How do you deal with seat / back?

Oh heck, back aches aint no big deal. You just wait till monkey butt sets in on ya

 

Nsmoke, from you posts, I am assuming you are driving a rig with a fixed seat. BTDT, had the back ache to prove it!

Both seat cushions and a rolled towel have been suggested. One other thing you might try is to get a lumbar support cushion from a medical supply house.

Don't suppose your boss would spring for a replacement seat that actually has adjustments to it, would he? That is really the best answer. Perhaps you could find one from a boneyard at a reasonable price?

 

Believe it or not using powder in your shorts does help at letting your "butt" slide in the pants better and keeps the sweat down which causes discomfort.

Also use the lumbar support in the seat! Put as much air in it as you can and get used to it! It actually does help to keep your spine straight.

Then the adjustment of the seat is crucial in alleviating leg cramps, pain and blood clots!

adjust the seat up and down until your knees are actually above your hip joints. This means that your feet are on the floor when you do this. Also most seat bottoms if you grab the front will pivot forward and down. Try that position for a while.

Use the isolator switch! This switch allows the seat to "ride" forwards and backwards to stop most of the "jerking" that goes on in the truck. Some people keep it locked and will get tired from all of the jerking and will make the same complaint as wearing the seat belt! I don't like it ! Get used to it and you'll see that you won't get as tired with it riding!

You HAVE to get out of the seat every couple of hours! Blood clots WILL form no matter your age! Every 3 or so hours stop and walk! Not to mention the other advantages of stopping like waking up a little to doing a walk around and finding that wheel about to fall off or brake lining hanging by a spring!

Also DO NOT have the seat so far forward thinking you have to have your "short legs" where they can touch the fire wall! Get the seat as far back as you can from the wheel! Your arms need to be stretched out a little! You don't have to have the seat so far forward that it actually hinders your movements on the wheel especially if you need to move fast in an emergency! If your legs are so short you can make wooden blocks to attach to the pedals so you can sit back a few more inches! Also if that truck has air bags and you're sitting on the wheel you're in for a world of hurt if they deploy!

Now the seat belt. Yes, when they went to the 3 point shoulder strap it actually quit holding you in the seat. I loved the old lap belts as they kept your butt in the seat. It even kept your head out of the roof of cabovers on bumpy roads! Even in my Pete they helped! If you've never experienced having your head beating the ceiling of a truck go find an old cab over and go for a ride!

These few tips should help make your 11 hours behind the wheel a little more confortable as It took me years to learn them!

Good Luck
Rollover

 

I finally put those wood beads on my seat. Wife says I look like a taxi driver now. They allow air to circulate and I have been much more comfortable with them.

 

How positive are you about this? I just wonder because alot of guys who haul coal don't get out of their trucks and move around very much, seeing as im looking into getting into it, i would like to know how much sitting in your truck for 12-14hrs straight everyday would affect you? I also walk 2 miles a day, but always after work, not during.

 

I believe the idea here is not to chug a liter of water and then hit the road. Try replacing sodas with water and you'll be fine. Soda does not hydrate you and actually works in just the opposite manner. Your body uses water it already has to metabolize the sugars in the soda leaving you more dehydrated. Oh and there's always diabetes to look forward to if you can't put the soda down .

 

remove your wallet as it will create a pressure point (even empty like mine) also if you wear briefs try switching to boxers

 

You might check some medical websites, such as Dr. Koop. Google it.

AMEN! I have a real bad sciatic nerve due just to this. Well, that and having a Sam Browne pushing down on my hip for so many years...