C4x4.com

OH!!!! IT’S A GOOD RIDE!!!

After riding with me in Big Yeller for 4 days in Moab, Ut., during this year's Easter Jeep Safari, and after enjoying the firm ride on my solid plastic seating, feature Editor Mike Troy seen fit to introduce me to Aaron Wedeking from Premier Racing Products as soon as we hit the Expo. They persuaded me to sit in one of their Competition Pro Series suspension seats. After a short visit, we decided that Big Yeller deserved to be fitted with a new set of black and yellow suspension seats.

You will find PRP’s selection of customizable racing seats unmatched online. With their ability to allow you to select the seat style, size, fabric and design that fits your every need. All mounting accessories and brackets are also available from PRP.

In November 2001, the Wedeking family purchased Premier Racing Products (PRP). The new owners have brought to PRP over 20 years of off road experience, both in competition and recreational sport. They have participated in every form of off roading, from racing to weekend trail riding, buggies to quads, jeeps to motorcycles, if you can take it off road, they've done it! They have brought "hands on" knowledge and expertise to PRP. They feel fortunate to have such a great activity be the focus of both their professional and personal life.

In addition the family has operated a service-oriented business for over 70 years in southern California. They understand the importance of longevity and customer service in successfully operating any business. Therefore, in January 2002, they implemented sweeping changes to Premier Racing Products.

The company focus is very simple; build high quality suspension seats for the off road enthusiast while providing excellent customer service. So, when you're ready to buy an off road seat, go to an "Off Road Company". See 'A Visit to PRP' from a past issue of C4x4.com.

Soon after arriving home from Moab I called Aaron and we discussed my needs in a seat. We chose the color and fabric that we felt would look the best and serve my needs the best. In a few short weeks the large boxes arrived at the shop. Upon opening the first box I pronounced my professional opinion ("Now them are COOL!"). I was like a kid at Christmas time. I could not open just one box. I had to get all 3 of the seats out to give them the look over. I then decided that I had to have some of their safety harnesses also, so I called Aaron back and ordered 3 of his black 5 point harnesses and a bag of tabs to assist with the mounting.

Upon the arrival of the harnesses and tabs, Big Yeller was pulled to the shop. The famous hard plastic seats were used for the last time as were the cheap eBay yellow harnesses. The tabs were bolted onto the brackets and placed into Big Yeller for fitting. The tab position were marked and then the seats removed. Brad welded the tabs onto the cage cross tubing and allowed them to cool. Then the harness tabs were positioned and welded into place. As simple as that and we were ready to place the new Competition Pro Series seats into the front of Big Yeller. We then moved on to installing the other single Competition Pro Series seat into the rear of the Jeep. I had chosen to use just use one regular sized seat in the rear instead of the traditional bench seat. This allows for ammo box tool boxes can be placed on both sides of the new seat for storage of parts and tools.

Without the availability of the roll bar tubing in the rear of the jeep to weld the tabs on to, we choose to build a 1” square tubing frame the size of the seat and mount the seat onto it, then add additional tabs to the frame and mount it to the floor of the jeep. We are left with little leg room for the rear passenger but I have had the same problem with any seat we have used in the rear because we have moved the front seats as far back as possible to accommodate my 6’3" frame and long legs. Also there is a custom fuel cell mounted just inside of the tailgate allowing little flexibility in the area of mounting.

This is no new problem for my rig, and would not be an issue in a conventionally built rig where allowances for a large driver were not an issue. Beside, the only time the rear seat is used is when there is an abundance of people seeking a free ride, and hey, beggars can’t be choosey. Can they?.

The only real issue that I am having with the seats is that since installing them I am having trouble staying awake on the way to the trail because they are so comfortable. No kidding on this part. It is like riding a green-broke mule then jumping over to a Tennessee Walker. Editor Mike Troy would really have trouble staying awake on this ride. I am so impressed with the comfort and support of their new suspension seats that I’ll probably be looking to hit the pot holes on the trails instead of driving around them..

Thanks again Aaron for your help to fill my needs and for putting out such a great product. If any of you are coming out to Oklahoma to go wheelin just stop in and wake me up and lets go!. You can find me napping in the shop in my new suspension seats from PRP Racing.

GOD BLESS YOU AND YOURS----- AND MAY OUR LORD AND SAVIOR MAKE YOUR RIDE A SMOOTH ONE.

David Austin