[thattransit]

I just picked up the Transit wagon today and successfully installed the seat backward. See pictures:

 

[USMC Vet]

I just picked up the Transit wagon today and successfully installed the seat backward. See pictures:

thattransit,

Welcome to the Forum.
Congratulations on your modification.
Although I would hate to be the driver in your Transit. Looks like they would be unable to make any seating adjustments other than sliding the seat forward
Can't recline a little like the passenger can.


Semper Fi

 

[thattransit]

Very true, although what you saw in the picture is the position of the driver seat at its maximum length. I am not tall, so I sit a bit closer so no problem reclining the front seat at all. Another option is to move the whole set up one row back and the driver will have plenty of room to recline.

 

[ilovehotshot]

Which seat did you use backwards? Since it has carpet on the back it appears to be the very last seat.

 

[meldog21]

I like it. If you made a box of the right proportions with a padded top you could use that area as a bed too. I think I see some DIY mods in my near future.

Dog

 

[thattransit]

ilovehotshot, Yes, it is the last left rear seat of the 12 passenger wagon, the only seat you can use backward. First, I removed the three-seat bench and the two seat bench from the second and the third row, first row being driver and passenger seat up front. Then I moved the fourth row seat on the driver's side up to the third row and finally moved the fourth row seat on the passenger which I switched backward to the first row position. It's a bit confusing the way I described the whole thing but I hope you understand. I am thinking of building a bed if I decide to move the two-seat bench on the driver's side back to its original position, leaving the turn-around seat in its first row position, giving me at least 72 inches in length for the bed between the back rests.

 

[Thirtynine]

Yes, it is the last left rear seat of the 12 passenger wagon, the only seat you can use backward.

With the 8 passenger option (2 seats of 3 persons) could you reverse one or both of them?

Also could you move one of the row further back (as a 4th row - which I think could exist on the 8 passenger because it could have been converted to a 10 passenger)

 

[kenjent]

I have successfully modified and added the seat tracks to give us the many configurations that we might use.

The second row can be configured to have two, three, or four place seats. The two place seat can also be installed backward if need be. When the four place seats are installed, the most right seat will be right next to the sliding door. There is no room to walk to the back area.

The third row can be configured to have the single or two place seats on the right side. The single seat was also modified to have the quick release for easy removal.

 

[Thirtynine]

I have successfully modified and added the seat tracks to give us the many configurations that we might use.

The single seat was also modified to have the quick release for easy removal.

would you mind to share some details

The second row can be configured to have two, three, or four place seats. The two place seat can also be installed backward if need be. When the four place seats are installed, the most right seat will be right next to the sliding door. There is no room to walk to the back area.

The third row can be configured to have the single or two place seats on the right side.

So you removed your vinyl or carpet flooring first or did you find plans on the BEMM? If I want to put the 3rd row 3-seater of an 8-passenger in the 4th row do you know if I need to add seat tracks like you did?

With the smaller 2nd row 3-seater of the 8-passenger, putting it backward should leave enough room to come in from the (passenger side) sliding door. Could it be done, even if that would make it harder to go from driver seat to back area?

 

[kenjent]

would you mind to share some details
So you removed your vinyl or carpet flooring first or did you find plans on the BEMM? If I want to put the 3rd row 3-seater of an 8-passenger in the 4th row do you know if I need to add seat tracks like you did?

With the smaller 2nd row 3-seater of the 8-passenger, putting it backward should leave enough room to come in from the (passenger side) sliding door. Could it be done, even if that would make it harder to go from driver seat to back area?

I do not think the BEMM have the seat track info. My vehicle is a wagon, so it has a floor panel installed above the floor tracks. I removed the floor panel to get to the seat tracks. The pictures in the previous thread show what it would look like with the floor panel and without (tracks are visible).


You will have to add the seat tracks at the new position.


The 3-seater has three attachment legs that are not symmetrical. Even if it is possible to install the 3-seater backward, it will not be a easy task to reverse it back when you need to. The 2-seater can be flip back in 5 minutes.

