REAR SEAT ROOM DEFENDER

[4runnernomore]

Hi all,

I have a question regarding rear seat in defenders.

I am an Aussie bloke over 6 foot and qite broad across the shoulders. I sat in a 110 dual cab the other day and was checking it for room. the front drivers seat position was very cocoon like for me. The rear seat not a hope in hell. I could barely get in. I have two teenage boys that are nearly 6 foot now. I wanted to to try a wagon for seating room but there were none availalbe.

Is there more room in a 110 wagon, or are the 110 DC ute and wagon the same?

Does the seatback actually lay back further or is it as upright as the ute. If they are the same I pity any one trying to driver a distance sitting in the rear of a 110 DC ute taht has an Aussie build or is tall.

[trailcutter]

cant comment on the rear seat..i find it fine tho...i am 6,2 and find the drivers seat much to my suprise ,,the most comfortable drive i have eva had ,,, in fact i dread driving my mrs subaru forrester now ,,and i thought it was comfortable ,,,,,,,,,

110,seating is cosy,, but ergos r bloody majic,,,,,,,,,,,,cheers

[Rayngie]

A friend of mine has just been through this process, he's 5'10 and was very keen for a 110DC, hopped in one and put his 5yr old boy in the back, took it for a drive...and bought a Patrol.

He figured that while the boy fits now....he's got a lot of years growing left.

i'm 6'4 and broad shouldered and just could'nt drive one..i used one for a few days to see if i could get used to one...no chance, just can't get comfortable.

cheers,

Ray

[LandyAndy]

Im with Ray.
We recently bought a TD5 Defender.Its the good ladys vehicle.
No good for a big bloke like myself.
Look a a D2,just as capable off-road,VERY comfortable.
LOVE MINE!!!!
Andrew

[d@rk51d3]

I guess it's one of those things you need to try out.
spoke to Dad on the phone the other day. He's visiting family in Exmouth, and took their 95 130dc from Perth up. He reckons it's more comfy than his 03 D2a.

Personally I find the Discos pretty awful to sit in, front or back. Although I probably prefer the D1 out of the two ........... leather may be another story.

EDIT *****
To answer the question, I've been told that there is less seating room in th dc than the wagon.

[abaddonxi]

Tall drivers and Defenders seem to be a mixed bag, some love it, some hate it. I've come to think that it's all about proportions. If you're longer in the leg than the torso, then I reckon you'll have problems. Most of which can be solved by 1" square steel tube under either side of the seat.

Or so forum wisdom says.

I'm 6'2" and prefer the seats in a Defender or County over several flavours of Subaru, and a VW Caravelle. And never needed rails to adjust seating position.

Dunno about 110 dual cabs, but in a 130 DC the rear seats are mounted on a metal box which limits the space for your feet - or the apparent space for your feet. In a 110 there is nothing but space under the second row seats.

[LandyAndy]

I guess it's one of those things you need to try out.
spoke to Dad on the phone the other day. He's visiting family in Exmouth, and took their 95 130dc from Perth up. He reckons it's more comfy than his 03 D2a.

Personally I find the Discos pretty awful to sit in, front or back. Although I probably prefer the D1 out of the two ........... leather may be another story.

EDIT *****
To answer the question, I've been told that there is less seating room in th dc than the wagon.

Cant see HOW they can be more comfy.
Seating,Noise,AirCon,Cruise,ETC ETC ETC.
Andrew

[rick130]

Tall drivers and Defenders seem to be a mixed bag, some love it, some hate it. I've come to think that it's all about proportions. If you're longer in the leg than the torso, then I reckon you'll have problems. Most of which can be solved by 1" square steel tube under either side of the seat.

Or so forum wisdom says.

[snip]


Ditto.

Getting OT a bit here (never been driven around while in the back of the DC)
I'm 6'2" as well and very much long legs/short torso.
The seat rail is raised 22mm and the driving position is excellent, much more comfortable for me than the GU Patrol that lives here too.

[rick130]

Cant see HOW they can be more comfy.
Seating,Noise,AirCon,Cruise,ETC ETC ETC.
Andrew

Geez, are you a man or a Disco driver Andy ? :p


:angel:

[ugu80]

I'm 185cm tall (for goodness sake, we've been on the metric system for over 40 years now). I placed 25mm spacers under the front bolts of the drivers seat (lifting the front of the squab only). I found this increased angle the most comfortable compromise, rather than evenly lifting the whole seat. Worth a try if your fiddling around with seat height.

[slug_burner]

I don't get to travel in the back of the defender that often. The times I have sat in the back of the wagon I found it a bit tight and the seats are not as comfy as the front ones. The fact that they fold away to increase the load space means that they cannot be that thick.

In a series 3 wagon I saw a bloke who had placed buckets in the back, increased leg space at the expense of load space, left room between the buckets for the 40l engle.

If your boys are going to ride in the back they will thank you not to get the defender of any type, the back seats are only for emergency and short runs.

Sounds like you might need to look at a D3 or 4 as I expect these vehicles more recent design may have considered ergonomics, more so than for a utaliterian vehicle like the defender.

[VladTepes]

Find a wagon and try it. They are definitely a better option for regular passengers than a dual cab ute.

Having said that it may still not suit - you will have to try in order to ascertain that.

[scott oz]

OK,

I’m only 6 ft and very rarely get in the back of my TD5 Wagon. And when I am it’s because I reneged on the designated driver.:) To me the problem is the “foot” room or lack of. No amount of seat adjustment will alter the floor pan layout. My size 11 shoe will not fit straight between the back of the front seat box and the floor pan rise where the back seats mount. This means your legs are always at an angle if you know what I mean.

My kids all grown up and wife (still young) all hate the back but love the Def (wife exception). If you have BIG kids and it’s the family car and you’re going to do long trips then the Disco is a serious consideration in my view (had a 200TDI). Camping though can’t beat the Def. If it’s your car get the Def.

Oh, long live Imperial the Monarchy and LR.:angel:

[danske]

I find the seating position very good, I have the recaros though with the SVX. Im 6.2 and broad shouldered , so no real issue for me. I did put seat extenders from Mulgo in , and they have been excellent for my longer legs. The rear seats in the wagon do lay back alittle further in my opinion as I was originallly loooking at a DC over a wagon. SVX became available , and I took that immediately.

I have an O3 disco and 92 vougue RR , and the defender is the most ergonomically correct for my body type and therefore comfortable , particualry on long trips ( I do 120kms per day during the week). PLus i couldnt look at a patrol or tojo , just not enough character for me. :D

[Chucaro]

I am also 1.85 m tall and after having a Disco 1 a found the Defender more comfortable.
The rear seats are different and I would say dangerous off road for a person over 1.80 m tall. The head will be rubbing on the ceiling and will be easy to hurt the neck in a rough road.
I would no seat on them :(
I just wonder if they can be bring down by cutting the legs about 50mm without upsetting the ergonomics to much.

[rainman]

I agree with scott oz. The lack of foot room in the back of the DC is more of an issue for me, and I only have size 9 feet.

Additionally the DC seems to have the opposite problem that Chucaro is talking about with the wagon - the seats are too low so you feel like you're sitting on the pillion seat on a sports bike. I'm hoping to possibly extend the seat mounts to raise the back seat.

Still, the back seat is really only for the dog and any crusty mountain bikers who are bumming a lift, so I'm not that concerned. The less comfortable they are, the less they will ask ;).