Anyone else notice this strange seating problem with GM Trucks?

[cc102bob]

So I'm thinking of upgrading my set of wheels and would like to get some form of full size pickup in a more recent vintage. Because I'm very tall (6' 10"), I can't just take it for granted that I'll be comfortable in a vehicle just because it's big. I've started the process of sitting in different trucks to find out which ones would work for me and which wouldn't. Doing that led me to an interesting discovery about GM trucks...

A week ago I had time to stop at a Chevy dealer and sit in some new 1/2 ton trucks and found that the head and leg room was good, but when I put the seat in the position where I was comfortable, my left shoulder was pressed very firmly against the door pillar. I found this to be rather annoying. They happened to have a 3/4 ton truck on the lot as well so I tried that one with the same results. I found this kind of strange because I have a friend with a 2022 GM 2500 AT4 and I've ridden with him a few times and I'm comfortable in the passenger seat because the pillar is not pressed against my shoulder.

Well, this weekend I was visiting with the friend that has the Chevy truck and I mentioned that to him and he told me to sit in his driver's seat. Sure enough, the pillar was pressed hard against my shoulder. It appears that for some reason the driver's and passenger's seat positions in the GM trucks are not the same. Why would they do something like that?

And yeah, it pretty much sucks to be this tall. Sigh.

[Qwkynuf]

Originally Posted by cc102bob

So I'm thinking of upgrading my set of wheels and would like to get some form of full size pickup in a more recent vintage. Because I'm very tall (6' 10"), I can't just take it for granted that I'll be comfortable in a vehicle just because it's big. I've started the process of sitting in different trucks to find out which ones would work for me and which wouldn't. Doing that led me to an interesting discovery about GM trucks...

A week ago I had time to stop at a Chevy dealer and sit in some new 1/2 ton trucks and found that the head and leg room was good, but when I put the seat in the position where I was comfortable, my left shoulder was pressed very firmly against the door pillar. I found this to be rather annoying. They happened to have a 3/4 ton truck on the lot as well so I tried that one with the same results. I found this kind of strange because I have a friend with a 2022 GM 2500 AT4 and I've ridden with him a few times and I'm comfortable in the passenger seat because the pillar is not pressed against my shoulder.

Well, this weekend I was visiting with the friend that has the Chevy truck and I mentioned that to him and he told me to sit in his driver's seat. Sure enough, the pillar was pressed hard against my shoulder. It appears that for some reason the driver's and passenger's seat positions in the GM trucks are not the same. Why would they do something like that?

And yeah, it pretty much sucks to be this tall. Sigh.

Not related to your truck issue (which probably has to do with the driver's seat likely having more travel to the rear than the passenger), but I travel almost weekly for my job, flying all over the US to do my work.

I am only 5'9" and have wished to be taller *many* times over the course of my life. That said, of all of the times that I have wished I was taller... none of them were on a commercial aircraft!

Good luck in your search!

[cc102bob]

Originally Posted by Qwkynuf

I am only 5'9" and have wished to be taller *many* times over the course of my life. That said, of all of the times that I have wished I was taller... none of them were on a commercial aircraft!

Heh. I enjoy the experience of flying, but I despise the experience of being a sardine that comes along with that. I decided long ago that pretty much the only reason I would ever get on a plane again was if someone had a gun to my head.

Oh, and I don't think the seat problem is due to the driver's seat going back farther. On both sides the pillar is right next to my shoulder, but on the passenger's side it is just touching, not pressed up tight.

[5picker]

I've not sit in a new GM truck but it may have something to do with the pillar air bag and the cocoon of safety they are trying to form in an accident, especially for the driver.

[cc102bob]

Originally Posted by 5picker

I've not sit in a new GM truck but it may have something to do with the pillar air bag and the cocoon of safety they are trying to form in an accident, especially for the driver.

My friend and I wondered if it might have something to do with airbags. I didn't think about looking over his truck well enough to see if I could tell if there was an air bag on the driver's pillar, but not the passenger's pillar. It seems strange to me that they would only put an air bag on one side and not the other, but I guess stranger things have been done.

[Dan_Frisbie]

If you’re not looking for a new truck, the 87-99 trucks had more front seat room than any truck I have ever experienced. I’m 6’3”, so a bit less than you, but my 95 and 98 trucks both had more legroom than I could use…

[cc102bob]

Originally Posted by Dan_Frisbie

If you’re not looking for a new truck, the 87-99 trucks had more front seat room than any truck I have ever experienced. I’m 6’3”, so a bit less than you, but my 95 and 98 trucks both had more legroom than I could use…

I have been contemplating hunting down an older creampuff truck for use as a daily driver. I live in the rust belt, so it's a bit more of a challenge to find a good unit as I have to travel some distance to get to a rust-free zone. If I decide to get a heavy duty truck capable of pulling my RV, then I want to stick with one of the newer rigs with all that sweet, sweet power...

