TL;DR - I tried to swap back to my OEM Tacoma seats because I wanted their functionality, but it only lasted one trip; the scheel-mann are way more comfortable.
Original TL;DR - I'm swapping out my scheel-mann seats and going back to the originals. Their functionality (sliding, folding) is better, and they weren't that much less comfortable.
Back to stock seats.
Nevermind.
Out with the new, in with the old.
Or not.
Well, this is a strange post. After installing my new house electrical system - during which time I had to remove the seats in order to fit the new battery cabinet into the cab - I figured I might as well leave the scheel-mann seats in the shop and reinstall the OEM seats I'd saved when the scheel-mann Vario R seats went in. There were a few reasons behind the decision, which - given what I paid for the scheel-mann, I didn't make lightly:
- Over the last few years, it's felt as though I've worn out the bottom of the seat where my tailbone rests. As though there's a bit of a "hole" there, rather than the supportive padding when the scheel-mann seats were new.
- The fold-forward functionality of the OEM seats is much better. The scheel-mann fold forward, but the folding action isn't spring-loaded, and the seat backs weigh so much that it's a laborious process.
- Adjustment of the seat back (and bottom) is easier with the OEM seats. There's nothing easier than pulling up a little lever to engage a spring-assist that adjusts a seat forward/back on its track, or the backrest up/down in its arc. The same operation with a scheel-mann is a matter of spinning a hard-to reach wheel or fighting a sticky track lever to force the seat into position.
- The OEM seats take up less space. They are significantly shorter, and the seatbacks are much narrower than the scheel-mann. This gives room behind - and under - the seat to store more stuff, and access it more easily when the seat is forward.
- The OEM seats have seat covers. I love my Wet Okole covers, and the scheel-mann seats don't have any.
- Not really an issue, but one I noticed when swapping out the seats - the OEM seats weigh less than half what the scheel-mann do.
So, that's what I did. It was out with the new and in with the old. It was going to be the best decision ever, though I knew it'd mean getting some new Wet Okole covers at some point, and reupholstering the seats, eventually.
Update, two days later: On a three-day (plus driving there and back) trip to explore the Nevada side of the Owyhee - a place we love in the springtime - I thought I'd be able to tell a huge success story. I couldn't have been more wrong.
Sitting in the OEM seat in the driveway, I thought to myself, "this isn't nearly as comfortable as the scheel-mann." Surely this wasn't really about comfort, but just about what my body had become accustomed to, and within an hour or two, I'd be right back to enjoying the feel and functionality of the OEM seat.
After an hour, it was even less comfortable than when I'd been in the driveway. Five hours later, I was ready to reinstall the scheel-mann seats, functionality be damned. That gave me the remainder of the trip to live with my poor decision. Consequences are the best teacher sometimes. 
Still, it gave me many in-seat hours to realize what makes the scheel-mann seats so good. With them, it's about comfort and support:
- The seat foam is significantly firmer. This firmness provides support, and that support equates to comfort over time.
- The seats are larger. Where the OEM seat bottom only supported half of my thighs - the rest hanging over the front edge - the scheel-mann are adjustable to support the entire upper leg. That support results in less knee strain.
- The side bolsters - on the seat bottom and back - are bigger. Bigger bolsters help to keep legs and backs aligned, and that alignment keeps joints from aching over time.
- The sitting position is better. It's lower by about 4 inches, and that means that legs are straighter as they reach for the pedals.
And so, the scheel-mann stay. As it should be, comfort is king.
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If I'm following correctly, it was out with the new and in with the old, but the old didn't fit that well, so now it's back in with the new and out with the old, correct? I kinda go through a similar conversation with my wife frequently! LOL . I'm a little confused at the moment as I'm trying to learn Bitcoin, complicated!
You got it. I was planning to take the scheel-mann out forever, but it only ended up being for one trip... because the original Tacoma seats were way less comfortable than I remembered. Or, perhaps, I've just gotten used to the support provided by the scheel-mann.
Bitcoin huh? Wish I'd mined some of that back in the early days. Actually, I did, but then of course, I figured it'd be worthless, so I lost my wallet password or whatever. Ooops! 🤦
It’s tough to find the right seat and it’s largely based on how a person it built. I find the stock seats extremely comfortable, especially with the Wet Okole covers (thanks for the suggestion, btw).
But my better half doesn’t like them after a couple hours. Conversely, the much “nicer” seats in her VW bother my back on long drives.
At least you are probably setting a personal best at changing them out each time, lol.
Those Wet Okole covers are the best. I wish they made them for the scheel-mann seats, as it would make me feel a lot more comfortable that I wasn't destroying expensive seats! If I was closer to WO, I'd even try taking the truck in for them to make custom covers.
And yep, I can get those seats in and out in record time! Too bad they don't swap seats in a NASCAR pit stop, hahahaha!
I had a pair of Scheel seats in my 79 Land Cruiser for over 20 years. They were comfortable but the material was starting to thin, one of the supporting straps underneath the drivers seat failed and I was sitting on the floor. I ended up buying a new pair of Corbeau seats and rails and installed them. I ended up gaining about four inches of legroom (important when you are 6’7”) and a much more comfortable seating position.
I sold the Scheel seats for $400.
On a side note, I had a 2019 Tacoma and now have a 2018. The seats in my 2018 are way more comfortable than the 2019.
I tried the Corbeau's before I went to scheel-mann. Their customer service was great, but it only took one drive around the block for me to realize that the seats were way too firm for me. Or at least, the seats I'd purchased were too firm.
I do remember that they gave plenty more headroom as well, which I'm sure for someone 9" taller than I am, would be amazing! Along those lines, I was surprised how much more headroom the scheel-mann seats give than the stock seats. I didn't remember that being much different when I pulled out the stock seats, but putting them back in, I felt like I was sitting so high! About 4" higher than with the scheel-mann.
Yeah, the Corbeau's are firm but I don't take the Land Cruiser on long trips very often. It's mostly my around town vehicle in the summer when the camper is on the Tacoma.
My Scheel seats sat very low, especially towards the end when the padding was on the floorboards!