Rear seat project
Long time no update. I have been working away at this one for a year! There are a lot of requirements/configurations that I wanted to have, so it took a lot of thought…..plus I never really want to completely finish. Key requirements:
- Box seat mode
- 1 seat mode with access to back
- Bench seat mode
- Seat belts
I built the box first using the Kreg screw system, and attaching it to the floor via the factory seat lugs and some L-track mounted to the wall. The box and cover are cut with a 2.5 degree tilt, so it can either be flat in box mode or canted by 5 degrees in seat mode. This box makes for great storage being shielded from hot cold and critters.
Next came a prototype seat back to check the ergonomics……used that for ~6 months. We just used a foam sleeping pad for cushion. A lap belt attached to the L-track and another Factory seat lug behind. Last time I had the floor up I drilled thru to all the holes in both the sheet metal corrugated floor and in the plywood floor, so I could access all holes M12 when needed.
I built another removable seat portion at 5 degree cant to fill in the other part of the bench. Then I covered the seats with 2 in foam and a waterproof synthetic Suede.
The back was the most complicated bit…..requiring the most thought. I wanted it to support either 1 or 2 seats, and allow straight access into the back in 1 seat mode. A bar across the bed supports would have been easy but I got a suggestion from one of Inertiaman’s friends to build a triangular support off the angle bed support on the wall. That worked pretty good, and can quickly disassemble or assemble with 3 pins.
The back is 2 pieces of plywood connected by some piano hinges. 1 seat mode just has it folded onto itself. The mid section on one side is supported by the angle triangle. The bottom edge plugs into a C channel at 15 degrees on the box seat. And the third side rests in a groove on a piece of wood on the other side of the van.
A few more lap belts for the second seat attached to more L-track and factory seat lugs in
the floor.
There are still a few finishing touches but it’s 95% done now. This was the last feature in my original list to get completed.