[AlaskaErik]

I'm 6' 2" and broad shouldered and I don't have any problems fitting in my Silverado. I do notice I have more room in this generation model than I had in the previous generation.

[Guspech750]

Maybe the seat is adjusted to it max height? I’m assuming they are powered.

[tweiss3]

3 seat front bench or the 2 bucket seats with console? I ask because my wife and I don't seem to like the center consoles that are almost standard now in the Silverados. Only way out is to get a WT or Custom, then you loose options we were interested in.

I drive a Silverado WT and don't have the conflict with the pillar, but I have the 3 seat front bench.

[cc102bob]

All of the GM trucks I've sat in have been the 2 bucket seat with console arrangement, which is my preferred setup. Adjusting the power seat to its lowest position doesn't change anything for me. My friend's truck has a sunroof, so I need to have the seat fairly low to give me enough headroom. I don't think I could have lowered it much farther, so I doubt doing so would help.

[Draggo]

I'm 6'4" and haven't noticed that with my HD GMC but now I'll be paying attention next time I get in it to see.

[yukongold]

Originally Posted by cc102bob

Why would they do something like that?

Not a one-off problem. I think dumb design flaws are pretty common.

Years ago - perhaps 15-20 - I drove a co-workers RAM to pick up materials for the job. The drivers seat was not centered with the steering wheel. I felt like the steering wheel was 2-3 inches to the right of my center. Drove me nuts. I don't know if it was just his truck or a common issue but I've never been partial to RAM since. (Though I have had and liked several Chrysler auto products. The best car I ever owned was a 1968 Dodge. Wish I still had it.)

[cc102bob]

Originally Posted by Draggo

I'm 6'4" and haven't noticed that with my HD GMC but now I'll be paying attention next time I get in it to see.

Make sure you sit in both the driver's and passenger's seats to get a good comparison. I suspect most people would not notice the difference because they don't have hard contact with either pillar, but I'm guessing if you are thinking about it and check closely, you'll notice a difference.

I just happen to be in the 99th percentile when it comes to size, so I find all the problems...

[aircommuter]

My son bought my old 96 Dodge and put 300k miles on it and he was 6’7 with a 54” chest. Never had a problem. But like someone said those were roomy cabs. The V10 had plenty of power. Personally I like the old simple vehicles.

[cc102bob]

Originally Posted by aircommuter

My son bought my old 96 Dodge and put 300k miles on it and he was 6’7 with a 54” chest. Never had a problem. But like someone said those were roomy cabs. The V10 had plenty of power. Personally I like the old simple vehicles.

I wish someone made a 6 or 8 speed transmission for my 96 Dodge. The three speed transmission is the biggest drawback to that rig and if I could swap that out I might not ever upgrade my rig.

[aircommuter]

Originally Posted by cc102bob

I wish someone made a 6 or 8 speed transmission for my 96 Dodge. The three speed transmission is the biggest drawback to that rig and if I could swap that out I might not ever upgrade my rig.

I have seen conversions with a 6 speed Allison, not sure where they got the parts. When I was a younger guy we used to make our own adapters, some mill work, some lathe work and some heat treatment we shipped out. We were using 4 speed hydramatics in place of 2 speed power glides. Also added a 1-2 shift valve because lowest position was 1-2, we wanted to be able to hold in 1 longer.
Biggest drawback was they didn’t have torque converters just fluid coupling.

[gambo2166]

I have a 2022 2500 Silverado. I just went out and both seat are the same to the b pillar. I think your left arm is just more pumped.

[Scottnweeze]

Originally Posted by gambo2166

I have a 2022 2500 Silverado. I just went out and both seat are the same to the b pillar. I think your left arm is just more pumped.

Not pumped or tall, but the cab of my refreshed Trail Boss is cozy. At your height you might consider just taking out the damn seat and driving from the back!!

[cc102bob]

Originally Posted by gambo2166

I have a 2022 2500 Silverado. I just went out and both seat are the same to the b pillar. I think your left arm is just more pumped.

Hmm... My left side faces my wife when we are sleeping and she hits me a lot to get me to quit making noise. Maybe my left arm is always swollen and I've just gotten used to it.