Driver Seat Back Issues

Hey all,

I experience a decent amount of back pain while driver the 2023 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport. I can eventually trade it in, but for now am looking to resolve my problem.

I tried the Desert Does It Seat Jackers for about a month and that did nothing to stop the pain. It seems there is too much lumbar support (even when pressed all the way in) and there is a metal bar that is in the seat right where the pain is, but unless cut that out, it is there to stay.

I have experimented with every seat position to no avail. I have started the process of trying little pillows or blankets to adjust my height in the seat, but wanted to see if anyone has had similar issues and have resolved them.

Thanks!

 

Did your try Front jackers

 

Toyota cushions soften up with time. Try getting obese or having a fatty drive your truck.

My 2022 is much better after 2 years.

 

Isnt that what the desert does it do? Most of the time that’s all you hear ppl talking about for seat comfort- raising the front. But for me I went straight to raising the rear, put the seat base more level and less like your sinking back. Now I use the lumbar no problem for the support. And after replacing the cloth for katskinz the change of material made for more cushion.

driving more than a couple hrs is no problem now other than being couped up

 

Try the rear jackers. I had those for a bit, but it made me too tall and I found my head/hat hitting the ceiling too much and I'm only 5'11. The fronts helped me a bit on my journeys, but sounds like it didnt work for you.

 

Visit an auto upholstery shop that has a good history of building custom car interiors

 

I liked this thing so much I got 2 of 'em, one for the passenger side.
Supports your 'spine' by letting your tail-bone 'set' in the slot.
Plus side for me ( not being tall ) is it sets me up a hair higher in the seat too.
I swear by it.

$38 Everlasting Comfort Memory Foam Car Seat Cushion - Tailbone Pain Relief, Driving Seat Cushion for Short People - Office, Wheelchair, Gaming Chair, Travel - Non-Slip, Washable Cover

https://www.amazon.com/Car-Seat-Cushion-Pillow-Driving/dp/B075DRS4C9?th=1

 

Here is an extreme solution in putting in FRS seats as Mike did in this thread. Hope you find a solution. Back pain is debilitating.

 

I got one of these for my desk at work. The one I have also cools, so that's a bonus. Though I'm not sure how hot it gets in an AC'd office so... whatever.

Sucks to hear OP. I was a bit concerned over the comfort seeing as how I didn't find my wife's old 4Runner very comfy and it seemed like many people here said the Tacoma was WORSE. I lowered the seat all the way, then raised just the front all the way using the stock controls. Before the seat jackers I would roll up a towel and put it under my thighs for support. When I got the seat jackers, I ditched the towel, and now simply just drive the truck all the time looking for any excuse. My body seems to have gotten used to it and it feels better than the Charger I got rid of before this

Oh I also started lifting more, focusing on legs, glutes, hip mobility, etc. for some days. That might have more to do with it, but I feel your pain. Good luck finding relief

 

Yes, I tried the front jackers. Nothing changed pain wise.

 

I might have to try doing rear jackers at some point. I am only 5' 6", so ceiling height isn't too big an issue for me. Even so, with the jackets in the front, I felt very high up.

 

Thanks! I will give this a try. I wanted to avoid the pillow route, but it seems that might be the only route left. I have a couple of others in my Amazon cart to try, so I will add this one!

 

Thanks for sharing! I hope to get to a point where I love driving it too! I love the truck beyond this one issue!

 

OP I know exactly what you're talking about in regard to that bar in the seat. Just got my '23 and I can definitely feel that bar pressing into my lower back regardless of how the lumber support is adjusted. It's not necessarily painfull, but I have noticed lower back soreness after driving.

Right now I'm just thinking my posture needs to get used to the new seats. I came from a Jeep Wrangler and I distinctly remember a few weeks of discomfort when I first got that as well. I also never had a vehicle with lumbar adjustments before so I'm going to play around with different adjustments to see if it helps.

 

I hope you can get it to your liking! I came from a 2020 Rav4 with a similar story, but after about 200 miles, I had the seat right and no pain at all. And the pain I started with in the Rav4 wasn't too bad. I am about 3k miles into the Tacoma and I have tried all different positions. Super upright, laid back, closer to the wheel, further away Higher/lower and all of them still cause the same issue. Leading me to think it is the "extra" lumbar support.

 

Look into Rough Country seat covers, maybe? Neoprene adds a bit of padding.

 

Do you have a problem with your back? Maybe it's not the seats but it's your back that needs some jacking (chiropractor) lol.

 

I am 6ft 2 inch and I swear by that as well. I also use the same one.

I have 3 years of work disability due to severe back and neck injuries that have left me in bad chronic pain for 35 years now. I spend a couple hours of every day doing various physical therapies to keep myself moving.

Despite all of that, I still get out weekly for solo remote off road trips.

When I bought my 2016 Tacoma (used back in 2018) I had no idea how bad the seats would be for my back. The first couple of months was brutal and I wondered if I could even keep the truck because of the impact to my lower back.

Once I bought that cushion I have no back or hip pain issues at all while driving. Despite it being 2 inches thick at the back end, I have no issues with clearance above my head.

A cheap and bang on solution for me.