Help me fit a bench seat in the back of my truck

[sixstringsteve]

Here are my needs:

- fit two average sized adults in the back of my truck (6'0" or shorter)
- I still want to run a sleeping platform in the back of my truck in the winter, so the seat either has to be really easy to remove, or it needs to fold down flat, and be less than 12" tall when folded up (that's the height of my platform)
- I'd like the seats rear-facing so they can utilize the strength of the B-pillar in the unfortunate case of a rollover (mainly on-street)
- I don't want to convert this to a 4runner unless I have to. Moving the tank and losing my spare tire is too big of a cost for rear seats.


I know it sounds like some impossible criteria, but I'm confident the RME community can help me come up with a solution.

I plan on a soft top shade canopy for the people in the back.



A few more details.
- when I sit flat on the ground, not reclining, I have 35" from the ground to the top of my head.
- from the bed of my truck to the top of the cab it's ~ 37' tall.
- when I sit on a TJ seat back there, my head sticks up about 4" above the roof of the cab, and I'm not a tall person.
- it's roughly 40" between the rear fenders

This bar will be used for the shade canopy.

TJ rear seat:

Even angled back it's just too tall.

 

[sixstringsteve]

I'm open to bucket seats, and even samurai seats. I think some sidekick rear seats could be cool if they're the split seats. I think that by leaning them back I'll be able to get an adult's head to clear the roof.

Are there any people here around 6 feet tall who can measure their height while sitting indian-style on the ground?

 

[Kevin B.]

I'm 6'4" and measured 40 inches to the top of my head, sitting on the ground.

Why would you have to lose your spare? There should be room to fit your seats facing forward under the rollbar if you drop the bed. Then you could stash the spare under the seat.

 

[sixstringsteve]

I would lose my spare because I"d have to put the gas tank where the spare is. Check out Steve's thread here:
http://www.rme4x4.com/showthread.ph...unner-conversion&highlight=4runner+conversion


We actually saw this rig up AF Canyon on Saturday.

 

[4554x4]

I have an extra Blazer rear bench. Its 47" wide, bottom cushion is 8" tall from the floor, blue,faded, fair condition and free.

 

[sixstringsteve]

thanks 455. I think that's going to be too thick and too wide. I have my stock front Tacoma bench seat that's 50" wide, but it won't fit between the fenders.

 

[Kevin B.]

I would lose my spare because I"d have to put the gas tank where the spare is. Check out Steve's thread here:
http://www.rme4x4.com/showthread.ph...unner-conversion&highlight=4runner+conversion


We actually saw this rig up AF Canyon on Saturday.

Yeah, I've seen that rig a couple times, I like it.

Spare under the benchseat or on a rear tire carrier doesn't work for you? Just throwing out ideas.

 

[sixstringsteve]

the problem I have is that even sitting on the floor, your head would stick out above the cab. So if you put a tire under it, your head would stick out WAY more. I'd like to do something like this:

[video=youtube;LOL3WpzNMGI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOL3WpzNMGI[/video]

However, that's a full-size truck, so they're going to have a lot more room for their head.

 

[Kevin B.]

Well, ok, 1st gen 4Runner seats are a split bench - two seats and two backs. Could you take something like that and convert it to be part of your sleeping platform?

I just don't know where they're going to put their feet, if the seat bottoms are flush with the platform.

 

[sixstringsteve]

no matter the angle, I couldn't get the TJ seat to feel comfortable. If it could recline back about 10-15* more, that'd be great.

I just found that boxrocket on TTORA (local SLC guy) did something similar. I'll have to pick his brain about it.

http://www.ttora.com/forum/showthread.php?t=189234

 

[jentzschman]

That is pretty cool Steve.

 

[Kevin B.]

Wait, I've got it. Two beanbags and a ratchet strap!

It'd be perfectly safe.

 

[sixstringsteve]

I like the way you think Kevin!

 

[sixstringsteve]

I think my best bet is going to be some low-profile bucket seats that I can recline/tip back a bit. my 4runner buckets measure about 36-37" from the bottom of the floor. If I could find something with less cushion and height, I think I could make it work.

 

[airmanwilliams]

There was a pair of those plastic racing seats on ksl for $30 I think that would bolt fairly low and no cushion

 

[mesha]

Come take a look at my corbeau. Much lower profile than a TJ seat. You could rig the 4 mounting tabs below the bed, but you wouldn't need to cut the floor out. I bet you could make it fit.

 

[idahoyj]

How about this? Subaru brat seats would be sweeeet!
http://twinfalls.craigslist.org/pts/3108592340.html

 

[sixstringsteve]

Brat seats would be amazing. I'd probably want the ones with headrests.

 

[zukijames]

Steve does the Tj seat no recline? Could you mount the bottom flat. And cut the back support recline it to where it's needed and weld it back up?

Or just use boat seats.. Plus they svival!

If you use a low back seat you could mount a head rest onto a roll bar or something on the back of your cab. So people are not banging there heads on your back window.

 

[sixstringsteve]

the TJ seats don't recline. They stay at a 90*. Plus the butt cushion is so thick it puts your head too high.