Extending 2006 Prius Seat for Tall Driver

I am 6'7" and would prefer a longer track too... but I do fit in OK. I think I am proportionally taller in the torso.

/Jim

 

I'm 6'5 so I know the problem you have. I just slam the seat back and give it enoguh tilt so my head is not smashed up into the roof. Other than that I have not found a better way to fit into the car.

 

I'm having the same problem. I just got the car this week ('06 package 6) and the only problem with the car is how uncomfortable the front seats are during a long drive (no thigh support). I'm also 6'2" and my wife is 5'2", so I'd really like to find a solution that involves adjusting the seat up/down with tilt. Longer bolts/washers might help with thigh support for me, but it may make the seat uncomfortable for my sweety. I may try this anyway just to see.

I'd consider a new seat if it has the height/tilt adjustments... In searching priuschat I saw someone installed ricaro seats for over a grand (yikes!), but the height adjustment is with four bolts. Not exactly a good idea for sharing the car with someone a foot shorter than I am...

I'll call a couple of places this week to see if I can a) find an adjustable bracket, or B) an adjustable seat in the $500 range. I like option a the best, especially if it comes with tracks that can slide back another inch or so.

Hi Efusco! Your EV mod is well written and I'm looking forward to installing it to use with my headlight flashers!

 

My father and I have the same problem. He has modified his prius by using legnths of 1/4" thick X 1" wide strap iron, with 2 bolts going down into the body, and 2 bolts going up into the seat bracket per side. Essentially moving the whole slider assembly back about 4 inches.

In the forward position it is still driveable by his wife, set all the way back he gets the legroom he needs. Cost was about $4, and involved some steel cutting and drilling, that is all.

His toyota dealer in California wouldn't install his aftermarket seat covers because they could "keep the side airbags from deploying" but this same dealer had no problem with his seat mod.

I personally (if I ever get the time) would like to research the seat bracket, match it up to existing older model sliders, hit the junkyard, cut-n-paste with a mig welder... then grind/powdercoat and reinstall allowing a larger range of sliding adjustment motion. In the end, I want it to look OEM and operate seamlessly.

If I ever get around to this, I bet I'd have some orders for a pro-built powder-coated fully adjustable frame.

 

I would like to 1) push the seat back a little more (there is plenty of room in the back), 2) be able to tilt thefront of the seat up to get better leg support and

Not sure about adjusting the seat. As I understand it the seat position determines how fast the front air bags deploy so "fooling" the system with an extender might have unforseen consequenses.

The seats are not good, but I must say that they are better then my first impressions told me. I'm a little suprised that toyota hasn't fixed this (at least as an option).

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PerdidoKeyPrius @ Feb 4 2006, 09:04 PM) [snapback]203897[/snapback]</div>

I am 6' 2'', I also have an hip replacement and absoutely need more legroom to be able to drive comfortably. I really can not understand why TOYOTA does not provide for taller drivers, all that room in the back seat seldom used. Is there any way the person that extended the seat rails could provide a little more detailed information ?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PerdidoKeyPrius @ Feb 4 2006, 07:04 PM) [snapback]203897[/snapback]</div>

Yes you would! (I'm 6'3"). A bracket that can be adjusted by hand up/down a few inches (2 would be great, I don't really need to go further back) would be great for me. Sign me up !

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Timothyom @ Jan 10 2006, 04:25 PM) [snapback]187185[/snapback]</div>

I asked my dealer who sent it to shop and had it done before I took delivery, they charged me $6oo, worth every penny! I can really stretch out and the the seat still moves foreward enough for short persons. I think Toyota made a serious error when they designed this seat rail movement.

Lars

 

NEED TILT/TELESCOPIC WHEEL ! (or longer arms)

I am 6'1", and while there is enough leg room (I still have room to slide the seat back on it's track) but if I do, my arms aren't long enough to comfortably reach the steering wheel! They must have given the steering wheel and seat design duties to the minimum wage guys at Toyota. Very poorly engineered!

 

I have the same problem. (I am 6'2") I am contemplating moving the entire steering mechanism back an inch or so.

 

It is possible to move the front seats back. I explained how I did it in other posts. I took my car to a handicap retrofitter that moves seats back for Boston Celtics Basketball players -- New England Wheels in Billerica, MA.

They removed the seats, drilled out the eight pedestals on the four seat rails, welded about five inches of strong steel to the front of the seat rails, welded the pedestals on three inches forward from their original position, painted everything black so it looks good, then reinstalled the seats.

Now my seat has the same range of travel, but it's shifted back three inches. The car feels way more luxurious this way. The work took about three hours and cost about $300. It was totally worth it!

Re the airbag sensor, this is a minor issue that would not compromise safety. The bag might slightly underdeploy because the seat is farther back than it thinks. However, there is lots of safety margin built into these bags (ie: they need to be able to safely stop a tall 150 lb person with the seat back, or a short 270 lb person with the seat forward). Therefore, it doesn't seem this modification would affect airbag safety.

I suggest that anyone wanting to do this mod, but not living near Billerica, look for a handicap retrofitter in their area that moves seats back for tall people. I had the mod done first by someone who had never done it before. They raised and changed the angle of my seat. So I had them put it back, then I found an experienced retrofitter.

 

See problemchild's new thread on the subject:

http://priuschat.com/forums/prius-modifications/44287-custom-extended-seat-rails-group-order.html

 

I have engineered and manufactured seat extenders for GEN II Prius's. As a proud owner of an 2007 and 6"5 tall I have made 4" stainless stell extenders that make this car a luxury now. Please send me an email if you are interested in purchasing a set of the extenders. I can send you photos and specs. I am trying to have the Prius Shop obtain these but until they do I will sell them offline.

Please send me an email [email protected]