Rear middle seat belt modification

[BrentKesterson]

I am looking to buy a used Explorer. I drove a 2014 sport yesterday and love it.

The problem is that I have a wife and three large teenage kids, so the rear middle seat will be used often. In the pre 2021 models the seat belt receptacle pivots straight up and down, it doesn't flex at all. That seat is quite narrow so the receptacle pokes the passenger in the bottom somewhat painfully.

The 2021 and 2022 models use a strap to attach the receptacle so it can sit at an appropriate angle to match said bottom.

The rear seat belt receptacle seems like a real dumb reason to not buy a particular car, but there is no way for than about a 7 year old to sit in that seat comfortably.

Is there an aftermarket modification for this? Any other suggestions?

Thanks in advance

 

[peterk9]

Welcome to the Forum Brent.
That seat is only about 11" wide and not really useful for an adult. I am not aware of any aftermarket mods for the female end of the belt. Have you checked to see if it can be easily removed and possibly replaced by the 6th gen style receptacle?

Peter

 

[goalieThreeOne]

Is there any issue with having one sit in the third row?

Modifying a safety device doesn't seem like a very good idea to me. What if something happened and an insurance company or crash investigator found out the safety restraint was modified?

 

[BKennedy]

I deleted the other thread you started in the New Member section. No need for two with the same content, and this is the place to ask this question.

No reputable company will modify a factory safety feature that already meets federal standards. There is just too much liability, research and testing involved to make it pay. Ford would be your only option. Maybe they make a soft strap replacement.

 

[BrentKesterson]

Is there any issue with having one sit in the third row?

Modifying a safety device doesn't seem like a very good idea to me. What if something happened and an insurance company or crash investigator found out the safety restraint was modified?

I am actually looking for something that would be official. I found aftermarket seats with integrated sear belts that have crash tested and certified for the cargo Transit that I have on order.

It shouldn't be too hard to make a strapthat would attach to where the stock seat belt receiver mounts.. That is way beyond my sewing abilities though.

 

[goalieThreeOne]

I am actually looking for something that would be official. I found aftermarket seats with integrated sear belts that have crash tested and certified for the cargo Transit that I have on order.

It shouldn't be too hard to make a strapthat would attach to where the stock seat belt receiver mounts.. That is way beyond my sewing abilities though.

I found some old forum posts from our friends driving Fusions that, at least at one point, Ford offered free lapbelt extensions for overweight people. Perhaps that program is still available.

 

[BrentKesterson]

I found some old forum posts from our friends driving Fusions that, at least at one point, Ford offered free lapbelt extensions for overweight people. Perhaps that program is still available.

Thank you for the effort but that won’t do it. Extenders plug into the original receiver which would still be there…poking upward…right into someone’s butt.

Does anyone use that middle seat?

 

[Mbrooks420]

Thank you for the effort but that won’t do it. Extenders plug into the original receiver which would still be there…poking upward…right into someone’s butt.

Does anyone use that middle seat?

I think when you have more than two kids you need the third row.