Comfort trade-off. Any ideas?

I am thinking of doing a mini overland expedition to Morocco in the autumn so have been thinking.

I am quite tall (1.87m) and the seating position in my 90 isn't the most comfortable. I don't particularly mind but this could be more of an issue whilst overlanding. I have removed the rear bulkhead (partially) and fitted seat sliders so I have leg room. Now the issue is the seat is raised and I can't see very far out of the side window without leaning forward and down as otherwise I see the top of the door frame. Not a problem in itself but I have a bad back.

Any ideas? Or should I just man up and get on with it?

p.s. I have bought a set of RX8 seats off ebay to see if this will help.

I have thought before what the defender needs is a rear fuel tank and the seat box totally removing with some air suspended truck seats fitted on the now flat floor apart from the trans tunnel, would need some careful measuring before cutting!

Could you remove a bit of foam off the seat base?(remove from the lower/base so you still retain the sides)
Replace a bit bit denser foam if you “bottom”. Out

lynall said:

I have thought before what the defender needs is a rear fuel tank and the seat box totally removing with some air suspended truck seats fitted on the now flat floor apart from the trans tunnel, would need some careful measuring before cutting!

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Handbrake drum can get in the way..

Hicap phill said:

Handbrake drum can get in the way..

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Damnit I knew there would be something!

That’s why the motor had extra set of callipers attached to the rear axle for A handbrake

I think you may just have to man up. But I'd lower the seat again. I'm 6ft (180cm) and I find the standard all the way back seat position to be adequate, especially when.i consider the leg stretch for the clutch.

I would fit series 3 or early 90/110 "Delux" seats. Found them better than the later 90 seats.

lynall said:

I have thought before what the defender needs is a rear fuel tank and the seat box totally removing with some air suspended truck seats fitted on the now flat floor apart from the trans tunnel, would need some careful measuring before cutting!

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Mine has a rear tank (td5) but I'm not very confident reworking the seat box.

Pappasmurf said:

I think you may just have to man up. But I'd lower the seat again. I'm 6ft (180cm) and I find the standard all the way back seat position to be adequate, especially when.i consider the leg stretch for the clutch.

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I will definitely try that...

Hicap phill said:

That’s why the motor had extra set of callipers attached to the rear axle for A handbrake

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Dont think hydraulic handbrakes are legal?

lynall said:

Dont think hydraulic handbrakes are legal?

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Can't imagine so. More room for failure

lynall said:

Dont think hydraulic handbrakes are legal?

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No they are not legal... but it’s not a road motor
I think you can put old rover 200 callipers on to use a cable if needed

Take a Discovery instead....

Pappasmurf said:

I think you may just have to man up. But I'd lower the seat again. I'm 6ft (180cm) and I find the standard all the way back seat position to be adequate, especially when.i consider the leg stretch for the clutch.

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I would agree with this. I am als 6ft, I have the bulkhead in place and a dog guard so I cannot even move the seat as far back as I can without the dog guard. I think (for me at least) the standard seats are very good IF in good condition. Mine is my daily drive and I am now so used to the seating position that when I drive other cars I adjust the seat to be as close as possible to the bolt upright close driving position I have in the 110 rather than the reclined lay down position most other cars seem to favour. I have done morocco twice and found that on both times that after the first day you are used to the seats and seating position and it is no longer and issue. I also had no problems with the seating position for the longer legs of the journey, both times we did the midlands to the ferry in Algeciras (via Dover/Calais) in 36 hours. the first couple of legs of the journey down you noticed, but after that it settled down, your body was used to it and it didn't cause any more problems.

However, without wishing to insult you @mikerajjers, you may be slightly older than I am. I have learnt that being under 30 makes me at the lower end of the forum demographic . I do not know how much route planning you have done yet but can share the route I did with you if it would be helpful.

I’m a smidge taller than you, seat all the way back then tilted back a bit and just excepted the fact it I looked right I could see nothing but door piller and had to put my head forward and then look.

i am 186cm tall, and 16 stone, and i tried some mud rails, but the put the top of the door frame in my eye line, hopeless, so i took them out. 7 years later i have just gotten used to the standard seat position actually

dag019 said:

have done morocco twice and found that on both times that after the first day you are used to the seats and seating position and it is no longer and issue. I also had no problems with the seating position for the longer legs of the journey, both times we did the midlands to the ferry in Algeciras (via Dover/Calais) in 36 hours. the first couple of legs of the journey down you noticed, but after that it settled down, your body was used to it and it didn't cause any more problems.

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Did you go solo? Or did you go as part of an organised group. I have been considering booking a space on one if the Ardent Ardent 4x4 tours but am a little hesitant as it costs 2000gbp with not very much included. I am researching whether to go alone with just me and my brother taking two cars. I spoke to a guy today and he said Morocco is quite well suited for over landing and the locals tend to be very helpful.

mikerajjers said:

Did you go solo? Or did you go as part of an organised group. I have been considering booking a space on one if the Ardent Ardent 4x4 tours but am a little hesitant as it costs 2000gbp with not very much included. I am researching whether to go alone with just me and my brother taking two cars. I spoke to a guy today and he said Morocco is quite well suited for over landing and the locals tend to be very helpful.

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I looked at the groups and then decided that you pay all that money just to play follow the leader and do not get anything else. Both time I went I went alone with friend and two vehicles. I did a lot of research, a lot of which turned out to be quite outdated, and planed a route from that. I am happy to share my route via pm if people are interested. And can link the Wikiloc trails I followed and the ones I created. Broadly speaking the last route I did was as follows (Apologies for spelling done from memory:
Tangier’s med to chefchouen
Then down to midelt via the cedar forest.
Midelt to the dades gorge
Gorge to erg chebbi
Erg chebbi to Zagora
Zagora to the coast via ait benhadou
Then work your way up the coast.
Whole thing was two weeks and three weekends and about 6k miles. So a lot of driving.First and last weekend was the journey non Stop through France and Spain. I do have a full written itinary with coordinates, Wikiloc links and campsites we stayed at if it would help.

dag019 said:

I looked at the groups and then decided that you pay all that money just to play follow the leader and do not get anything else. Both time I went I went alone with friend and two vehicles. I did a lot of research, a lot of which turned out to be quite outdated, and planed a route from that. I am happy to share my route via pm if people are interested. And can link the Wikiloc trails I followed and the ones I created. Broadly speaking the last route I did was as follows (Apologies for spelling done from memory:
Tangier’s med to chefchouen
Then down to midelt via the cedar forest.
Midelt to the dades gorge
Gorge to erg chebbi
Erg chebbi to Zagora
Zagora to the coast via ait benhadou
Then work your way up the coast.
Whole thing was two weeks and three weekends and about 6k miles. So a lot of driving.First and last weekend was the journey non Stop through France and Spain. I do have a full written itinary with coordinates, Wikiloc links and campsites we stayed at if it would help.

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If you are happy to share your route that would be very kind. I have been looking at ferries from Genoa to Tangiers Med to save me the drive through France and Spain and it seems like a good option. I live in Slovakia so I would be going from there.