Upgraded Comfort without sacrificing safety>> Recaro Seats with airbags

[JTDay]

I find the OE seats horrifically uncomfortable. I could list valid reasons but it makes we wonder what reasons others have who think they are comfortable. I'm a slim 5'9", 140lbs and the seat just doesn't work.

@Rusty PW I like those Brides. When I had "tuner" cars, Brides were often the object of our lust for "race car seats in our daily drivers" during the camp fire talks. It looks like they make some DD friendly options these days.

@DC3 any luck integrating the seat heating controls yet? How is the support of the Recaros compared to the OE seats? Do they grip the body better and have better thigh support? They appear to.

Sponsored

 

[545moose]

Very nice, when I get to that point I will go with Scheel-mann seats, no airbag but manually adjustable and no electronics to mess with. Less on the pocket too.

 

[Mac]

Curious what would happen from an insurance standpoint if you remove the side airbags then have an accident where you sustain injuries the airbag could have potentially protected against.

 

[DC3]

I find the OE seats horrifically uncomfortable. I could list valid reasons but it makes we wonder what reasons others have who think they are comfortable. I'm a slim 5'9", 140lbs and the seat just doesn't work.

@Rusty PW I like those Brides. When I had "tuner" cars, Brides were often the object of our lust for "race car seats in our daily drivers" during the camp fire talks. It looks like they make some DD friendly options these days.

@DC3 any luck integrating the seat heating controls yet? How is the support of the Recaros compared to the OE seats? Do they grip the body better and have better thigh support? They appear to.

I haven't rewired the seat heating circuit but I'm sure it can be done. Now that it's summer, I don't have a level of urgency. I will probably rewire late summer.

The support is amazing! Night and day difference.

 

[21Moja]

From Day 1, I never loved the factory Gladiator seats, I have gone back and forth regarding airbags and ultimately decided to get aftermarket seats with side airbags. I finally got some time to install my Recaro Ergomed ES SAB seats. Airbags + Electric + comfort = Heaven. I am approaching the end of my build for my OEM+ Gladiator.

Like every other install, these are a bit more involved than I had expected. The seats are simple to install, but integrating them into the Gladiator electronic architecture is taking some TLC.

Background: Recaro does not sell airbag seats in the US due to liability/regulatory issues. I sourced these seats from Germany and had them covered in black diamond-stitched leather to match the rest of the interior. It took some time for the seats to arrive and I had to perform some repairs due to shipping damage but beyond that, I can't complain. I bought brackets from Wedge and had them lower the rear by about 1.5" (since I already had modified my factory seat height) The seats have thigh extensions, airbags, Heat, cool, power lumbar, power-adjustable bolsters, height adjustment (tilt), and power recline. The fore-aft adjustment is manual.

I removed the seat wiring harnesses and installed them into the Recaro seats along with the occupancy module/sensor, seatbelt sensor, and airbag connector. I have not integrated the seat heating controls yet.

With the modified Wedge brackets, the seats are at the perfect height and can be fine-tuned for the seating angle, something I have always missed about the Gladiator.

So far I love the seats, I am driving to Daytona in a few weeks and will get a chance to test them out on the long haul. I am sure they will satisfy. Interestingly enough, they are a very similar design to a previous Audi S8 I had, but these have way more adjustability.

Im most interested to know how the Drivers side Recaro badging disappears then reappears on the seatback...Was this an option you paid extra for???

Cool seats though!!!

 

[DC3]

Im most interested to know how the Drivers side Recaro badging disappears then reappears on the seatback...Was this an option you paid extra for???

Cool seats though!!!

I had the Recaro seats made to match the leather interior. I think you are referencing the progress photo showing the factory driver seat next to the Recaro passenger seat.

 

[SD Rider]

I looked into Katskinz, as mine has cloth but decided to wait a bit. Not uncomfortable yet but haven't spent a day wheeling in them yet. For a wider fella, I think they are snug in the turns.

Definitely don't want aftermarket airbags...sounds a bit sketchy. Maybe cooling and heating like I have in my Ford...and a little lumbar support.

 

[Barnaby’sdad]

These seats are drool worthy, love the mod OP. Now every time I take a long trip in the gladiator this will be in the back of my mind.

