Installed a 3rd seat last week.

4x4 · August 28, 2000

I was in Cabelas and they had a "Large" seat in the bargain basement (return and closeout room). I had to order the mounting kit from the catalog. You are supposed to bolt it in on top of the carpet but the brackets looked ugly and uncomfortable if you wanted to lay on them. I pulled the carpet and bolted directly to the floor then added some pad and notched the carpet. now all you see is the 4 cuts when the seat isn't in.

Stephen · August 28, 2000

Any pictures?

Brian97V8 · August 28, 2000

Just think with the new Explorer's we wont have to do this. Do you happen to have pics? Also how hard is it to take in and out?

4x4 · August 28, 2000

Sorry, no pics

I'm not too computer literate yet. I don't have a digital but if I get a Snap shot I'll scan it in. Maybe I can borrow a digital camera this weekend. Not hard to take out. It has two spring loaded pins and then tips back. You do have to tip the factory rear seat ahead to unlatch, the way I've got it installed.

config · November 26, 2000

The 3rd seat is now installed on my Explorer. I decided on mounting it facing the front. The drilling was easier than I expected. The seat design didn't match exactly but the color matched perfectly. All together I'm happy with the outcome and I'm glad I did it myself.

mikefox · November 26, 2000

My 3rd seat...

Here is a picture of my 3rd seat I installed earlier this year:

Dead Link Removed

It is actually blue, the same color as my interior. Just not cloth like the rest but vinyl. It has been wonderful having this with small children (under 10) around.

config · November 26, 2000

Looks great Mike. Here's a pic of mine.

Henry · November 27, 2000

I'm considering the addition of a 3rd seat. Config & Mikefox, where did you buy yours and what was the cost?

Thanks!

config · November 27, 2000

Henry,
I got mine from http://www.saleco.com. I got the deluxe model and the only reason I got it from them is that they promised that it would look exactly like the original seats but like you can tell in the picture it's not even close. It came to over $500.00 after I added the headrests, the quick disconnect hardware and shipping. Check out carparts.com or JCwhitney. You can use the 33% coupon off at Carparts.com to get a really good deal.

[Edited by config on 11-27-2000 at 05:06 PM]

mikefox · November 28, 2000

Config, I like the way you did your install. I went with the backward facing way because I remember, as a kid, riding in the back of my uncle's Ford stationwagon it was fun to see where you had been. Plus, the instructions said to install it that way. How long did the install take you? Did you have help? Mine took me just over 2 hrs and I had no help.

Henry, mine is made by Steelehorse and I got it from Carparts.com with a 33 discount for the first time you order from them. I got the seat and the quick disconnect mounting hardware for just iver $200 including shipping. They do make better and more exspensive models from other manufactures but for the price I couldn't pass up the deal.

config · November 28, 2000

Mike,
Mine also was designed to be installed rear-facing but I didn't see why it couldn't face the other way. My 2 daughters (7 & 12) helped me - handing me tools. Actually I'm not yet done. I still haven't bolted the nuts down on the undercarriage. I have to use a lift to make it easy to get to 4 of the bolts. Did you have any problems doing this - any tips?

mikefox · November 29, 2000

Oh the stories I could tell. Really,it wasn't all that hard. Yours being installed the way you did might make it easier to access the bolts. Not sure though. I had to lower and remove my spare to get to them. I ended up using duck tape to hold the bolts up top because the nuts were the locking type with a nylon ring in them. If somebody can hold the bolts from top for you that can help quite a bit. I don't remember much else. I think I just use a jack and jack stands to get it high enough to crawl under. Good luck.

Henry · November 29, 2000

Thanks for the info config and mikefox. The carparts.com seats look like a really good deal! I think the "large" seat would fit OK, based on the measurements. I'd like to find out if the large has two or three seatbelts.

Config, do you have your seat all the way to the back, or is there luggage space behind it still?

config · November 29, 2000

Originally posted by Henry
Config, do you have your seat all the way to the back, or is there luggage space behind it still?

Henry,
I don't know about luggage space but I considered still being able to carry groceries without having to remove or fold down the seats everytime. I left about 10 inches of room in the rear and still had about the same distance from the back seat to the 3rd seat. As you can see in the picture I still have room for a few bags of groceries. I'm sure my wife will appreciate that.

95ExplorerLtd · November 29, 2000

To you guys who have a 3rd seat,

How do the passengers for the seat get in to the seat? The rear doors or the hatch? I like the one facing the front, but I doubt I'll be hauling that many people around that the back seat cant handle. Plus how is the legroom? Knees in your face for average height people? I know its mostly for little people (kids) but hey, I'd like to ride in the back once in a while

And how much room do yu have behind the 3rd seat? Well sorry for all the questions guys, just had to know.

mikefox · November 30, 2000

If you are over 5' tall it might not be that comfy in the rear seat whether it is facing foward or backward. There isn't that much headroom or legroom for taller people. I am nearly 6' and have tried to sit back there. I would only do it if I had to and only for a short distance. These seats are really for kids and not for adults, in my opinion.

I have managed to get 3 kids, all under 9 or younger, in my seat by overlapping the 2 seatbelts so all are secure by the belts. Probably not the safest thing to do, but sometimes you got to do what you got to do.

As far as safety issues with these rear seats go, I have seen people question if they are safe or not for rearend collisions and what not. My feelings are that if they weren't safe there wouldn't be as many makers for them as there are. Other than a rollover, I would probably feel better if my kids were back there instead of the regular rear seats. If someone hits us from behind (except for a semi, of course) I think the frame of the vehicle would do better that the rear doors would if hit from the side. just my $.02

Henry · November 30, 2000

Thanks for the info and picture, config. Your setup looks good! I had hoped there would be about that much room left, just enough for groceries or other small packages.

swak6287 · December 20, 2000

help......

i got my 3rd row seat last nite. got the quick realease kit. only problm in bolt is too short. need to get extra 1/2 inch. also, is it ok if i do not put the bushing thru the carpet? dont use the bushing period. help

mikefox · December 20, 2000

The bushings are there so the mounting brackets don't sink into the carpet and pad. They also help to keep the mounting brackets mounted solid to the rear metal floor. Otherwise the seat could possibly rock around. I suppose you can do without them. I know I used them on mine and I even used some washers on top of the bushings to make up the difference so I had no interferance with the quick release mechanisms. Good luck.

4x4 · December 23, 2000

I mounted my brackets under the carpet, added padding to make everything flush and smooth, then cut flaps in the carpet to access the slots in the brackets.

Installed a 3rd seat last week.

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