07' headreasts I hate 'em - Any options

[min150mph]

I've now had my 4cyl SE for a few weeks and I like everything about it (especially the gas mileage) EXCEPT the headrests. I took my first long trip (300 miles round trip) and my neck is hurting. The headrests forces my head to lean forward from the rest of the spine no matter how I adjust the seat or the head rest. Any ideas on what to do besides removing them altogether or trying to find some others that will fit. Is there a way to adjust them other than up and down. The manual only mentions up and down.

Going to make the trip again next weekend and would like to try to find a solution before then.

[Klutch]

Originally Posted by min150mph

I've now had my 4cyl SE for a few weeks and I like everything about it (especially the gas mileage) EXCEPT the headrests. I took my first long trip (300 miles round trip) and my neck is hurting. The headrests forces my head to lean forward from the rest of the spine no matter how I adjust the seat or the head rest. Any ideas on what to do besides removing them altogether or trying to find some others that will fit. Is there a way to adjust them other than up and down. The manual only mentions up and down.

Going to make the trip again next weekend and would like to try to find a solution before then.

It must just be me that doesn't put my head against the rest when I drive. I've tried before and no matter how much I put the seat upright I feel like I'm on an amusement ride like the centrifigal force one where my head and face is plastered to the seat.

[pjp]

I never rest my head on the head rest either. It's not just you. But I dont do 150 miles trips too often either.

[pjp]

Originally Posted by min150mph

I've now had my 4cyl SE for a few weeks and I like everything about it (especially the gas mileage) EXCEPT the headrests. I took my first long trip (300 miles round trip) and my neck is hurting. The headrests forces my head to lean forward from the rest of the spine no matter how I adjust the seat or the head rest. Any ideas on what to do besides removing them altogether or trying to find some others that will fit. Is there a way to adjust them other than up and down. The manual only mentions up and down.

Going to make the trip again next weekend and would like to try to find a solution before then.

I have the SE seats as well. but perhaps you can put an obusform back-rest kind of thing behind your back when your sitting so that you sitting more forward in you seat making the head rest one inch or so further back. Might work. Never tried it.

[frozen]

ditto.. i dont use the head rest when i drive.. i think it's called a head "rest" for a reason.. you use it to rest on, not to drive with.. or iono.

but i dont use them to drive, and i go on far trips quite often.

[thapranksta]

Originally Posted by frozen

ditto.. i dont use the head rest when i drive.. i think it's called a head "rest" for a reason.. you use it to rest on, not to drive with.. or iono.

but i dont use them to drive, and i go on far trips quite often.

I agree. I tried driving with my head on the headrest on small roads around town in my Gen5. It feels pretty awkward. I never tried using the headrest on long trips. The headrest seems to only be useful on the driver's seat when the car is stationary. Besides, if they made the headrest feel comfortable while driving you are more prone to go to sleep on the road and that is not a very good outcome.

[tarbasd]

Originally Posted by thapranksta

I agree. I tried driving with my head on the headrest on small roads around town in my Gen5. It feels pretty awkward. I never tried using the headrest on long trips. The headrest seems to only be useful on the driver's seat when the car is stationary. Besides, if they made the headrest feel comfortable while driving you are more prone to go to sleep on the road and that is not a very good outcome.

I think the main purpose of the headrest is to protect against whiplash in an accident. When I ajusted the height, I set it up for my wife's height because she is more likely to have accident. Driving with my head on it is really awkward.

I don't know about the '07 Camry, but in my '92, the angle of the headrest is adjustable, too. You can just bend it forwards and it will stay in the position. If you bend it all the the way to the front and release it, it will go all the way to the back.

[Alloy]

haha. I don't use the headrest during driving too, it's just natural that I don't use it. I may use it occassionally for few minutes, I have a Gen 5 and didn't find it too bad, but after few minutes, I will automatically get back to my "normal" driving position. Headrest is good for me only if I recline the seat for some rest. ^^

[ieee_raider]

I don't use mine either...

