bburzycki
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- August 18, 2013
- Messages
- 101
- Reaction score
- 4
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2014 Explorer Sport
2014 Sport - Removal of 3rd Row Seat Assembly - Does it compromise crash safety?
So as some might or might not know the 2013-14 Police interceptor has a very interesting support structure where the stock Explorer has a third row seat..
Its an X Member and its quite impressive and used to achieve the needed rear impact speeds Law Enforcement needs...
So after looking at the rear seat arrangement in my mew 2014 Sport - There is a considerable seat cross post that ties the left and right side of the vehicle together in the rear with the seat in the middle.
I am curious if removal of this seat could affect chassis rigidity or rear crash safety.
As a side not - it is not even recommended to remove the spare in vehicles these days as that also is part of the rear impact studies.
I really want to remove mine and to build a custom rear storage cabinet for all my equipment I carry. But it might need to incorporate a metal cross brace to replace the rigidity provided by the seat assembly.
See image link for rear X member diagram...
Anyone have any thoughts?
So as some might or might not know the 2013-14 Police interceptor has a very interesting support structure where the stock Explorer has a third row seat..
Its an X Member and its quite impressive and used to achieve the needed rear impact speeds Law Enforcement needs...
So after looking at the rear seat arrangement in my mew 2014 Sport - There is a considerable seat cross post that ties the left and right side of the vehicle together in the rear with the seat in the middle.
I am curious if removal of this seat could affect chassis rigidity or rear crash safety.
As a side not - it is not even recommended to remove the spare in vehicles these days as that also is part of the rear impact studies.
I really want to remove mine and to build a custom rear storage cabinet for all my equipment I carry. But it might need to incorporate a metal cross brace to replace the rigidity provided by the seat assembly.
See image link for rear X member diagram...
Anyone have any thoughts?