1991 Ranger XLT driver seat suggestions needed

[LumpyFPV]

Hey Ranger people. As the title implies, I've got a 1991 Ranger XLT and I'm looking for a driver (and maybe passenger) seat upgrade. Long story short, I'm huge (6' 7", 240#) and I'm looking for a seat - or looking to install a seat - with an adjustable headrest, or a tall guy seat of some sort. Anyone have any suggestions? I would love something that's compatible that will provide me some neck support.

I've looked at a bunch of different seats around the internet but hoping maybe someone here knows something I don't. Any advice would be great.

 

[scotts90ranger]

Being that tall I'm hoping you have an extended cab... there's not much that fits in a regular cab that offers much while still moving your legs. I'm fond of the Explorer seats with adjustable lumbar support since they're fairly obtainable and bolt in but anything with a full head rest pushes the seat further forward... I wear pants with a 29" inseam and I have the seat pushed back to the rear window on my '90... If you do have an extended cab, look for late '90's Explorers, the Limited ones with leather seats are pretty comfy... The Eddie Bauer versions aren't too bad either but have less side support...

 

[Brain75]

I just put 1995 Explorer Eddie Bauer electric (high back bucket) in a 2nd gen like yours (88-92) and if you are 6'7" I ***strongly*** suggest a NO GO on saving the power function it adds too much height. I am 5'7" / 5'8" on a good day, and I am going to be reworking the brackets if I can (I just finished the first round of fab 2 days ago, and got em installed). Now the Explorer seats are great and if a guy can save the electric lumbar or find a manual lumbar while using the ranger tracks, the ranger tracks preserve a much lower stance. As soon as the tylenol kicks in I am heading out to start work in it now, if you want pix I can certainly oblige.

FWIW, I wear a 31" inseam and my headrests will be only a smidge of nothing from touching the back glass - standard cab.

Plus if you find only slightly damaged seats in the donors, like the coverings only, not the foam, there is a wealth of seat covers custom and generic that will fit a high back bucket... As you know there is 2 total out there custom only for the original 60/40 bench.

 

[Brain75]

1995 Explorer (EB) seat thigh support comparison.

Passenger seats side by side, 1990 Ranger stock left, 1995 Explorer (EB) right. the most common swap is to discard all the electrics and use the ranger tracks on the donor seats.

 

[Brain75]

Only because you are a 2 post new member am I going to throw this out and I am not being a smart ass, but did you find the tech articles, they are a little buried - most newbies go directly to the forum I think and only search there...
There is a great (long) write up on mustang,tempo/topaz,Escort/Lynx,Explorer etc etc - Ford did something smart, the 4 bolts holding the TRACK to the seats are equally spaced 14" apart in a huge array of seats, if you use the tracks you have on any number of Ford seats you can switch to a whole host of things... here's a direct to the tech article:

Ford Ranger Seat Swap - The Ranger Station

Originally By: AllanD (Photo of Escort GT seats inside TRS-2 1996 Ranger) NOTE: A lot of this information has been gathered from our forum members. If you have information to contribute, please use the Contact button at the bottom. … Continued

www.therangerstation.com

Since you are 6' + I am going to throw out another observation, the hard HALO style headrests can get a smidge of a tiny bit closer to the glass than the big puffy cloth covered ones - gains you another ~1.5" of backward travel.

 

[jballard81]

If you currently have a 60/40 split sit I highly recommend finding the brackets from a bucket seat ranger. Brain's post is good for additional details on that, but I believe brackets up to at least a 97 should be almost direct bolt in for your 91.

As far as seats go, the ranger buckets probably offer you more room, but you will have a hard time finding a driver's bucket in passable shape (IMO).

You'll probably have better luck finding a decent bucket out of an explorer. I found a decent set out of a 99 (no headrest). But they should be interchangeable all the way up to 03 or so (with little modification)

 

[jballard81]

If you have a 60/40 and like it, the old vinyl bench seats I've occasionally seen look like they don't take up as much space either.

 

[Brain75]

"..up to 03 or so..."

my understanding from reading dozens of tech articles is 01 is the hard cutoff, in 02 Ford made the seats wider and it is a no go unless you fab an offset to make you sit a smidge closer to the center (can't close the door).

 

[jballard81]

"..up to 03 or so..."

my understanding from reading dozens of tech articles is 01 is the hard cutoff, in 02 Ford made the seats wider and it is a no go unless you fab an offset to make you sit a smidge closer to the center (can't close the door).

I stand corrected! Thanks for the clarification.

 

[Brain75]

I'm certainly no authority, I haven't tried it or even measured an '02 (there was an 02 in the 'yard when I was there last, but the seats were trashed), I am just repeating what I read (here and FTE). As always measure/test/verify for yourself...

 

[jballard81]

I'm certainly no authority, I haven't tried it or even measured an '02 (there was an 02 in the 'yard when I was there last, but the seats were trashed), I am just repeating what I read (here and FTE). As always measure/test/verify for yourself...

that's a good point. my junkyard is currently rich in 02-06 explorers. I will probably head out this week and can pull a seat out to take a look.

 

[Brain75]

I can verify this, I can fit my hand between the seat and door with the door closed to run the main electric switches, but I can NOT move my hand forward to get to the lumbar switch and bolster switch because the side support extends so close to the door that getting my hand in there is a no go. (1995 Explorer Eddie Bauer seats in a 1990) I mounted the Explorer seats center aligned on the lower HALF the stock 60/40 Ranger tracks salvaging the electrics and the upper HALF of the explorer tracks.... that bit of fab added some height. In the area of the lumbar switches the clearance is about an inch.

Sorry it's blurry and dark, the garage is not well lit.

My yard is full of 02+ explorers and has several 3rd gen rangers, unfortunately the only two 2nd gens are extend cabs... and I am looking for interior trim parts for my '90.

 

[jballard81]

I can verify this, I can fit my hand between the seat and door with the door closed to run the main electric switches, but I can NOT move my hand forward to get to the lumbar switch and bolster switch because the side support extends so close to the door that getting my hand in there is a no go. (1995 Explorer Eddie Bauer seats in a 1990) I mounted the Explorer seats center aligned on the lower HALF the stock 60/40 Ranger tracks salvaging the electrics and the upper HALF of the explorer tracks.... that bit of fab added some height. In the area of the lumbar switches the clearance is about an inch.

Sorry it's blurry and dark, the garage is not well lit.

My yard is full of 02+ explorers and has several 3rd gen rangers, unfortunately the only two 2nd gens are extend cabs... and I am looking for interior trim parts for my '90.

good info!

what interior trim parts are you specifically looking for for your 90? my local yard just got a 92 regular cab. feel free to send me a direct message if you like.

 

[Brain75]

North Carolina to Colorado on a bulky large light part... that's gotta hurt on shipping... I just need to go a little further afield and drive to the next city over to get to a bigger yard. I need the B pillar trim panels fwiw. And over in Denver at the LKQ they show a few standard cabs... just need to get off my butt and drive that far.

 

[jballard81]

North Carolina to Colorado on a bulky large light part... that's gotta hurt on shipping... I just need to go a little further afield and drive to the next city over to get to a bigger yard. I need the B pillar trim panels fwiw. And over in Denver at the LKQ they show a few standard cabs... just need to get off my butt and drive that far.

I hear ya. Shipping would cost more than the part . If it's ever a smaller part or extra hard to find feel free to let me know!