But to help, maybe you can turn it around so it points backwards?

[min150mph]

I don't normally use the headreast while driving either in any of my other vehicles, but there seems to be no avoiding using it on this vehicle. Even when I sit so I don't lean back on the back of the seat the headrest still hits me in the back of the head when I drive on a bumpy road which seems to be most roads around here. Especially the concrete ones that now gives me a nice bouncy "head hitting thing" going on with the headreast. To not lean back on the backrest (not the headrest) on a long boring cruise control type drive gets really tiresome too.

I've pushed the headrest as far down as it will go so my head hits the top of it now, which isn't as deep, but I doubt it do a good job in an accident as it is. BTW in this position it still hits me when not leaning back on a bumpy road. I also have the back leaning as far back as I can go while still reaching the steering wheel and not squish my legs. The leaning back helped a tad too, but still not enough. I'm tired of getting bumped in the head and getting neck pain from having to lean the head forward if I want some kind of back support.

[min150mph]

Originally Posted by thapranksta

I agree. I tried driving with my head on the headrest on small roads around town in my Gen5. It feels pretty awkward. I never tried using the headrest on long trips. The headrest seems to only be useful on the driver's seat when the car is stationary. Besides, if they made the headrest feel comfortable while driving you are more prone to go to sleep on the road and that is not a very good outcome.

LOL - No chance I'd fall asleep with this stupid headrest as it hits me on a regular basis. I honestly just want to be able to sit with my head in a normal position without having the darn thing hit my head. I don't want to use the darn thing, but seems to be forced to.

Doesn't seem to be like it be any better switching it to be backwards.

[thoots]

Originally Posted by min150mph

The headrests forces my head to lean forward from the rest of the spine no matter how I adjust the seat or the head rest. Any ideas on what to do besides removing them altogether or trying to find some others that will fit. Is there a way to adjust them other than up and down. The manual only mentions up and down.

Hmmm. I haven't felt anything like that in my 07 XLE, and I always actually rest my head on the headrest out on the open road. I know the SE seat is slightly different than the seats in the other models -- perhaps there's a difference in the seatback/headrest angle.

I don't see any way to adjust the angle of the headrest itself on my XLE, and I doubt the SE would be any different -- just up and down.

In the end, I'd bet this is a "driver height" issue -- what works for a shorter person mght not work for a taller one, or vice versa.

Swapping in a headrest from some other car might well be worth checking into -- they come in all shapes and sizes, yet it seems that the posts that go into the seats tend to be pretty uniform in all of the cars I've encountered over the past decade or so. Or, an upholstery shop could probably open yours up and reshape it -- if indeed there's enough room in regards to the metal posts to remove enough stuffing to make a difference.

Don't know if any of that helps, but for what it's worth!

[Old Dood]

I believe you are NOT suppose to rest your head on them while driving. They are there to protect you in a rear end crash. As for the rear head rest...I like those...they are lower then the Corolla's...ever notice how high those are?...how can you back up or see in your blind spot well?

[min150mph]

Originally Posted by Old Dood

I believe you are NOT suppose to rest your head on them while driving. They are there to protect you in a rear end crash. As for the rear head rest...I like those...they are lower then the Corolla's...ever notice how high those are?...how can you back up or see in your blind spot well?

I don't rest my head on it and I don't want to, but the way the stupid thing hits I'm forced too or my head is in a forward position from my spine. AND yes they are there to protect your neck in an accident.

I'm 5'7 and DH is 6'0 and he also mentioned the headrests when he rode with me one day. He was in the passenger seat though.

Thoots, I think trying some other ones might be the way to go. Hopefully they are a universal standard fit on the metal brackets. DH's commuter car is a scion xA so I think I'll try those when I see him this weekend. My other vehicles have the built in kind.

[Old Dood]

I am 5'-7" and they do not bother me...I raise my seat all the way though...