Ford is replacing my '03 and I am going through the ordering checklist. One thing I have a question about is the front seat configuration. I have Captains Chairs now, but am a little disappointed in the size of the armrests. I am tall and it seems my elbow fits best on the end of the rest which is not very comfortable. Also, when I adjust the seat, the armrest seems to angle downward all the time which is also not very comfortable. Has anyone switched from Captains Chairs to the Bench Front Seat (40/20/40) with the middle fold down cupholder/armrest? The armrest looks nice and big. I just wondered if it was situated too high to be comfortable.
My '99 had the bench. My '03 has the captains chairs.
The bench is flatter and not as supportive. I think that the captains chairs have a little firmer foam too. The chairs are definitely more comfy. Around town it won't matter much, but on long x-country drives, the softer foam makes your butt go numb.
Can't tell you about the armrest. I don't really use them and I am a runt, so it fits me fine.
I've had both. My 99.5 had captain's chairs and my 2000 has 40/20/40. I personally like the look of the captain's chairs / center console setup better. BUT, I think the 40/20/40 is much more comfortable to drive. With the center section folded down it is a perfect arm rest. On long cruises you can set the cruise and darn near lay on it.
I got the bench seats so we could ride 6 if needed, but they are comfortable on long trips and the center flip down console/armrest is comfortable and in the right location. I'm 6' tall and my wife is 5'3" and we both like it.
Harold
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2003 F350 Lariat,DRW,6.0L,Torqueshift,4x4,Crew Cab,Grey/Black 4.10LS Axle,Long Bed, Bed Liner,Eng.Build Date 3/18/2003,Jordan Brake Controller
2000 Explorer XLS 4x4 4.0L 5R55E Trans 3.73 Axle
1994 Explorer XLT 4x4 4.0L A4LD Trans 3.73LS Axle
1988 F250 Lariat 460 5spd 4x4 supercab long bed
1986 F350 XL DRW Reg Cab 6.9L 4spd 2wd (sold)
1984 Bronco XLT 351 HO C6 3.55L Axle (sold)
1979 F150 Reg. Cab 4x4 300 4spd long bed 3.50LS Axle 4" lift 10.50x33/15 BFG Mud Terrains
1986 John Deere 750 Compact tractor
I had captains chairs in a 99 1/2 ton and also in a '01 350. On long trips I kept adjusting the seat. I finally realized that the arm rest was buggin' me. Now my '02 has the bench up front which is really 2 bucket seats with a /20/ in the middle. The fold down is much more confortable than the captains arm rests. As long as Ford uses this style of bench seats I will not go back to captains.
It's ironic that you asked this question .. I am getting ready to place my order and had to make a decision on this too.
I took Petunia down to the local lot and we sat in both. We decided on the split bench over the the buckets. We both liked the fold down armrest/cup holder/storage bin instead of the center console.
Petunia also liked the fact that the center seat gave her more room for her "stuff." [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img]
She likes to carry maps and notes and magazines and .. well, you get the picture. All that stuff will still slide under the armrest/cup holder/storage bin.
Hey .. how come there aren't any 12v power outlets or cig lighter in the rear on a Crew Cab? [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]
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She likes to carry maps and notes and magazines and .. well, you get the picture. All that stuff will still slide under the armrest/cup holder/storage bin.
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... and it will slide right on out into the back of the cab, if the seatback is folded down! This is one feature that was done better on the '97, where the bulges in the two seat halves still meet to close that gap when the back is folded down. If you start with something tall and wide (box of tissues?) at the back to plug the gap, then it is indeed a very big extra storage space. I think some people have sewn a mesh net type thing across the gap too, because that will just fold up when you put the seatback up.
Duncan
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The seats are the same with captains as with the bench. Its only the center section that is different. My old F150 had captain chairs and from day one I hated that tiny armrest that is the same in the super duty. I got the bench for this reason and love the armrest. Its huge and your arm wont be sliding off of it. I had to special order to get the bench around here.
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... and it will slide right on out into the back of the cab, if the seatback is folded down
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Yep. Happened to me all the time.
No way the fold down armrest with the bench is bigger than the center console. The console in my X (I think that they are the same)is huge. There is a power outlet too. I put an electric cooler on the back seat. In my SD, I had to run the power cord up under the flip down console and over to the dash. It was a pain and I always getting tangled up in it.
The center console is also easier to climb over if you want to get into the back seat (it's not what you are thinking [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]).
I see the point with the arm rest. It just was never an issue with me.
I can't comment on the bench and the captains being the same seat. They definitely were not on my 2 F150s.
The other objective I had was to configure the best front seat for my lab, Moose. With the '04 CC having the folding rear seat and load floor, I can put him in the back and fold up the front middle seat back to contain him during a trip. He can climb through the gap between my Captains Chairs now.
I know, but at least the seat back would block him until he calms down. Now, its one leap and he's in dad's lap...all 90 lbs of him. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]
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