[Geoman]

I know there were some posts early on in the release of the passenger vans that suggested that removal of the first two rows of rear seats is a big job. I am looking at replacing my 07 Sprinter 144 passenger model with either a new Sprinter or a Transit MR Long. I use the van for work during the week and often add the benches back in on the weekends for family outings and for vacations. My work stuff is set up to come out in about 5 minutes or less (and it forces me to reorganize when I load up again!). If the Transit benches are difficult to get out It would be a deal breaker for me. I also am not too sure about having the AC bump right in the back there, but that might be mitigated by the slightly longer cargo space? There are none around that I can look at here, so any help would be appreciated.

So basically my question is: how easily do the first two rows of seats come out of the van, and when they are out is the floor flat or do the seat connections stick up above the floor?

 

[orton]

I know there were some posts early on in the release of the passenger vans that suggested that removal of the first two rows of rear seats is a big job. I am looking at replacing my 07 Sprinter 144 passenger model with either a new Sprinter or a Transit MR Long. I use the van for work during the week and often add the benches back in on the weekends for family outings and for vacations. My work stuff is set up to come out in about 5 minutes or less (and it forces me to reorganize when I load up again!). If the Transit benches are difficult to get out It would be a deal breaker for me. I also am not too sure about having the AC bump right in the back there, but that might be mitigated by the slightly longer cargo space? There are none around that I can look at here, so any help would be appreciated.

So basically my question is: how easily do the first two rows of seats come out of the van, and when they are out is the floor flat or do the seat connections stick up above the floor?

Highly recommend renting a U-Haul van for one week to help make the decision. You will be surprised at the difference.

I am sure someone will sell a kit to make the seats easier to remove.

 

[CrewVanMan]

Geoman

Let me know your location via zip code and I can let you know about inventory on the Transits. You may have to travel a few miles to look at them, but there are certain dealers that now have a good variety of inventory on the vans as well as the wagons.

Also do you know of any NEW car shows in your area? Some of those shows have the Transits as part of the Ford display and some even have the conversions vans for you to look at and price. Just had the DFW Auto Show in Dallas and they had both the High Roof Extended van and 2 Transit conversions by Explorer Vans.

 

[PeterR]

Welcome to the forum!

This site's search function powered by Google works pretty well (boxes to right). Here are the results for "seat removal" in quotes:

http://www.fordtransitusaforum.com/...=FORID:11&ie=UTF-8&q="Seat+removal"&sa=Search

My impression is that the rear bench seat in all Wagons comes out easily, and that all other bench seats can be removed with one or two screwdrivers as replacements for the OEM quick-release handles at the rear.

The exceptions are the single rear seats on the right in certain seating configurations, which require a large Torx or other special wrench/tool.

I believe that the floor is flat after removal.

Check user name rmcnelly for photos.

Good luck.

Edit 10:55 AM EDT -- see here:

http://www.fordtransitusaforum.com/76289-post3.html

 

[Whitedog]

The seats are easy to remove. The only caveat to that is that Ford only provides the handles for one set of seats. But if you contact your friendly Ford dealer, I'm sure that they could order a second set of handles for you. They are a five minute installation. It's just a loop that goes down and is attached to the release lever by a roll pin.

Here is a picture:

 

[Airedrifter]

The seats are easy to get out. As noted the rear seats have easy latches. I can take all the rows out (not including the jump seat) in about 10 minutes. I still haven't actually taken the jump seat out as it is bolted in with Torx bolts and I just never needed it out enough to deal with it. I'm sure with an impact Torx socket and a break bar, the seat would be removable in just a couple of minutes.

The other rows have basically the same latches as the rear row without the unlock lever. A screwdriver lifting the locking tab is all it takes. I will note that some rows have three latches, as a result, it is hard for one person to unlatch all three. I have done it after a few times but it is much easier with help.

Anyway, after you get the latches released, you just tilt the seat forward and pull back a couple of inches so as to allow the front hook to clear the anchor bar and then lift out. I found the seats surprisingly heavy.

 

[walkinghispath]

Do you happen to have the part number for the handles?