Long Road Trips and Back Pain

[g e]

Originally Posted by RickyBobby

Thanks for all the tips, especially the one about taking your wallet out of your back pocket. I like those fat bi-fold wallets and keep in my left back pocket. Could be it's making me lean more to the right.

Years ago I was a tourist somewhere and it was advised to be careful of one's belongings due to pickpockets etc. so I put my wallet in my front pocket.

I realized I was much more comfortable when riding trains and buses with this arrangement and I continued the practice at home. Long car trips are much more comfortable without sitting on the wallet.

Several 700 + mile trips each way and the seats are great for me. As others note, it helps to stop every few hours and I walk around. Keeps one fresh and safer.

[FR-Sky]

I dont have this problem. The seat fit my waist pretty good.

[gramicci101]

I'm 6'5"/260 lbs, and I have no problem making several thousand mile road trips. When you stop for gas, stretch and walk around for a moment, but otherwise it's fine. Make sure your seat is adjusted properly. CSG Mike gave a quick rundown on how it should be set up. He was talking about tracking your car, but it still applies.

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?p=640248

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

Driver Prep:

Seat adjustment:
- First, put your butt all the way back in your seat, so that there is no gap between your lower back and seat.
- Depress the clutch and gas pedal. Are you able to push both all the way down without any strain at all? If not, adjust the seat position (forward and backward only) as needed
- Next, "straighten" the back of the seat, so that you're sitting fairly straight, and the side bolsters on the back of the seat are supporting your torso; the FRS/BRZ seats are spectacular in this aspect. Now both your lower back and your upper back should be touching the seat. Adjust or flip the headrest around if its getting in the way.
- Adjusted properly, you'll probably never change this seating position for seat driving, because you don't get any fatigue!

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by gramicci101

I'm 6'5"/260 lbs, and I have no problem making several thousand mile road trips. When you stop for gas, stretch and walk around for a moment, but otherwise it's fine. Make sure your seat is adjusted properly. CSG Mike gave a quick rundown on how it should be set up. He was talking about tracking your car, but it still applies.

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?p=640248

Lower back support is more important than shoulder support in this regard.

A lot of people think I sit with a gangster lean in the car, but in reality, I'm just setting up the seat to give me the torso support I need; my core is strong enough to do the rest.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by RickyBobby

This car is not your father's Buick, and I didn't buy it for comfort, but how do you guys, besides getting new seats, deal with long road trips and back pain.

I've taken long trips before, >500 miles, and it didn't bother me, but this time after driving 800 miles it feels like someone punched me in the right kidney.

The drive was mostly interstate but it's construction time, lots of rough road.

I'm 5'11" and about 185 lbs., but maybe my age, >60, is a factor.

Next time I take a long road trip I may duct tape bubble wrap to my right side.

Well, old man, just don't try to drive 800 miles at one time ........

If you have to ........ the secret is ibuprofen and codeine ....... take two tablets each, every 2 hours, with stool softener and a bottle of water.

Seriously, my secret is shown below and explained in another active thread.


humfrz

[FRSapex]

Have you tried adjusting the telescoping steering wheel? Sometimes back issues can be caused by "referred" pain.

I'm just shy of 6'2" 180# and adjust my seat position like I'm in a kart. I like the steering wheel high and close to my chest. My knees are bent and the back of my seat is straighter than most.

Unusual I know, but it works me.

Consider taking time experimenting with various seat and steering wheel positions.

I wish you all the best.

[radroach]

On really long trips, the best thing I found to do was to my hotel stops, rest, then hit the gym in between and stretch and do light workouts at night and in the morning. When you're sitting in the BRZ seat all day your back kinda gets set into that shape, you need to spend time to stretch it back upright.

The headrest is not comfortable for long trips, whichever way you turn it. I turned it backwards and stuck a pillow there while driving all the way across Kansas.

[gravitylover]

Since I started my new gig I've been doing back to back 500 mile days. Not only have I not had any problems some of my earlier age and old injury related aches have subsided considerably. Proper seat position is everything, strongest recommendation is keep the back up one click straighter than you think you should. Mix in a few miles of back roads if you can so you need to move around a bit rather than just do tank after tank on the interstate. With this car I kind of have to stop every few hours anyway, what with pavement quality being so great nowadays the damn car shakes the piss out of me...

[MarcFr-s]

A very long drive in any seat can have adverse effects on the lumbar, lower back. Lots of pillows, products out there for extra lower back support. Stopping, walking around, stretching really helps too.

[SquadRon]

Originally Posted by RickyBobby

This car is not your father's Buick, and I didn't buy it for comfort, but how do you guys, besides getting new seats, deal with long road trips and back pain.

I've taken long trips before, >500 miles, and it didn't bother me, but this time after driving 800 miles it feels like someone punched me in the right kidney.

The drive was mostly interstate but it's construction time, lots of rough road.

I'm 5'11" and about 185 lbs., but maybe my age, >60, is a factor.

Next time I take a long road trip I may duct tape bubble wrap to my right side.

Just add turbo bro :P

Lol all trolls asides I cannot believe any man taller than the seat can handle is able to drive this car unless until it is speeding with a turbo bro! Haha.

Maybe a Hyundai Genesis?

As Napoleon said "My downfall raises me to infinite heights"

[RickyBobby]

Originally Posted by humfrz

Well, old man, just don't try to drive 800 miles at one time ........

If you have to ........ the secret is ibuprofen and codeine ....... take two tablets each, every 2 hours, with stool softener and a bottle of water.

humfrz

HA HA Since I had my gall bladder removed a few years ago I don't need stool softener.

Yeah. I'll have to get me one of them seat cushions for long trips.

I installed the OEM sliding arm rest a few months ago and that helps.

As a side note, driving 75-80 MPH I averaged, according to the trippy thing, 36.9 MPG.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by RickyBobby

................
As a side note, driving 75-80 MPH I averaged, according to the trippy thing, 36.9 MPG.

THAT'S GOOD!

You must have an AT and use cruise control a lot .. ??

Yep, like mentioned above:

* wallet out of back pocket

* proper seat adjustment (no slouching)

* appropriate supplemental seat cushions

* install an arm rest

* use cruise control as much as much as possible

* make frequent stops, stretch & walk around (I never met a rest stop I didn't like)

* cut off the freeway and take the "old/business/scenic" route from time to time

* if you have a co-pilot, allow him/her to drive for a spell (don't be stubborn)

* limit your mileage by the age chart below:

16-25 ..... 900 miles/day
26-35 ..... 800 miles/day
36-45 .... 700 miles/day
46-55 .... 600 miles/day
56-65 .... 500 miles/day
66-75 .... 400 miles/day
75-85 .... 300 miles/day
86 - ..... stay home or take the train


Happy trails .........


humfrz

[Stratoside]

i did 12hour driving marathon like at least 6 times on my FRS

only discomfort i had was very mild butt numbness so i would just lift my ass whenever the traffic stops or w/e and it would be fine for another hour or something

imo this car is very comfortable

[frs10]

"sporty" cars arent good cars to drive extended periods of time in...