Adding a headrest to a bench seat

[drumvirt]

Jermu97, you're talkin about jerry riggin' it so let's get creative...or a little crazy. Take a look at the underside of your wife or girlfriend's ironing board (keep those thoughts on straight now). Cut it where you want it. It's the right size, it's sturdy steel, and it even is on a slider for adjustment. With the right tools, I'll bet you could do it. Or, you could just read this for amusement and have a laugh!

What made me think of this is that my '96 F-150 4x4's driver's side of the bench seatback has a high back headrest made as an integral part of the seat, and it looks close to the same shape and size as what I think my description above would look like. I've never, ever, seen another one like it.

 

[Originalthor]

Just curious, does anyone actually "use" a headreast? I always just thought it was there to prevent whip lash... In my 46 years I've never set in a seat with my head just resting against the headrest....

So I got a buddy that drives with his head on the head rest the whole time. Then goes and put on sun glasses. I never noticed at first until we started going on longer trips. First time I thought he was napping. Scared the shot out me.

I am interested in putting head rest in my seats aswell for just the safety factors. 3 kids in the back and stupid drivers these days scare me.

I do like the role bar idea. I do plan on wheeling at some point if I ever get it done lol

 

[BadBowtie]

1988-1990 GM seats would all be low back anyways. 1991-94 is when the "safer" high backs came out.

 

[mibars]

I wonder do you have something like this available in the US? It is a slide-on headrest, an accessory from a 70's Fiat 126p. These slid onto factory low back seat and added some whiplash protection. When matched with the factory upholstery it looked like a seat with integrated headrest.

 

[Ricko1966]

Right what is up with only a 1/2 way recline?

I'm past my sleeping in the cars days, pretty much. I could still do it, but would just rather a motel room any more. I've actually got another rant that ties into this but I'm going to put it in the rant thread so as not to get to far off topic here. I'll tag ya.

The least comfortable way is sleeping on the bench seat in a truck with someone on top bunkbed style with no top bunk. Luckily Jennifer only weighed 100lbs. When my friends found us the next morning the were looking in the windows pointing and laughing like they'd never seen anything funnier.

 

[idahovette]

SLEEPING.......he says.......^^^^^^^^^

 

[mibars]

I'm currently using an addon headrest like I've shown above and I'm looking to move to actual integrated headrests, possibly swapping a whole bench seat if I find one in color. I never seen GMT400 front bench in person, they seem quite low back. Can somebody advise if the headrest is on actual head height or can it be adjusted for a 175 cm /5ft 9in person?

 

[yevgenievich]

I'm currently using an addon headrest like I've shown above and I'm looking to move to actual integrated headrests, possibly swapping a whole bench seat if I find one in color. I never seen GMT400 front bench in person, they seem quite low back. Can somebody advise if the headrest is on actual head height or can it be adjusted for a 175 cm /5ft 9in person?

Head rests on GMT 400 bench work for the height

 

[Buck69]

Giving this a bump.
Has anyone successfully added a headrest to the factory low back benches?
The bench in mine is in great shape and is very comfortable. They would make a great addition.
Have an uncle that was rear ended by a high speed cube van in his old ford pick up. His head went through the back window and he had to deal with a fractured neck and migraines for several years after that.

 

[yevgenievich]

A set in post 15 was previously used successfully. Available for sale if anyone wants to try, although blue is not axact match. Required disassembly of seat back and welding.