Vehicle Seating Mistakes You Could Be Making

Buying replacement vehicle seats can be a challenge so we've identified the most common problems and how to fix them.

Mistake #1: Not recognising that the seat needs to be replaced

Depending on the purpose, the life of a vehicle will often outweigh the life of its original simply because the daily usage of the seat exceeds its anticipated lifespan.  Over time, the seat may lose its ergonomic shape and trim may get damaged or crack which affects the level of comfort of the user and ultimately their health as they sit on defective seat hour after hour. Take a quick look at your driver seat; can you slide the seat back effectively? Do the features like back recline, height riser, seat belt and lumbar work? Is the seat secure in the cab? Is the trim intact and padded appropriately? If you answered no to all these, your seat may need to be replaced.

Mistake #2: Picking the wrong seat for your height or weight

The critical factors to consider when choosing your seat are your height and weight because if the seat cannot support you it will not be comfortable and potentially not prevent injury in an accident. The different seats available are designed to ergonomically support a specific weight range and the features are designed to work based on the mass of the user. Exceeding the recommended weight range results in ineffective suspension, inactive lumbar and inoperable backrest recline and the seat will not effectively position the user in the cab correctly. Users exceeding the specified height of the seat will find that the headrest, lumbar adjustment, shape of the seat do not support the correct places of the body. There are seats available that automatically adjust to the perfect height using the weight of the user, taking out the risk factor of not being positioned safely.

Mistake #3: Not looking around and getting help

Research of types of seats and brands are essential to find the best fit for you.  Usually the type of vehicle to be fitted determines the type of seat to be used and the range that is available to choose from. Speaking with a trained consultant or dealer can help to point you in the right direction and help you to define the features that are important to you and what to look for.

Mistake #4: Not installing the seat correctly

Seats fit into vehicles by various points of installation and there is not a one seat fits all solution as it depends on the make and model.  Installing the seat should always be done by a professional as factors like height, width of the cab and seat, as well as applicable safety regulations, must be taken into consideration. 

Mistake #5: Fitting the seatbelt incorrectly

As with the overall seat installation, seatbelts are also important to have installed by a professional for the best fit, ease of use and in compliance with statutory safety regulations which apply to all registered vehicles. If you choose to have a new seatbelt fitted or to fit a seat with an integrated seatbelt, always consult a professional and in most cases the dealer where you bought the seat will also offer an authorized installation option for both the seat and the seatbelt. 

Mistake #6: Not using the tether

Tethering is important to secure the seat to the floor of the cab as it significantly reduces injury in the result of an accident when combined with the appropriate seatbelt.  Not securing the seat safely could result in an accident and even death.