Comfort / Discomfort Of Driving

Ok I first thought this would be a stupid post...and maybe it actually is....

I am looking for advice on dealing with getting beat up by these rough roads...my back is killing me...my truck rides 'nice' but bridges and big bumps are killing me. Anyone have some ideas how to make things more comfortable?

I drive a 2010 Pete

thanks

Gator, what do you have for lower lumbar support? To me that's by far the most important feature of a comfortable seat. If you have a built in lower lumbar support, crank it to the max. You see how in the left hand picture the person's lower spine curves forward toward the front of the vehicle and then toward the back of the vehicle near the shoulder blades? That's what you're shooting for. The picture on the right is how most people sit and that causes all kinds of pain and problems. You really have to get that arch right in the lower back.

If you don't have a great lower lumbar support built into the seat then buy a small pillow-type one. They have them everywhere - truck stops, Walmart, etc. You can just place that behind your lower back and you'll be good to go.

Here's one on Amazon - Lower back support

Definately going to try that...

comfort is a must!!

thanks!!

Another thing to be mindful of is seat height and distance to the steering wheel. If you're having to lean and stretch to reach the wheel or pedals, that's going to put unnecessary stress on your back as well. You should be able to reach all of the controls from a normal, comfortable, relaxed, neutral seated position without having to resort to the 7 Basic Ballet Movements to do anything. Some of these guys who leave their seat as far down and back as possible just make me cringe looking at them, especially watching them walk. You can tell who they are without even having to look in their truck--look for the guys walking across the lot who're bent over about 30° at the waist.

Brett, which type of support do you recommend...I am willing to shell out for the mesh one if its better...

Thanks Fatsquatch, I change my position frequently but not having to perform stretches or hit switches with my toes is always a plus...lol 7 Basic Ballet Moves

I run my seat all the way down, always have. The bouncing of the seat, even though it's air ride, tortures my back and being 6'4", running the seat all the way up doesn't work.

Brett, which type of support do you recommend...I am willing to shell out for the mesh one if its better...

I never actually bought one because the seats I had always had an adjustable lumbar support in them. I don't think it matters too much as long as it's made as a lumbar support. They have a rather specific shape to them.

If you get a chance to hit a Walmart I would expect they might have some.

Definitely agree with getting lumbar support. Wanted to add that for aches and pains, I love Arnica gel (Walmart has it with the Icy Hot and similar products). Arnica doesn't have the horrible odor like some topicals and doesn't make me burn and itch like some. Soaking in a tub with about 2 cups of Epsom salt is also helpful.

Definitely make sure the seat cushion part of your seat is adjusted properly for your height. If you can't control your foot pedals with your heels on the floor, you're sitting too high or far back. At my company, the seats cushios can be slid forward for the taller guys who have a longer knee-to-hip distance than I do. If I leave the seat long like that, I can barely walk when I get out and it's attributed to that "reaching" that Fatsquatch is referring to. I also do what Brett recommends: I max out the lumbar support - mainly because the seat's just way too big for me but it helps tremendously.

Good Luck,

-mountain girl