Sports cars to Tundras: Seat comfort and suspension tweaking

First time poster, please be kind.

Bought a Tundra as I want to get into truck camping after manymanymany years of tent camping. I love the Tundra for its simplicity and reliability...it is planned to be the camp hauler and winter daily driver. I am traditionally a sporty car person (current stable includes a mid 2000s BMW M3 convertible and a 2016 Golf R (winter driver). I test drove a 2019 Tundra TRD Limited and was pleasantly surprised with its comfort and road manners. So, I purchased my 2017 Tundra TRD Limited (55k miles) and after 2 longish road trips, I'm realizing the seats on this particular car are unbelievably uncomfortable and the suspension is harsh and jiggly.

Now, I know my frame of reference is not great, of course, a truck won't handle like a sports car. But, I'd like to try tweaking the Tundra before ditching it (other option is to buy a cheapo truck for camping only and keeping the Golf as my winter driver)....so I need your collective help:

1. Suspension (the easier one, I think): No lift needed or wanted (I'm short), but would like a plusher and more planted ride for the 85% of road driving I do. The other 15% will be light offroading (mostly fire roads to start) with a lightish truck camper on the bed (1200 lbs). I'm thinking of replacing the original somewhat tired suspension with Bilstein 6112s, Loadmaster helping springs (instead of bags) and TRD sway bars. Thoughts?

2. Seats. Oh the terrible Tundra seats. I love the lumbar, knee and side bolster support of my current cars. I can drive 14+ hours without issue. I find the Limited seats to be terribly flat, not supportive (particularly thigh/knee support), the side bolsters are basically useless and my knees are sliding forward/down off the seat. Plus, the headrest pushes my head forward (again, I'm short, so maybe that has something to do with it). I don't care about the quality of the leather or the cooling, I just want supportive seats that are firm without feeling like I'm sitting on a slab of rocks. So the questions:
a) Do the Limited seats have adjustments for back of thigh/knee support? (to raise the front of the lower cushion)
b) For those with a Sequoia swap, what particularly do you like Sequoia seats over Tundra Limited?
c) Anyone done a Scheel Mann or Corbeau or Mastercraft swap? Feedback?
d) I know I can do Katskin covers, but how does that help with the thigh or side bolster support?
e) Any aftermarket seat cushions that I can add on top of the existing seats? (I would prefer to stay away from bladder type cushions).

I don't want to be overly negative...if I can fix these 2 issues, I should be able to enjoy the truck. Just need help from the collective group. Thanks!

EDIT: The more I think about trying to tweak the truck (and the more I drive it) the more strongly I am considering keeping the Golf R (as my winter DD) and buying a 10-12 y.o. Tundra that will be limited to towing duties. Thanks all

 

Seats you may find better options in the aftermarket. I'm stumpy as well at 5'2 which is why I haven't gone with a lift either... but I do feel your pain in the seats. 6112 suspension, maybe lifting it slightly from what I've heard, but I don't know to be honest, I acquired the old Bilstein 4600 and its been smooth so far, since my old 200k oem shocks were done, TRD sway bar will change its handling, I enjoy it as I take turns hella hard and fast... I've taken it canyon carving in the past and have had a lot of fun, cuz why not.... These are my .02 cents.

 

Check these out - loads of tacoma guys get these and they say it helps with the issues you're facing.

Privacy error (desertdoesit.com)

 

+1 on the Desert Does It seat jackers. I installed them in my Tundra and it made a great improvement for me.

 

Also katzkins have some padding inside their leather, but do not expect to have anything substantially supportive from it. You can try your hand in getting some upholstery foam and forming it to shape and gluing before putting the katzskins on, but depending on your skill level for upholstery that could present more problems than it fixes lol.

 

Thanks...and that's exactly what I'm afraid of...is a frankenstein of a seat. I'm thinking about going aftermarket. I love the looks of the Corbeau, but I've read some issues about frame/mount snapping, which makes me nervous. Scheels are gorgeous, but they seem outrageously expensive. MasterCraft seems to be very popular in the offroading community...so the Baja or Camber could be an option.

 

Keep in mind side air bags are built into the seat, going aftermarket you will constantly have warnings about the airbags not being there, there's a way to fool the sensors as people have done on LC200, not something I'd risk on, I would just get the seats re-done with new foam and shape if you are going aftermarket anyways.

For suspension, those will make it jarring, Bilsteins are always more stiff, even on their truck stuff, if you have an E46 M3 then imagine similar ride in terms of stiffness but now you are 3ft off ground, I personally don't think it'll be better, with what you described, it sounds like you would like a Honda Ridgeline-like ride quality.

 

You are a wonderful person.

As far as shocks I like the OR package Billstiens with the Sway Bars, you get the best of both worlds IMO. If you plan on doing hardcore offroading better shocks may be in order.

Also what wheels are you running? Bigger wheels will be harsher so recommend sticking with 17s or 18s.

The seats are fairly big on the Tundra, depending on your frame aggressive bolstering may not help cradle you. I'm 6'1" 230ilbs and the seats have lots of room on the sides were the bolstering isn't cradling me. For reference I just came out of a 2016 Golf R, you'll probably have to switch out seats if you are looking for a similar feel.

