installing 3rd seat in 1st gen.

[MrShorty]

Background: "92 Explorer 4 door 4WD XLT. Found out this week I'm going to need more seating. Currently have two children. Known we were pregnant for a little over a month. Dr. takes ultrasound this week and says we're getting two for the price of one. As exciting as that may be, that means some changes, one of which is where to seat them all. Found this thread:
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18946&highlight=third+row+seat Some of the pictures don't work anymore, but this seems to be worth considering. A few questions:
Safety is the big one. Properly installed i believe the seat will be safe. If installed rear facing, how do you install a car seat to it?
Has anybody try to put a shoulder belt in with the third seat? From the others' pictures, the seat sets a little farther away from the wall than the stock seats, but minivans and such have such gaps, and they manage to put shoulder belts in, so why not here? If anyone has a newer Explorer with a factory installed 3rd seat, did they put shoulder belts in and how did they do it?
While we're discussing this, why do they say the 3rd seat should be installed rear facing?
Can anyone help an expectant father with this issue?

 

[DeRocha]

The first gen 3rd row seat is only sized for very small children (no leg room). They do NOT have shoulder belts and only provide a lap belt. That is why they recommend them as rear facing. If you were to have a frontal accident then a rear facing seat would best protect the child.

 

[EBInterceptor]

Explorer Express sells them with shoulder straps.

 

[5.0Dad]

I'm not sure if this is the same seat as EE but it is what we have and it has shoulder belts.

http://www.littlepassengerseats.com/ford_explorer.htm

 

[dman726749]

we used to have one of thoes seats in my explorer, in fact i sold the seat to someone here on the board. you can only have kids in them mostlikely no older than 10 if you have any questions i might be able to answer them

 

[MrShorty]

That looks reasonable. I think the EE and the littlepassenger are the same seats (even down to the price give or take $1 and the child in the picture).
Anyway, thanks for the responses. Anyone have pictures? Those that have them, how much (if any) cargo space were you able to retain? Where do the shoulder belts attach? In an effort to cut costs, I'm thinking, what would happen if I bought the $300 seat from JCWhitney, then $150 for the shoulder belt from littlepassengerseats? Would I get essentially the same thing, or would there be some reason to suspect an incompatibility?

 

[5.0Dad]

MrShorty,

I threw the seat in and took some pics with it facing both directions and one of the frame and shoulder belts.

They are in my general photo gallery.

Mike

 

[config]

Mr. Shorty,
I installed a 3rd seat on our '96 Ex. I installed it facing front. It only has lap belts but should be fine for the 2 carseats. I still have the pictures but I don't have any place to post them.

 

[MrShorty]

Thanks.
Those are some good pictures, 5.0Dad. If I may ask, how much space do you have between the 2nd and 3rd row seats? Between the 3rd seat and the rear hatch?

 

[Ak LTD Xplorer]

i may have to look in to one of these!!

 

[5.0Dad]

OK, Facing forward, there is 10.5" from front edge of 3rd to back of second row and 12.5" from rear of the seat (bottom) to the rear hatch. Clearance at the top of the hatch a little bit less.

Be aware that some states are getting a bit militant about child seats and may not recognize this as an approved child safety devise. Washington is one of those. I personally believe that it is every bit as secure as the belt positioning boosters that are required in the 2nd row but thought you all should be forewarned.

Also, we got our used from Little Passengers so you might ask them what the have in stock.

 

[MrShorty]

Thanks for the info.

I've heard of some of that legislation. Do you know how they would feel if I put the booster seat in the third seat, just like it fits in the second seat? Is the issue that you aren't using the booster seat in the third seat, or are they offended by additional aftermarket seats in general?

 

[5.0Dad]

When I talked to one of our state patrol officers, it sounded like the third seat met all of the criteria like seat length, belt position, etc. but since it is not a recognized device it would be open to interpretation.

I don't use anything extra for our 5yr old but I still use the booster with his 3yr old brother. It is a little tough to fit the booster because the seat belt width is designed to fit a toddler behind.

On the up side, there is nothing better than having the separation of one in each row on a long trip.

 

[EBInterceptor]

Do those 3rd seats attach in the same spots as the cargo net or do you have to drill new holes?

 

[5.0Dad]

EBInterceptor,

The cargo hooks stay but they get new hdwr. and there are (3) new holes drilled through the floor, each side. A template is provided so there's no measuring to screw up.

Mike

 

[bipolarbob]

Might have to do that.Do they come in and out easy? I would get the same colour as my seats and tell a cop if pulled over they were factory!

 

[EBInterceptor]

That doesn't seem like too hard of a project then. I'd do it, but I have a sport and don't really need one. Just good to have the knowledge though.

 

[JOHN V.]

The third seat is special ordered to match your interior. The installation is fairly easy. The kit include two sturdy plates that are permanently bolted to the floor. The seat then bolts to the plate. It is easy as a few bolts per side. We have installed many of these. Most folks opt for having the seat facing the rear.