REVIEW: ExtendMySeat driver's seat extenders

[JimboK]

Originally Posted by cycledrum

do not raise the height of the seat bottom in any way?

IOW, the seat bottom is not lifted or lowered when in same position as stock mount, and the tilt of the rails is virtually the same as stock.

The seat might be raised a fraction of an inch, only the thickness of the extenders. They fit flush against the floor where the rails were attached from the factory and the factory rails attach directly to them. The angle is unchanged.

[cycledrum]

Originally Posted by sorka

No offense, but what good is a seat extender since the steering wheel can't come out far enough with the seat back as far as it goes in stock form? I'm 6' 5" and can't put the seat all the way back because the steering wheel is too far away for proper reach.

When is someone going to machine a splined steering wheel extender????

I can point to a sad example that totally supports your claim -

* Go sit in a 2009 Scion xB which has a generous seat travel and height adjuster but ... does not have telescopic steering wheel

* Put seat all way back and down, then reach hard for the steering wheel, no wait, you'll need an acute angle with seatback to reach it.

Note - I hope Scion fired the person(s) responsible for deleting the telescopic wheel in this all-new 2009 model. What an oversight.

[Tripod137]

Hey!!! I found the post.

Here it is
Plan for relocating seats!

Keep in mind that the existing rails have HAL type sensors to detect seat position in order to determine airbag timing. Will your resdesign take this into consideration?

Is this taken into consideration by the ExtendMySeat? or is it not an issue?

Originally Posted by Tripod137

Actually, I am referring to the steering wheel airbag.

I think we changed software since the issue came up, but hopefully I can find the messages that refer to some issue where the seat distance seems to have some effect on the "strength" of the steering wheel airbag and how moving the seat back further (beyond stock rails) may have some negative effect on the steering wheel airbag.

[cycledrum]

Originally Posted by Tripod137

Hey!!! I found the post.

Here it is
Plan for relocating seats!
Is this taken into consideration by the ExtendMySeat? or is it not an issue?

No. The seat mechanically sits 4" further back than stock seat. For example, you're at last click on seat rails with extender brackets, you're 4" farther back than the seat position sensor system thinks you are.

Not to cast stones, mine is 2 5/8" further than system thinks. I don't know how bad of a safety issue this is.

[Eddie Kent]

I bought a seat extender back in the beginning of July (7/9/09) and installed it. I really enjoyed the extra room. Yesterday (10/15/09- 3 months of use), I noticed the seat was rocking a little bit and took a look at the seat extender and the right rail had broken in 2 places near where the right front seat bolt attaches. I have e-mailed the Prius Chat Shop to see if they will either send me a new one that I can take to a machine shop to have reinforced or give me my money back. I haven't heard anything back from them and not sure if I will. The last time that I e-mailed them with an issue on another product, I never received a response and had to go directly to the manufacturer (on this- I have no idea who that is).

Full disclosure- I am 6'1" and 245 lbs, and have had no panic stops since installing this seat extender. I have a real safety concern with this product as it is- if it breaks after 3 months of normal use, think about what might happen in a severe accident. This seat extender needs to be either reinforced or made out of thicker stock. The stress points where mine broke are less than 1/8" thick and about 3/8" wide.

[Boo]

Originally Posted by Eddie Kent

I bought a seat extender back in the beginning of July (7/9/09) and installed it. I really enjoyed the extra room. Yesterday (10/15/09- 3 months of use), I noticed the seat was rocking a little bit and took a look at the seat extender and the right rail had broken in 2 places near where the right front seat bolt attaches. I have e-mailed the Prius Chat Shop to see if they will either send me a new one that I can take to a machine shop to have reinforced or give me my money back. I haven't heard anything back from them and not sure if I will. The last time that I e-mailed them with an issue on another product, I never received a response and had to go directly to the manufacturer (on this- I have no idea who that is).

Full disclosure- I am 6'1" and 245 lbs, and have had no panic stops since installing this seat extender. I have a real safety concern with this product as it is- if it breaks after 3 months of normal use, think about what might happen in a severe accident. This seat extender needs to be either reinforced or made out of thicker stock. The stress points where mine broke are less than 1/8" thick and about 3/8" wide.

Sorry to hear that Eddie.

The manufacturer is ExtendMySeat.com

Here's a link to its "contact us" page:

Extend My Seat | a TRES propaganda network store

[BAllanJ]

I actually don't think it would have made a huge difference in most accidents... Your seat belts are attached to the floor, not the seat... what remains of your rails could probably stop the seat while the belt stops you. Maybe in a rear collision or some side collisions it would make a difference, but even then, the seat belt (you do wear it, don't you) is the main defence.

[drees]

BAllanJ - that's simply not true - the seat is the only thing keeping you out of the rear seat in a rear-end collision. Having the seat mounts break could result in you and the seat becoming a loose projectile quite easily.

[cycledrum]

Originally Posted by BAllanJ

I actually don't think it would have made a huge difference in most accidents... Your seat belts are attached to the floor, not the seat... what remains of your rails could probably stop the seat while the belt stops you. Maybe in a rear collision or some side collisions it would make a difference, but even then, the seat belt (you do wear it, don't you) is the main defence.

Untrue. If the seat mount breaks loose, all might go flying.

The seat belt strap is connected to the floor, but front seat belt latches are bolted to the seat frame, side. The frame is attached to rails which are attached to car chassis. This is why virtually no shop unless a licensed handicapped retrofitter will modify a seat mount and they make you sign a waiver.

I've got my driver's seat right next to me by the computer and the seat belt latch is connected to it.

[cycledrum]

Originally Posted by Eddie Kent

I bought a seat extender back in the beginning of July (7/9/09) and installed it. I really enjoyed the extra room. Yesterday (10/15/09- 3 months of use), I noticed the seat was rocking a little bit and took a look at the seat extender and the right rail had broken in 2 places near where the right front seat bolt attaches. I have e-mailed the Prius Chat Shop to see if they will either send me a new one that I can take to a machine shop to have reinforced or give me my money back. I haven't heard anything back from them and not sure if I will. The last time that I e-mailed them with an issue on another product, I never received a response and had to go directly to the manufacturer (on this- I have no idea who that is).

Full disclosure- I am 6'1" and 245 lbs, and have had no panic stops since installing this seat extender. I have a real safety concern with this product as it is- if it breaks after 3 months of normal use, think about what might happen in a severe accident. This seat extender needs to be either reinforced or made out of thicker stock. The stress points where mine broke are less than 1/8" thick and about 3/8" wide.

I'm not able to see the cracks in the .pdf file. It appears as though there is a platform of metal welded onto the plate, then the mounting foot bolts into that platform which has cracked. Is this correct?

Also, the bolt holes do not line up as shown in Red circle.

Funny how no one has mentioned if rear of seat is jutted slightly to the left with these brackets. I guess some are a little desperate for more legroom as I was, and a little seat misalignment is no biggie.

After finishing my mod, I knew I was still sitting on a Prius seat after all, and here I am about to talk to upholsterers for mod #2.

Small cars are risky business for big and/or tall people to get comfortable in, although the all-new Prius is an exception with its seats which are so close to Camry-sized which is a good thing.