So let me start off by saying i am 6'5 185 and the RL is the most comfortable car i have ever owned. The last car i had was also a TSX (06) and before that was a 2000 TL. Between the TL and the TSX the TSX was more comfortable. Coming from an Acura i wanted something that rode as good as the TSX did. The closet thing i could find truck-wise was the Canyon. That was until i looked at the RL. I am amazed how you find the RL is so uncomfortable for you. I think its much better than the TSX and TL combined. My dad has 3 herniated discs and he finds the RL the most comfortable on his back. So, for me to hear that you find it uncomfortable is beyond me. I am sorry to hear that.
Lower back pain from seats becoming intolerable
First off, let me start by saying that I'm 33 years old and have never had back problems. I sit on the couch in any awkward position, slouch in my desk chair at work, walk all day, whatever. I've never had any back issues other than the occasional "man, I must have slept funny" when I first wake up. My RTL is the 10th vehicle I've owned. Most recently has been a '13 VW GTI, '11 Nissan Frontier, and an '06 Acura TSX that was my winter "beater" this past winter. I've never had a problem spending hours in any of my previous nine cars. Sure, some were more comfortable than others, but none of them ever caused me discomfort or pain.
My lower back gets sore and stiff after only 20 to 30 minutes in my Ridgeline. After 45 or 50 minutes I start to squirm and find myself trying to stretch. I've done everything I can think of to play with the seat adjustment. I've raised it as high as possible, lowered it all the way down, played with the tilt, reclined until I could barely reach the steering wheel, sat up like a little old lady, and played with the lumbar many times. Thinking it may be the stupidly high left food dead pedal, I've tried pulling my left leg in and keeping my knee bent more. For the past couple of weeks, I try the new settings for an entire commute to work to give it a chance. My commute varies from 35-50min depending on traffic.
I'm 5'9" and ~185 lbs so I'd say I'm pretty average. I usually tend to sit slightly more upright (seat back more vertical) than most people ever since being taught in a racing driving school the importance of being able to reach the top of the steering wheel without locking your elbows. But like I said, I've tried every other position too.
Tomorrow will mark one month since I took delivery. If I can't remedy this soon, I may actually start looking at trading the truck in. My fiance will probably shoot me for doing so, but I can't bear sitting in something this uncomfortable anymore. Especially when I spend upwards of two hours a day commuting and driving for work.
Has anyone else experienced anything similar with their G2 RL or any other vehicle? Any suggestions?
My lower back gets sore and stiff after only 20 to 30 minutes in my Ridgeline. After 45 or 50 minutes I start to squirm and find myself trying to stretch. I've done everything I can think of to play with the seat adjustment. I've raised it as high as possible, lowered it all the way down, played with the tilt, reclined until I could barely reach the steering wheel, sat up like a little old lady, and played with the lumbar many times. Thinking it may be the stupidly high left food dead pedal, I've tried pulling my left leg in and keeping my knee bent more. For the past couple of weeks, I try the new settings for an entire commute to work to give it a chance. My commute varies from 35-50min depending on traffic.
I'm 5'9" and ~185 lbs so I'd say I'm pretty average. I usually tend to sit slightly more upright (seat back more vertical) than most people ever since being taught in a racing driving school the importance of being able to reach the top of the steering wheel without locking your elbows. But like I said, I've tried every other position too.
Tomorrow will mark one month since I took delivery. If I can't remedy this soon, I may actually start looking at trading the truck in. My fiance will probably shoot me for doing so, but I can't bear sitting in something this uncomfortable anymore. Especially when I spend upwards of two hours a day commuting and driving for work.
Has anyone else experienced anything similar with their G2 RL or any other vehicle? Any suggestions?
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Do you go to a chiropractor? Maybe something else is going on. Can use a different car to rule out if this is a new issue?
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Never been to a chiropractor in my life because I've never had a need for one.Do you go to a chiropractor? Maybe something else is going on. Can use a different car to rule out if this is a new issue?
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I mentioned this to my retired mother this evening and she said I could borrow her '10 Impreza for a couple of days. I've driven it before and never had a problem so if the discomfort continues, I know it's not the car.
Do you have one of these???
Your wallet?
6'4" 250 something RL has been the only vehicle I can drive over 10 hours in.
