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rear bucket seats?

bp71k5

bp71k5

3/4 ton status
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Knoxville, TN 37922
Just mulling over some ideas...

I'm considering ditching my rear bench seat for two low-back bucket seats. I know Bear has done that, but I'm curious if anyone else has seen something like that or has pictures? For reference, I'm considering the Corbeau baja lowback seats.

A set of four bucket seats cost only $5 more than the 2+1 bucket option and there could be two advantages:

1. Better support for each rear passenger seat

2. I may be able to remove the two seats separately to haul junk around instead of a larger/heavier single seat. It opens up some interesting options for a rear console\cup holders as well. :D
 
I like the idea of making them removable to allow for more hauling option's.

Going for the party wagon thing are we? :p:
 
vtblazer said:
Going for the party wagon thing are we? :p:
Click to expand...

Lately it's been more of a kid party, but even with new cushions and covers, these old seat frames just aren't real comfy or conducive to using harness belts. The lowback baja's look fairly close to the original style and are even the pretty close to the same dimensions. It's tough to avoid thinking about it even though it might be sacreligious. :)
 
No, the weather here has been so crazy, I wonder when I'll ever get to take the top off again. :crazy:

Also my K5 has been a kid party for quite some time and seats that fit were necessary. The removal of the seat(s) and frame is much harder now but they're much safer too.
 
Having bucket seats and harnesses with some space in the middle is really nice for keeping the peace and giving them each their own space. Getting them sized for the kids has also worked out well.
 
bigblock72 said:
If you do it right you can move the seats forward from the original bench seat location and free up a lot of room behind the seats for the long trips.
Click to expand...

Actually I do plan to move them forward a bit to clear the spare tire. My biggest issue for the last few months has been trying to find a way to quick-release the rear seats so I can fit the junk I bought at home depot without needing to remember to bring tools first. The more I look at it the more it seems just bolting the seats down is the safest and easiest solution. It takes longer to remove, but at least I know how bolts work and I know how they fail. I can't say that about lynch-pins, cam-locks, or the other types of things that enable quick removal.

Maybe if I just put the mounting bolts in an easy to access place it, it won't be such an ordeal.
 
bp71k5 said:
The more I look at it the more it seems just bolting the seats down is the safest and easiest solution. It takes longer to remove, but at least I know how bolts work and I know how they fail.
Click to expand...

The seats had two unique mounting positions. I built the frame to sit a little closer to the front and then placed the seats in a more reward position. I can move them forward like two inches IIRC.

The four bolt holes for the frame mount / seat belts were already there and reinforced and welded nuts to the body so I wouldn't need anyone to hold them while I turn the bots. Also using grade 8 bolts which I already had just seemed to make sense. In the front position the bolts I wanted to use (matching size) were larger than the original mounting. So I drilled them out and although it looks like I double nutted them from the outside, it's just one single nut over another without threads.

I had the same quandary about pins / quick removal but for as difficult as the top is to remove and how infrequent I assume I'll be installing and removing the seat I just went the safer cheaper route.

Also these seats are great but I have two complaints: 1)They're for small adults or large kids. 2)They smell funny - not funny ha ha but like a Chinese goat gave it's all for the material or something. another reason I cannot wait for summer and going topless.
 
NV_K5 said:
Also these seats are great but I have two complaints: 1)They're for small adults or large kids. 2)They smell funny - not funny ha ha but like a Chinese goat gave it's all for the material or something. another reason I cannot wait for summer and going topless.
Click to expand...

Yuck! :) I've been debating cloth vs. vinyl and both have drawbacks. Leather is actually pretty easy to clean and hard to stain so it makes a pretty good option but is pretty expensive.
 
bp71k5 said:
Yuck! :) I've been debating cloth vs. vinyl and both have drawbacks. Leather is actually pretty easy to clean and hard to stain so it makes a pretty good option but is pretty expensive.
Click to expand...

Not to mention leather and vinyl can reach the temperature of a branding iron when the top is off.:eek1:
 
I came up with an idea for quick removal or the rear seats that i'm going to do. You start off with some 1.5" square tube and probably 2" square tube. Mount the 1.5" to the floor and use some 1/8" plate under the body for strength. Then, take the 2" square tube and cut one side off so that it sits over/around the 1.5". drill 2 (.5") holes through both pieces for a trailer pin to fit and secure the two together. once that's doen you can weld the seats to the 2' and vualla, you have a removable rear seat. Make the 1.5" square tube longer and you can have a removable storage tray/bin.

I came up with the idea so that i can remover and or turn the rear seat around for those times in the desert where you are watching people go up hills or doing whatever
 
72BigBlazer said:
I came up with the idea so that i can remover and or turn the rear seat around for those times in the desert where you are watching people go up hills or doing whatever
Click to expand...

Dude that's a pretty great idea.

And since I'm trying to make it comfortable for my kids I wend with cloth. But while the top is on they refuse to ride in it.
 
Brian. I have PRP seats in front and a custom PRP bench in the rear. with a family of three I wish I would have gone with a single bucket in the back placed on the passengers side. The bench looks good but the buckets look good too but are more practicle. I you go to the expense of bucket in the rear spend just a little bit more and get nylon or canvas covers for them when you go off road or just to keep the sun off them. With covers available i'd go with cloth.
 
Big Blzn said:
Brian. I have PRP seats in front and a custom PRP bench in the rear. with a family of three I wish I would have gone with a single bucket in the back placed on the passengers side. The bench looks good but the buckets look good too but are more practicle. I you go to the expense of bucket in the rear spend just a little bit more and get nylon or canvas covers for them when you go off road or just to keep the sun off them. With covers available i'd go with cloth.
Click to expand...

Is the cloth durable? Would the sweat from my "backside" stain the cloth? :o I just had all my seats recovered with the authentic reproduction "houndstooth" vinyl covers (big bucks$$) and some of the stitching is coming loose on the drivers side already. I'm kinda annoyed by that, but there isn't any stains on them yet. The vinyl is a little hot, but it's Cali and I guess I'm used to it.
 
Stains? Well, I don't even want to see myself wheeling without a shirt off let alone giving others the pleasure. My cloth, seems like a hounds tooth type and it has held up very well. No rips or seams comming apart. IIRC, check out the PRP site, I think they sell fairly inexpensive covers. not like a replacement cover or anything like a Wet Okolee seat cover but they are a similar shape to the seat with elastic and draw cord around the edges to cover the seat from rain, sun, dirt, etc.
 
Even with the top off and my shirt on, mine gets hot enough for me to sweat through my clothes. I guess that would be true no matter what the seats are made off.
 
In Northern Nevada don't take the top off before Jun1

Brian, you asked if I had any photo's of the seats without the top on. Normal Nevada weather got the better of me, so here's some:



IMAG0052.jpg


IMAG0058.jpg


IMAG0053.jpg
 
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