REVIEW: ExtendMySeat driver's seat extenders

I can point to a sad example that totally supports your claim -

* Go sit in a 2009 Scion xB which has a generous seat travel and height adjuster but ... does not have telescopic steering wheel

* Put seat all way back and down, then reach hard for the steering wheel, no wait, you'll need an acute angle with seatback to reach it.

Note - I hope Scion fired the person(s) responsible for deleting the telescopic wheel in this all-new 2009 model. What an oversight.

 

Hey!!! I found the post.

Here it is
http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-prius-modifications/6322-plan-relocating-seats.html#post64529

Is this taken into consideration by the ExtendMySeat? or is it not an issue?

 

No. The seat mechanically sits 4" further back than stock seat. For example, you're at last click on seat rails with extender brackets, you're 4" farther back than the seat position sensor system thinks you are.

Not to cast stones, mine is 2 5/8" further than system thinks. I don't know how bad of a safety issue this is.

 

I bought a seat extender back in the beginning of July (7/9/09) and installed it. I really enjoyed the extra room. Yesterday (10/15/09- 3 months of use), I noticed the seat was rocking a little bit and took a look at the seat extender and the right rail had broken in 2 places near where the right front seat bolt attaches. I have e-mailed the Prius Chat Shop to see if they will either send me a new one that I can take to a machine shop to have reinforced or give me my money back. I haven't heard anything back from them and not sure if I will. The last time that I e-mailed them with an issue on another product, I never received a response and had to go directly to the manufacturer (on this- I have no idea who that is).

Full disclosure- I am 6'1" and 245 lbs, and have had no panic stops since installing this seat extender. I have a real safety concern with this product as it is- if it breaks after 3 months of normal use, think about what might happen in a severe accident. This seat extender needs to be either reinforced or made out of thicker stock. The stress points where mine broke are less than 1/8" thick and about 3/8" wide.

 

Sorry to hear that Eddie.

The manufacturer is ExtendMySeat.com

Here's a link to its "contact us" page:

Extend My Seat | a TRES propaganda network store

 

I actually don't think it would have made a huge difference in most accidents... Your seat belts are attached to the floor, not the seat... what remains of your rails could probably stop the seat while the belt stops you. Maybe in a rear collision or some side collisions it would make a difference, but even then, the seat belt (you do wear it, don't you) is the main defence.

 

BAllanJ - that's simply not true - the seat is the only thing keeping you out of the rear seat in a rear-end collision. Having the seat mounts break could result in you and the seat becoming a loose projectile quite easily.

 

Untrue. If the seat mount breaks loose, all might go flying.

The seat belt strap is connected to the floor, but front seat belt latches are bolted to the seat frame, side. The frame is attached to rails which are attached to car chassis. This is why virtually no shop unless a licensed handicapped retrofitter will modify a seat mount and they make you sign a waiver.

I've got my driver's seat right next to me by the computer and the seat belt latch is connected to it.

 

I'm not able to see the cracks in the .pdf file. It appears as though there is a platform of metal welded onto the plate, then the mounting foot bolts into that platform which has cracked. Is this correct?

Also, the bolt holes do not line up as shown in Red circle.

Funny how no one has mentioned if rear of seat is jutted slightly to the left with these brackets. I guess some are a little desperate for more legroom as I was, and a little seat misalignment is no biggie.

After finishing my mod, I knew I was still sitting on a Prius seat after all, and here I am about to talk to upholsterers for mod #2.

Small cars are risky business for big and/or tall people to get comfortable in, although the all-new Prius is an exception with its seats which are so close to Camry-sized which is a good thing.

 

I just installed mine but haven't drove it yet. I put mine away for the winter and drive my camry, I looked at that area and can see it might be a problem it it flexes there, since it is thin. I am 6'1" and 255 lbs. I will just keep a eye on it when I start driving it in the spring.
Thanks fo the heads up,

 

In the course of taking out the seat to install the seat extender, you actually realize that the seatbelt assembly on the right drivers side is actually attached to the seat frame and not the floor of the prius- so if the seat goes, so does your anchor to the vehicle.

I heard back from Danny at Prius Chat and he is having the manufacturer send out a replacement that is actually an improved design, so hopefully it's a non-issue now (for me anyway)

 

that's good to hear, so I must have the lastest since I just got mine.

 

I hate to be a nanny here but I see a strength issue on these units which could be very dangerous. The way the front attachment point is pierced and bent leaves very little steel on either side. A better design would bend down 90 degrees at that spot and then back up to the correct angle for the front of the seat mount this would allow the full material width and strength.

If I were the manufacturer, I would be very worried about liability with only those thin bits holding the front of the seat.

Just my 2 cents

Added: Just read the above posts about the broken bracket and new design. hopefully the issues are fixed. They need to update the pictures though.

 

Thanks for all the info here folks...just got our first Prius and the seat extenders were first on the list.....checking with the mfrs this am....again....THANKS TO ALL!!

 

Just wait till some grieving widow takes you to the 9th circus court for the loss of her husband because the bracket broke or the airbag didnt work. I was the inventor of the seat bracket idea a few years ago. We quit before we started because people were complaining about safety.

Not worth a few hundred in profit.

 

Check the disclaimer on the website. It looked quite detailed when I briefed though it.

I'm the only person to drive my car with my altered seat mounts. If it fails, I have only myself to hold accountable.

But, those welds won't fail.

Last week I had my original seat in the car for 6 days. Wow, did that stink.

I only have my remounted seat 2 clicks further back than the original stock max position, which turns out to 1 3/8" further back, but wow, it sure makes a nice difference. I would put it a click more back, but I can't deal with the reach to steering wheel while having a little tilt of seatback which I like.

If I'm between jobs (have lots of time), I'd like to do the full monty job of getting a Corolla seat, wiring and upholstering it up with Prius stuff, and making so it can slide back a bit further while lowering with height adjust. That might take me weeks to finish full time, it could be nice though.

 

The prius seats suck beyond belief. Moving them back doesnt fix how bad they suck. I bought volvo v70 8 way electric heated seats and bolted them in. Sooooooooo much nicer then scooted back junk pri seats.

I drove 18 hours in one stent across country and my back never hurt.

 

problemchild,

I don't remember -- did you also replace the passenger seat with a Volvo seat?

Also, your sheepskin covers -- I remember photos of them from another thread and they looked great. Where did you get them? Do you have an extra one for the Prius seat that you'd like to sell?

 

Yes I replaced both seats. I do have both slightly used (3 weeks I think) sheepskins.

email me at mkdickson (at) gmail (dot) (com).