Your wallet?
6'4" 250 something RL has been the only vehicle I can drive over 10 hours in.
Do you have one of these???
Your wallet?
6'4" 250 something RL has been the only vehicle I can drive over 10 hours in.
LOL I was laughing before I even watched the video. Love that scene!
My bifold wallet is pretty darn thing.
Have a few friends the chiropractor told them to lose the wallet sitting, it helped them....
I'm the opposite with my Ridge...I've been driving since '89 and this is the least fatiguing and most comfortable vehicle I've driven. The seat itself and the arm position on the seat armrest and the door armrest is perfect for me. I've done plenty of heavy lifting over the years at work, so my lower back isn't it the best shape, but I haven't had any trouble with the truck's seat when driving.
However, I don't usually drive more than 25 minutes for my commute so can't say about long drives though.
Hope you can figure out a good solution to your troubles.
However, I don't usually drive more than 25 minutes for my commute so can't say about long drives though.
Hope you can figure out a good solution to your troubles.
I drove a 99 CRV manual for 14 years. Stopped sitting on my wallet when I was in my twenties due to back pain. I'm 6'2" 42L I stay near 205lbs. I thought I wanted a new CRV so I tried that, still tight for my size. I couldn't fit my my leg under the parking brake. The ridge is super comfortable. I love the larger seat. I drive for a living and I type in my driver seat for hours everyday. No more T-Rex typing for this guy. If only I had a place to setup a larger display for my laptop....
I do love getting adjusted and would go weekly if I could afford it. I pay 25 per adjustment and I take my little girls with me to get adjusted as well. So I only go every month or so but it's worth it.
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I do love getting adjusted and would go weekly if I could afford it. I pay 25 per adjustment and I take my little girls with me to get adjusted as well. So I only go every month or so but it's worth it.
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You might try riding in the passenger seat for a similar amount of time and see if you have the same symptoms. High dead pedal on the left and extended right foot on the gas might cause some pelvic unleveling and some mechanical low back pain.
I can relate to what you are saying erikras. I'm 6'0 and over 250lbs. I had back surgery about 3 years ago for one of my herniated disks and stenosis in 3 vertebrea. My first drive with the Ridgeline was a long one from Northern California to Southern California. Like you say after an hour I just started to feel uncomfortable and kept moving in my seat. My lower back was uncomfortable, it seemed to want to spasm.
I've had the truck almost 3 months now. I found that reclining the seat back slightly and moving it back a bit helped considerably. I'm also convinced that the seat is firmer than in other vehicles I have driven and I'm pretty sure that's part of the reason it becomes uncomfortable after a long drive. My previous car is a 05 Subaru Legacy which is small for me but had very good seats. I also drive my wife's newer Dodge Durango and have had no problems in either vehicle. The seat bottom is more confortable on those vehicles than on the Ridgeline. I think you should keep trying different positions. The more upright, the more stress on your lower back. I spent a good amount of time on a recliner during recovery after my back surgery. I loved that thing. Reclining makes a big difference.
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I've had the truck almost 3 months now. I found that reclining the seat back slightly and moving it back a bit helped considerably. I'm also convinced that the seat is firmer than in other vehicles I have driven and I'm pretty sure that's part of the reason it becomes uncomfortable after a long drive. My previous car is a 05 Subaru Legacy which is small for me but had very good seats. I also drive my wife's newer Dodge Durango and have had no problems in either vehicle. The seat bottom is more confortable on those vehicles than on the Ridgeline. I think you should keep trying different positions. The more upright, the more stress on your lower back. I spent a good amount of time on a recliner during recovery after my back surgery. I loved that thing. Reclining makes a big difference.
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If you determine it is the Ridgeline at fault, here are some thoughts, getting progressively more expensive....
1) drive without wallet in pants
2) go to WallyWorld, near kitchen section, and get one of those seat cushions to sit on
3) ask your chiropractor for a recommendation for a better cushion to sit on (gel?)
