Upgrade manual seat to power base

[topaz75]

Just back from a 1200 mile road trip in my 2016 Express Quad Cab and not too happy with my manual seat. At 6'4" my thighs are not getting enough support because the seat cushion doesn't tilt.

Otherwise the seat is OK and I don't really need heat or vented, so I was wondering if I can just get a power seat base and my seat would just bolt to that? I see the bases selling on car-parts.com and similar sites. I saw a thread on here for the 3rd gen that said for those model years this was possible, but for newer trucks folks seem to mainly change the entire seat, so am wondering.

Also, my main objective is the tilt function for the seat bottom cushion, do all power seats for 4th gen have that or are there some that only move the seat base back and forth? I looked at the specs for the 2016 and whenever it mentions power seat it says "8 way"

Thanks

 

[Ricks Ram]

You will need to get a power seat from a 13 to 18 Ram. It doesn't matter what the wrecking yards say will work. The wiring is different. The seat will plug in with no issues but will not have power for the adjust to work. All you need to do is run a constant fused 12v power source from the battery to the solid red wire in the yellow seat connector and you're done. I installed Laramie seats in mine so they have more functions than the Bighorn seats but I'm pretty sure it's,
Foward-Back main seat=2
Back seat recline up-down=2
Tilt seat bottom up-down=2
Lumbar support in out=2 for a total of 8 way adjustable.
The Bighorn seats don't have the ability to move up and down.




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[crash68]

I installed Laramie seats in mine so they have more functions than the Bighorn seats but I'm pretty sure it's,
Foward-Back main seat=2
Back seat recline up-down=2
Tilt seat bottom up-down=2
Lumbar support in out=2 for a total of 8 way adjustable.
The Bighorn seats don't have the ability to move up and down.

I wonder if it's Bighorns of a particular year or trim package options. My '15 Outdoorsman has 10 way power driver's seat and oddly enough has a BigHorn option package. Both the Outdoorsman and BigHorn are built on the SLT trim level truck.

 

[topaz75]

You will need to get a power seat from a 13 to 18 Ram. It doesn't matter what the wrecking yards say will work. The wiring is different. The seat will plug in with no issues but will not have power for the adjust to work. All you need to do is run a constant fused 12v power source from the battery to the solid red wire in the yellow seat connector and you're done. I installed Laramie seats in mine so they have more functions than the Bighorn seats but I'm pretty sure it's,
Foward-Back main seat=2
Back seat recline up-down=2
Tilt seat bottom up-down=2
Lumbar support in out=2 for a total of 8 way adjustable.
The Bighorn seats don't have the ability to move up and down.




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Hi thanks for the detailed answer.

So you are saying then i do need the entire seat to do this, and I can't re-use my existing manual seat and just swap out the track/ seat base with the motors and switches?

 

[Princeton_Man]

You may want to look into an aftermarket power seat base.

 

[SitKneelBend]

Hi thanks for the detailed answer.

So you are saying then i do need the entire seat to do this, and I can't re-use my existing manual seat and just swap out the track/ seat base with the motors and switches?

You'll need a new seat but you can swap out the cushion and seat backs From one seat to another to match the upholstery.

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[GTyankee]

If the seat base has 3 electric motors
That is what you need
The lumbar is an inflatable bag

The seat wiring is hidden under the carpeting

If you want the lumbar support, you either have to buy the seat back or there are Youtube videos that show how to add the airbag yourself with small bolt type cutters, Hog rings & hog ring pliers

If you go to a auto dismantling yard, look for a Ram Big Horn or higher priced model Ram.
The higher priced Rams may also have the passenger 6 way power seats
If the seats are in good shape, the wrecking yard will have the seats in a shed someplace

 

[Brian2081]

Hello All, I have to throw in my nickles worth here. Late last fall I installed a power passenger seat from a 15 larame all leather. Plug and play, my 16 Outdoorsman already had the power in the plug for the motors. The lumbar support is NOT an airbag, it is a plastic piece that moves up and down on cables.

If you have a side airbag it is sewn to the seat back cover, you will need to remove the airbag and cover as one piece, and transfer it to the power seat frame. The seat frames can NOT be mixed to make what you want.

Any other questions just ask.

 

[Ricks Ram]

Hello All, I have to throw in my nickles worth here. Late last fall I installed a power passenger seat from a 15 larame all leather. Plug and play, my 16 Outdoorsman already had the power in the plug for the motors. The lumbar support is NOT an airbag, it is a plastic piece that moves up and down on cables.

If you have a side airbag it is sewn to the seat back cover, you will need to remove the airbag and cover as one piece, and transfer it to the power seat frame. The seat frames can NOT be mixed to make what you want.

Edit

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[48prerunner]

I've seen the power bases and backs used on ebay with no bags or cushions just the metal and electrics not much less than a whole seat price. I think they were around 300 total but sold as seperate pacts the base or the back.

 

[elcompacharmin]

You will need to get a power seat from a 13 to 18 Ram. It doesn't matter what the wrecking yards say will work. The wiring is different. The seat will plug in with no issues but will not have power for the adjust to work. All you need to do is run a constant fused 12v power source from the battery to the solid red wire in the yellow seat connector and you're done. I installed Laramie seats in mine so they have more functions than the Bighorn seats but I'm pretty sure it's,
Foward-Back main seat=2
Back seat recline up-down=2
Tilt seat bottom up-down=2
Lumbar support in out=2 for a total of 8 way adjustable.
The Bighorn seats don't have the ability to move up and down.




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Thank u for this! I just added larmine

You will need to get a power seat from a 13 to 18 Ram. It doesn't matter what the wrecking yards say will work. The wiring is different. The seat will plug in with no issues but will not have power for the adjust to work. All you need to do is run a constant fused 12v power source from the battery to the solid red wire in the yellow seat connector and you're done. I installed Laramie seats in mine so they have more functions than the Bighorn seats but I'm pretty sure it's,
Foward-Back main seat=2
Back seat recline up-down=2
Tilt seat bottom up-down=2
Lumbar support in out=2 for a total of 8 way adjustable.
The Bighorn seats don't have the ability to move up and down.




Sent from my SM-G981U1 using Tapatalk

thank u for This I just added laramie seats to my 2016 1500 and it worked perfectly! ran power to both driver seat, and passenger seat.