Rear Face Third Row Bench

[kacyk]

We already had a forward facing 3rd row bench from JAT Designs. It's great for a large family but there is absolutely no room for luggage with the bench up.

We're looking for a rear facing 3rd row bench. Anyone know where I can get one? I've been searching the web but no leads yet. Thanks.

[kacyk]

We already had a forward facing 3rd row bench from JAT Designs. It's great for a large family but there is absolutely no room for luggage with the bench up.

We're looking for a rear facing 3rd row bench. Anyone know where I can get one? I've been searching the web but no leads yet. Thanks.

[passerby]

I went to a junk yard, got a third row seat for a 1989 Chevy Suburban. I took it and got it re-clothed to match the interior.

Then I drilled through the floor and put in exhaust clamps with the "U" of the clamp upside down. This way the seat grabs onto the clamps and is removable.

There winds up being a space between the middle seat and the rear facing seat perfect for a jump starter, flares, first aide kit, fire ext and a charging mag lite. It is all hidden between the seats.

The Suburban seat folds forward (toward the rear of the vehical) so you can put more stuff in the back if needed.

Remember the forward facing monitor so the kids can watch DVD's while sitting backwards!

Our kids love it and are always fighting for it.

Good luck!
Greg

[HGW]

Greg:

Good solution. I will pick one up when I get time--whenever that will be--2006!?!.

Watching race starts (in the pace car) from a third seat facing backwards sells sponsorships and amkes great video!

[kacyk]

Greg,

Sounds like a good solution but I wish there were a ready made kit that used the existing brackets. However, there are companies that make generic rear facing benches for GM SUV's. I may buy one and have a local shop install it.

[madcat]

http://www.premierhummer.com/hummer_h2_rear_folding_sofa_seat.html

I went with this seat because it slides forward and folds flat and is easily removeable.
Very easy install. The vinyl feals really good and I am really happy with it. For the kids and laying it flat to put cargo on top of it. You might even be able to mount the brackets facing the rear. Bruce out there was very helpful.

[madcat]

LOL 5 girls here too http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

[kacyk]

Thanks madcat,

That's the exact bench we bought for our Pewter H2. I am looking for something that faces backwards. 5 girls, wow! We have 4 girls and 1 boy. The boy is 2 and I believe his father was the devil!

[dochummer]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by passerby:
I went to a junk yard, got a third row seat for a 1989 Chevy Suburban. I took it and got it re-clothed to match the interior.

Then I drilled through the floor and put in exhaust clamps with the "U" of the clamp upside down. This way the seat grabs onto the clamps and is removable.

There winds up being a space between the middle seat and the rear facing seat perfect for a jump starter, flares, first aide kit, fire ext and a charging mag lite. It is all hidden between the seats.

The Suburban seat folds forward (toward the rear of the vehical) so you can put more stuff in the back if needed.

Remember the forward facing monitor so the kids can watch DVD's while sitting backwards!

Our kids love it and are always fighting for it.

Good luck!
Greg </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Do you have any pics of your setup?

[H2Finally]

Is this DOT Street legal? I.e. if stopped by a cop, would you get ticket/tow?

[kacyk]

I know the one from JAT Design is DOT approved but I'm sure any self-mod device would not be.

Or perhaps is it a mere seatbelt issue?

Either way, I've asked Joe at JAT design if he could reverse the seat braces in his bench design so that it could be mounted backwards. I sold my bench last year so I can't look under it to determine if this is easily done or not.

[H2Finally]

kacy, since your first post on this, I've looked at my JAT bench, and no, you can't do this easily. The latching mechanism is not symetrical left to right. You also can't turn just the bench around since the sub-frame is inclined rear to front.

[kacyk]

Thanks for the input. I got an email from Zeta Products (see below) and hopefully they can produce something. Also, a local shop that deals in aftermarket seats and customizing told me that they could do it for about $1,200.00 installed.



Hello:

Thank you for your inquiry. We are currently working on an H2 3rd row seat.
We are trying to incorporate a special mounting system where we can mount it
either rear or forward facing. We will keep your info on file for future
contact. By the way, how did you find our company?


Thank you,

Customer Service Dept.
Zeta Products, Inc.
1060 Garden State Road
Union, NJ 07083
800.688.0221
908.688.0440
908.688.9335 fax
info@zetaproducts.com
info@zetaproducts.net

[passerby]

I'll get some pics. The best part about this seat is that the seat belts are already installed on the 1989 Suburban Seat.

I have done this for my H2 and my Chevy Tahoe. I used 1/2" shank Exhaust bolts that are bigger and stronger then what was in the original Suburban. The seat is going no where. I just set the U-bolts into the floor after marking the carpet with chaulk. Had to play around a bit but the seat is held in firm and the back rests against the middle seat.

Easy to remove as you just pull up on the handle behind the seat and pull it out.

The only thing left on the floor is the U part of the exhaust Ubolts which still allows plenty of cargo.

Greg

[GeorgeSSSS]

Madcat:

I'm interested in the model of 3rd row seat you have. Is it easy to remove and is anything left on the cargo floor?

Thanks,

George SSSS

[passerby]

I picked out a seat at the junk yard from a 1989 Chevy Suburban, 3rd row seat for $50. I had it re-clothed and stuffed for $150. Looks like new and very closely matches the wheat interior.

The seat is easily removed as it has 2 little horizontal C shaped brackets in the front that slide under the exhaust U bolts I installed and two clamps in the back that clamp around two additional exhaust clamps I installed.

When you pull the handle up on the back of the seat, the 2 back clamps open. Pull up and then about 2 inches back to get out of the C clamps in the front of the seat and you are done.

(Tried to draw a clear visual for you)

The seat lowers down as well by the pulling of another handle for more storage.

There is about 4 inches of space under the seat for jumper cables and a flat tool kit.

Behind the seat (between the middle seats and this rear facing seat) there is a triangle space that I store a jump starter, first aide kit, rope, mag lite, tarp, blanket.....hmmmm, I think that is it...oh, and a compressor. It is a nice hiding place.

The seat has it's own seat belts and 2 arm rests.

The only thing on the floor when you remove the seat are 4 super hardened u bolts (upside down) that stick up about an inch. As this is the bottom of the U, they are smooth and rounded so I slide cargo right over them.

I actual threads and nuts point down through the floor.

I hope that gives a good idea. I did this for my Tahoe as well. I can now interchange them.

Hope that helps.
Greg

[kacyk]

I'm purchasing a H1 Jump seat to see if can me modified to fit in the rear of my H2. I like the compact size of this bench. I'll post pics if it works. Here's the bench in the H1.

[madcat]

GeorgeSSSS, it takes less than 60sec to remove the seat. There are two large "wing-nuts" you unscrew and just lift it out. The mounting brackets are the only things left inside. They are prolly 1" high x 1" wide x 18" long
...mounted to the floor on left/right sides next to inside wheel-well covers. Not in way of any cargo. The kids all fight over the new "bus-seat". Our 3yr old wants to just be left to play inside and always says.."can i play in yer Humma' Dad?". They all have fun back there now. They climb in/out thru the lift-gate.

[GeorgeSSSS]

Madcat: Thanks very much for the info. It's impossible to figure out unless you know someone.

BTW: How to the 18" brackets attach to the floor?

Best regards,

George

[madcat]

George, the holes are already there. (spare tire support holes and 3rd row seat holes) You need to fold or cut the carpet back just enough to mount the new-seat brackets. Very easy install.