4) get 17" wheels with taller tire sidewall for cushier ride...avoid stiff performance or off-road tires
5) install different seats
6) install softer Springs (custom) and lose some payload/towing capacity
7) trade in the Ridgeline for a large luxury car known more for ride than handling*
*isn't it interesting how we are always limited in our choices? Back in the 70s and 80s, most large cars road like a boat, very isolated from the road....mostly only the small foreign cars had a stiff sporty ride, or something like a TransAm that felt like it might break something when you crossed railroad tracks too fast. Now, all cars are tuned to have a sporty ride and you can't find that isolated floaty ride anymore. My guess is that it would be too dangerous (handling) at today's highway speeds for some drivers.
1) drive without wallet in pants
2) go to WallyWorld, near kitchen section, and get one of those seat cushions to sit on
3) ask your chiropractor for a recommendation for a better cushion to sit on (gel?)
4) get 17" wheels with taller tire sidewall for cushier ride...avoid stiff performance or off-road tires
5) install different seats
6) install softer Springs (custom) and lose some payload/towing capacity
7) trade in the Ridgeline for a large luxury car known more for ride than handling*
*isn't it interesting how we are always limited in our choices? Back in the 70s and 80s, most large cars road like a boat, very isolated from the road....mostly only the small foreign cars had a stiff sporty ride, or something like a TransAm that felt like it might break something when you crossed railroad tracks too fast. Now, all cars are tuned to have a sporty ride and you can't find that isolated floaty ride anymore. My guess is that it would be too dangerous (handling) at today's highway speeds for some drivers.
It's funny, I had the same issue in my sons '04 Pilot when we took it on vacation this summer. He did most of the driving but I drove it about 2 hours into Hilton Head. After about 30 minutes I could not get comfortable. Like you I adjusted everything but my lower back still complained. I have kept my wallet in my front left pocket for may years so that wasn't the issue. I found an excuse to stop and get out for a bit and that helped a lot.
I don't think it was the ride or suspension as the Pilot seems to be a lot more cushy than my Ridgeline. I did find reclining it slightly was the most tolerable. And I too suspect the position of the left foot rest had something to do with it. It seemed a shorter distance in the pilot.
I have driven my '06 Ridge for 4+ hours non stop with no problems.
I don't think it was the ride or suspension as the Pilot seems to be a lot more cushy than my Ridgeline. I did find reclining it slightly was the most tolerable. And I too suspect the position of the left foot rest had something to do with it. It seemed a shorter distance in the pilot.
I have driven my '06 Ridge for 4+ hours non stop with no problems.
Lose the wallet and, how do you have your seat adjusted? Years ago i had a physical therapist tell me to always adjust your seat so your knees are lower than your hips. I find our BE extremely comfortable.
Like others have said, I started removing my wallet from my back pocket and it has helped a lot. My RL is far more comfortable than my wifes Forester seats. I also realized that if I recline the back of the seat, just a little farther than normal, the discomfort quickly disappears. Still not as comfortable as my 2004 4runner, but pretty damn close.
Like you. 2011 frontier and now ridgeline. I thought the frontier seats were great but I find the ridgeline even better. My wifes 2011 Highlander were way to firm. Would get road weary after about an hour. Owned an Oldsmobile Aurora for a short time that couldn't stand to drive over forty miles. My back would be killing me. Sounds like you need to get your back checked out by a neurologist. You might check this out. I have one which causes me some lower back discomfort. Synovial Cyst in the Lumbar Spine They are pretty common.
I hate to tell you but there's nothing wrong with the seats. Perhaps the seat is exposing a problem with your back that has nothing to do with the seat though. Aging sucks and the older you get the more you need to move and stretch otherwise these problems creep up.
Look up hyperextensions (back extensions). Do those with no weight at first, then later add weight slowly. I do them with a 45lb plate.
Yoga does wonders for the body, as does core strength/balance training, but most men are way too embarrassed to try it.
I'm 6'5" 285 and I find it pretty comfortable. I'm coming from a '12 Evo with the Recaro seats that I found very comfortable. I've been on a few drives of 90+ minutes and what I've done is setup two different seating configs using the programmable seats so I can easily swap between the two for longer trips. I never ever drive with my wallet in my pocket because it's uncomfortable and I usually move the seat around slightly every 30 minutes or so on longer drives. I found that even a half inch forward and lowering the seat a half inch then pulling my left foot towards my body to get my knee raised slightly helps quite a bit.
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