USA FG/FE Alternative OEM Seat Options?

[gator70]

I've been looking at one of theses

 

[BigSkyBrad]

I used similar low profile, mechanical bases for my build - Grammar DS85/MGS85 tractor/forklift ones, and mounted generic sport seats on them. So much more comfortable, we would have died of kidney failure without them.

Our (UK) RHD Fuso had a suspension seat for the driver and the standard bench seat for the passengers. I could have tried to locate a secondhand LHD drivers seat from somewhere in Europe for the passenger, but it was easier and cheaper to buy the two bases and seats, and add brackets to pick up the existing cab mounts.

 

[MSGGrunt]

The Grammer unit looks well built, but with shipping and tariffs the price starts to climb. I wonder how much height the Alibaba SP160 would add?

BigSkyBrad, how much height did the Grammer add? You don't find the added height an issue when driving? Of course, using a low-profile seat helps.

 

[BigSkyBrad]

My setup is no more than an inch higher than the OEM drivers seat and suspension base made by ISRI. The bases have three height adjustments, I've got them set at the lowest and I'm 5'9-10". My missus is 5'1" - she couldn't touch the floor with the bench seat anyway, so I made her a removable foot rest. There is a noticeable increase in weight having two bases and seats though, one can definitely feel it when tilting the cab.

 

[MSGGrunt]

Thanks. I am 5' 8" so headroom isn't an issue. The only issue with going to a seat with a thicker bottom cushion or raised seat height from a suspension base would be clearance between one's legs and the steering wheel.

 

[BigSkyBrad]

I raised my steering wheel too, or rather ditched the OEM one for a sports one with a deep boss, and a 1" spacer between the wheel and the boss. The truck didn't have an airbag fitted, so the swap was relatively easy. The steering column spline just happened to be the same as the old-school Toyota boss I had on the shelf, only mod required was mounting the brass (copper?) horn ring from the original wheel into the boss. The indicator/wiper-exhaust brake stalks are still within comfortable reach.

 

[MSGGrunt]

I was just about to ask the question about installing an aftermarket steering wheel with a spacer to raise it if leg clearance was an issue after installing the suspension base. These spacers can be had in any number of inches. What was the Toyota that worked? Just wondering what the spline size/count is. From there the steering wheel should be pretty easy.

 

[BigSkyBrad]

Unsure of the spline count, but the boss is from the 70s-80s rwd Toyota (Celica, Crown, Cressida etc) family. If you choose a wheel with a deep dish, the spacer is not required - I only used the spacer as I already had the wheel, which has been on six previous cars I've owned. OMP, Momo etc have a couple of reasonably priced deep dish wheels in the 370-390mm dia range, the 350mm size is too small for a truck even with power steering. You definitely need a sturdy name-brand wheel, as it tends to be used as a grab handle when climbing up into the cab.