 

Hah, you know your cars. I have 2 e46M3 The truck already has Bilsteins, I can see the yellow and blue coloring on the rear shocks. I don't mind the ride 'harshness' of the BMWs or Golf, but you are right it seems more pronounced in the truck. One thing I forgot to mention is that occasionally I'll be towing a 7k boat, so the Ridgeline won't work for me But the funny thing is that the 19 I drove seemed to handle better, so I'm wondering if I simply need new shocks (or at least start there).

Fair point regarding those side airbags. Scheel has confirmed they don't have the side airbags, so those are out. I suspect Mastercraft will be the same. Eiy yi yi.

 

Oh thank you

I have the stock wheels (18") so don't plan on going any bigger. I love love love my Golf R and M3 seats, I wish they fit in the Tundra . The Lexus 350LX sport seems to have more bolstering (and 10 way adjustment)....I wonder if those can be swapped in. I would think they would have the airbag (and swap-able airbag sensor)

The other option is to keep the Golf and only use the Tundra for towing, but having 4 cars would be nutso. I barely drive my M3 ZCP (comp package) as it is....and I only have garage space for 2 cars (and limited driveway space).

 

As an aside from your primary questions you may want to look into the Max payload rating for your truck (found on the label on the inside of your B pillar with the door open. If you have a Crew Max your max payload will be between 1250 and 1560 lbs depending on your options. With the Limited I am betting it is around the 1250 mark like my TRD Sport. With the camper you are proposing there won't be any payload left for you in the truck, let alone other passengers and gear. An unfortunate limitation of the Tundra sadly. It's a heavy brute and chews up the GVWR leaving little for payload.

 

Thank you, but I'm all set with my payload carrying abilities. Prefer to keep this focused on the original questions.

 

Have had E30, E36, E46, E39, E90's, still have an E30 and have had probably 4 GTi's (Mk3, 4, 5, 6), so I kinda get what you are comparing to, what you are looking for is "compliance", Bilstein always tend to be less "compliance" as they tend to be harsher, but lot people like them cause it makes the vehicle felt more in control, I love the TRD Pro suspension, but one thing I think we will always have to live with is the "bobbing" its just matter of the way the vehicle is built and design, the side to side motion your head makes, the only one that comes close to almost eliminate as a truck is a Ram 1500 on air suspension.

As a reference, I have stock TRD Pro with RAS.

 

A man who understands my problem (and my POV)! It's my understanding Fox is similar to TRD Pro, but can be rebuilt, right? I think one can get fox without a lift (or minimal). However, can anyone chime in on how do TRD Pro/Fox compare to Bilsteins 6110 in terms of compliance?

If I was a rational person, I'd sell my garage queen M3 ZCP and keep the Golf. But there is nothing like an E46 M3

 

My wife bought a 4runner TRD Pro, then soon after I ordered the Tundra cause I liked the ride.

Fox has few options, I think you should reach out to guys like Accutune, SDHQ etc to get a better info, I don't know enough about them to provide input, all I've been thinking about is how to integrate the 3.0 livewire onto the truck as a side project.

if you choose a Golf R over ZCP, people will call you crazy, I've been on the look out for a clean E46 M3 coupe body to make it CSL+ , I want sub 2800lbs when wet, 275s all around (with right rear wheel fitments).

 

I tweaked my well used 2007 for better street performance in the ride & handling department, I also did a few minor performance mods. The handling is greatly improved, but it will never handle like a sports car because of the rear suspension.

Take a look at my RCSB rescue if you are interested in what I did.

Good luck.

 

What tires are you running? Sorry if you already mentioned that, but I was trying to skim instead of reading it all. When I had the stock Michelins, I had to up the PSI a bit in each tire to get rid of the "jiggly" feeling you describe. And your shocks should still be ok at 55k, but it's really tough to say without knowing the full history. Might want to take a look and make sure there wasn't a leveling kit installed on top of the stock coilovers. That would definitely harshen the ride.

 

I'm running stock 18".

Honestly, the more I drive the Tundra, the more I realize I don't want one as a DD...I much prefer driving sporty cars. All I need the Tundra for is boat and trailer hauler (and occasional furniture mover). So I am strongly considering selling this one as soon as I can lay my hands on a clean older 2nd gen. Thanks everyone for your input, though.

 

if you want to change from the Golf, get a STi without the wing.

Wife had been driving 2 STi for last 5 years, the difference between 19+ and before was huge, the 2019 was very smooth and has way more power than advertise compare to the 2016 she had before, I like them more than the Golf R.

 

Thanks, but I love my Golf R. Same power as my M3, but 500 lbs lighter and with AWD. It's a perfect winter mini beast

 

Good thing u do not have 19+ the cooler police would have showed up. I would look into falcon shocks.

 

Is this a thing? I'm curious. Considering a Scheel-Mann aftermarket seat, especially since they can be ordered with arm rests. But would like to find something else in the Toyota/Lexus lineup that maintains airbag and electronics compatibility, if possible.