It could be worse. You could be dealing with Tacoma ergonomics. I wanted one off and on for almost 20 years. This latest round of vehicle shopping (sat in one and didn’t leave the lot) killed that dream for good.

 

[Hdog911]

Very nice setup. Love the look and the adjustability. Oem rubi seats are good for rock crawling- in that you are high and upright but besides that they suck.​

 

[Greatwhite]

Wedge no longer makes brackets for Recaro seats. Which model bracket did you use and where did you get it?

 

[DC3]

Wedge no longer makes brackets for Recaro seats. Which model bracket did you use and where did you get it?

I bought from Wedge, I had them customize the bracket by lowering the rear about an inch. Planted makes a seat mount for the Gladiator https://www.plantedtechnology.com/p...ladiator-jt-chassis-2020-passenger-right.html

 

[Greatwhite]

Thank you sir!

Do those seats fit well in the vehicle? Do they rub anywhere? Sit to high?

Thanks

 

[DC3]

Thank you sir!

Do those seats fit well in the vehicle? Do they rub anywhere? Sit to high?

Thanks

They fit perfectly. No rubbing to speak of

 

[UnRealHobby]

From Day 1, I never loved the factory Gladiator seats, I have gone back and forth regarding airbags and ultimately decided to get aftermarket seats with side airbags. I finally got some time to install my Recaro Ergomed ES SAB seats. Airbags + Electric + comfort = Heaven. I am approaching the end of my build for my OEM+ Gladiator.

Like every other install, these are a bit more involved than I had expected. The seats are simple to install, but integrating them into the Gladiator electronic architecture is taking some TLC.

Background: Recaro does not sell airbag seats in the US due to liability/regulatory issues. I sourced these seats from Germany and had them covered in black diamond-stitched leather to match the rest of the interior. It took some time for the seats to arrive and I had to perform some repairs due to shipping damage but beyond that, I can't complain. I bought brackets from Wedge and had them lower the rear by about 1.5" (since I already had modified my factory seat height) The seats have thigh extensions, airbags, Heat, cool, power lumbar, power-adjustable bolsters, height adjustment (tilt), and power recline. The fore-aft adjustment is manual.

I removed the seat wiring harnesses and installed them into the Recaro seats along with the occupancy module/sensor, seatbelt sensor, and airbag connector. I have not integrated the seat heating controls yet.

With the modified Wedge brackets, the seats are at the perfect height and can be fine-tuned for the seating angle, something I have always missed about the Gladiator.

So far I love the seats, I am driving to Daytona in a few weeks and will get a chance to test them out on the long haul. I am sure they will satisfy. Interestingly enough, they are a very similar design to a previous Audi S8 I had, but these have way more adjustability.

From Day 1, I never loved the factory Gladiator seats, I have gone back and forth regarding airbags and ultimately decided to get aftermarket seats with side airbags. I finally got some time to install my Recaro Ergomed ES SAB seats. Airbags + Electric + comfort = Heaven. I am approaching the end of my build for my OEM+ Gladiator.

Like every other install, these are a bit more involved than I had expected. The seats are simple to install, but integrating them into the Gladiator electronic architecture is taking some TLC.

Background: Recaro does not sell airbag seats in the US due to liability/regulatory issues. I sourced these seats from Germany and had them covered in black diamond-stitched leather to match the rest of the interior. It took some time for the seats to arrive and I had to perform some repairs due to shipping damage but beyond that, I can't complain. I bought brackets from Wedge and had them lower the rear by about 1.5" (since I already had modified my factory seat height) The seats have thigh extensions, airbags, Heat, cool, power lumbar, power-adjustable bolsters, height adjustment (tilt), and power recline. The fore-aft adjustment is manual.

I removed the seat wiring harnesses and installed them into the Recaro seats along with the occupancy module/sensor, seatbelt sensor, and airbag connector. I have not integrated the seat heating controls yet.

With the modified Wedge brackets, the seats are at the perfect height and can be fine-tuned for the seating angle, something I have always missed about the Gladiator.

So far I love the seats, I am driving to Daytona in a few weeks and will get a chance to test them out on the long haul. I am sure they will satisfy. Interestingly enough, they are a very similar design to a previous Audi S8 I had, but these have way more adjustability.

Where did you get them?

Sponsored