposed to others that have a pressed metal base. If looking through a wrecking yard, take an inspection mirror with you, so you can have a look under the seat base.
Manufactures of sports cars don't always make their own seats. From what I have seen, Recaro seats are frequently used. These are usually low profile and would likely be suitable as a replacement for the OEM park bench that comes as standard in a Fuso.
The only thing you may have to do is to make up your own custom rails, as it is unlikely that anything that you find will simply "drop in".
Also, if you plan on putting a bucket seat on the passenger's side, you may need to do some reinforcement of the cab floor, as it was only designed to have a bench seat on that side.
And one more thing... you might lose cab access to the engine, unless you also modify the engine hatch, as a bucket seat will cover the hatch to some degree.

 

[MSGGrunt]

Gator 70, are those factory Isuzu seats? How thick is the base? Tell us more.

I too have read about the MR2 seats. I have also thought the older BMW E30 seats could be an option. I am finding sport seats tend to be lower by nature of their design. A lot of the Japanese sports car seat look viable, just looking to see what others have had success with or have found didn't work.

Good advice on the passenger seat floor needing reinforcement. I wasn't thinking about that but probably would have realized it when it came time for the install. And no worries about cab access to the engine, my FG140 isn't a 4-door, so the whole cab tilts forward.

 

[MSGGrunt]

Mastercraft suspension seats have been used by the off-road community for years and even contracted to make their suspension seats for the US military. These may be an option. Initial price is more expensive than a used pair of seats out of a wrecking yard or off FB Marketplace, but they are new and can order them in any number of colors, so no added expense of reupholstering.

And nice they include the measurements.

 

[SkiFreak]

my FG140 isn't a 4-door, so the whole cab tilts forward.

Very true, but some people like the ease of checking the engine oil level by opening the engine hatch, opposed to tilting the cab.
Personally, I have bucket suspension seats on both sides of my cab and I have locked down the engine hatch. Doing this also made it easier to do the floor insulation.

Improving the cab’s insulation

canter4x4.com

 

[MSGGrunt]

I have done the same process in most of my older vehicles (86 VW Syncro and 69 TR6 pictured) and the Fuso will get the same treatment, but the Fuso will get the added insulation layer as you did.

 

[mog]

I am not looking for air ride. too bouncy, too complicated, too expensive and I have read they aren't as big of an improvement as expected. The most improvement in ride comfort coming from proper tire air pressure, proper shocks and springs designed for the weight carried.

I'll have to disagreed with your air ride analysis. I put a 23 (ya, twenty three) way air-ride in my C4500 Kodiak and it was the world's best improvement. Perfect ride (with no expensive change to front and rear suspension). Easy to dial in for amount of suspension and easy to chance for road conditions (push of a button). One button to lock for no movement. Not complicated, I had to build/adapter my own mounts but within a reasonable skill set and equipment, Not expensive, $700ish brand new off eBay for full custom leather, heated, etc (new, return, resale). Trying to dial in the front and rear suspension for a comfortable ride on the Kodiak would have been in the $5-10,000 range and made comprises to the load capacity (my habitat is removable, so the flatbed and 5th-wheel are still useable with that removed). Air-ride =

That said the Fuso is a different beast. NO room at all for any conventional air-ride seats (the one in my Kodiak is a OTR truck seat). Some of the Mercedes LKW/Unimog seats might work, and the 'suspension' seats (straps). I tried adapting Mitsubishi Montero spring suspension seat bases, but there is just not enough room (I still have one uncut-up base if you want it). Also since in the Fuso you sit over the front axle, everything will help. Seat(s), suspension, tallest tire sidewall possible, etc. While it is certainly possible to improve the ride in the Fuso, it will never be in the league of conventional light-duty trucks (or mid/heavy duty trucks with air-ride ) for ride comfort.

 

[MSGGrunt]

You are correct MOG, suspension seats would be ideal if the FUSO had the headroom for a proper seat, unfortunately these set-ups are either too tall, or I have read that the shorter ones work less than ideal.

Given the restrictions of the Fuso, being the seat base size limitations and the lack of headroom, this is the most I can probably hope for with regard to "suspension". This is the design of the seat bases in my MG midget, no solid sheet metal pan like in other seat designs. I believe the Mastercraft seats use a similar suspension system.

 

[mog]

You are correct MOG, suspension seats would be ideal if the FUSO had the headroom for a proper seat,

We seem to be 'understanding' differently. Air-rides seats (which I am singing the praise for) are 1000% different than the suspension seats that use straps that you have pictured.

You are correct, 'real' air-ride seats will not fit in a Fuso, unless you find a set of LKW/Unimog seats which still might be too tall. It is not only a headroom issue, but also a line-of-sight issue. That was one of the issues I had with the Mitsubishi Montero spring suspension seat bases, is I was looking about the windshield ( I am 6'4" so perhaps I could be the problem ).

So 'bungie seats' are the best you can do given the Fuso cab limitations. Either build your own like you have before, or buy Mastercraft, Corbeau, PRP, Procar, and I know users of Scheel-Mann and they sing high praises of those.

 

[MSGGrunt]

Yes, air ride providing their "suspension" from an air bladder/bag and probably shock dampeners versus the webbing design that provides its "suspension" from the rubber bands. So, the latter is what I am leaning towards. Thanks for naming other brands, I will have to do some more searching. Those Scheel-Mann sure are nice, but for what they cost you really have to have deep pockets.

 

[gator70]

Gator 70, are those factory Isuzu seats? How thick is the base? Tell us more.

I too have read about the MR2 seats. I have also thought the older BMW E30 seats could be an option. I am finding sport seats tend to be lower by nature of their design. A lot of the Japanese sports car seat look viable, just looking to see what others have had success with or have found didn't work.

Good advice on the passenger seat floor needing reinforcement. I wasn't thinking about that but probably would have realized it when it came time for the install. And no worries about cab access to the engine, my FG140 isn't a 4-door, so the whole cab tilts forward.

Most seat transplants require mounting fabrication. I used a kit from Corbeau

This seat is NEW from a mini van, second row seats. I watched ebay for a year. $250 each

Chrysler Pacifica second row seats. Have arm rests, metal frame, and leather. They fold down flat by design. Which was helpful for my application.

 

[MSGGrunt]

gator 70, Those seem like very specific seats, why were you set on these particular seats? Any pictures of them mounted in your Isuzu?

 

[SkiFreak]

I know that some in the US have installed the National air suspension seats in your particular truck.