 

[hallfleming]

I'd like to add a mount so I could move the back row 3 seat from my 8 passenger to the 1st row behind the driver instead of the 2 seater. That would give my a 8 passenger configuration with more luggage room for trips. Has anyone tried this? Assuming I'd need the floor mount and would need to cut the carpet...

 

[kenjent]

I'd like to add a mount so I could move the back row 3 seat from my 8 passenger to the 1st row behind the driver instead of the 2 seater. That would give my a 8 passenger configuration with more luggage room for trips. Has anyone tried this? Assuming I'd need the floor mount and would need to cut the carpet...

I am assuming your vehicle is a short wheelbase configured as a 10 seater. The short wheelbase is also available as an 8 seater. I have seen the 8 seater configured with two rows of 3 seater in the back. So I would assume the additional track is available for you to do what you want. You just need to add the 3rd seat track. The fastener locations for this 3rd seat track is mostly visible from under the vehicle.

When I was installing the seat tracks, the most forward fastener location is the only location that is not accessible. The fasteners is encased by the crossbeam below. So, there is no access from below. I installed two additional seat tracks at this forward seat location. Two fasteners fell into this crossbeam location. I got lucky with one location where the factory welded fastener is pre installed. I still had to tap the hole for a 12mm bolt. I installed a 12mm rivet-nut at the second location.

In the first picture in post #8 , the short track on the right is used for the 3 seater at this forward location.

 

[walkinghispath]

Did you happen to see any easy way of changing the spacing between the seats? The rear of the Transit has less legroom than the rear of my old Sprinter. I'd gladly sacrifice a foot of (enormous) cargo volume to not hear whining.

 

[glong]

Kenjent: What is involved in removing the false floor that is on top of the rails? I have removed all my factory rear seats and want to replaced them with 2 nice seats, then add a couch or bed, etc. It looks like this may be easier to do if I remove and discard the false floor. And probably discard the rails too. What do you think?

 

[K4CDN]

Looking to remove the rear-most row of seats and do 4 across in the 3rd row of my 15 pass Wagon. I'll be following this thread for further info. Thanks In Advance!

 

[swellguy]

Installing seats in cargo van

I have successfully modified and added the seat tracks to give us the many configurations that we might use.

The second row can be configured to have two, three, or four place seats. The two place seat can also be installed backward if need be. When the four place seats are installed, the most right seat will be right next to the sliding door. There is no room to walk to the back area.

The third row can be configured to have the single or two place seats on the right side. The single seat was also modified to have the quick release for easy removal.

These are great pictures, Kenjent. I'm moving a single and double to a cargo van, I think I can configure my seat mounts almost exactly like this, so this is very helpful. One difference is that my single is a special-purpose one that is not reversible nor switchable with a double mount because it has screws in the back instead of the latches.

I'll post pics when I do mine.

When folks re-arranged their seats to drill into the center area with the exhaust and/or driveshaft, what did you do? Can you do it without removing the heat shield? I want to put some 1/8" or 1/4" steel plates or angles under there to support the seats from below. I'm hoping I can get away with removing heat shield at most and not the exhaust or driveshaft.

Also, what are folks doing with the boron area? If it's no-drill/weld, do you glue it or something, or do nothing?

Thanks in advance.

 

[kenjent]

When folks re-arranged their seats to drill into the center area with the exhaust and/or driveshaft, what did you do? Can you do it without removing the heat shield? I want to put some 1/8" or 1/4" steel plates or angles under there to support the seats from below. I'm hoping I can get away with removing heat shield at most and not the exhaust or driveshaft.

Thanks in advance.

I was able to do the installation without removing the exhaust or heat shield. I used a long socket extension to install the thick washer and nut from below. I will try to take some pictures from below over the weekend.

 

[kenjent]

Kenjent: What is involved in removing the false floor that is on top of the rails? I have removed all my factory rear seats and want to replaced them with 2 nice seats, then add a couch or bed, etc. It looks like this may be easier to do if I remove and discard the false floor. And probably discard the rails too. What do you think?

The false floor is just sitting on top of the van floor only trap by the front trim plate, the side, and rear door step cover. It is not hard to remove the floor but you will need to remove the passenger side B-pillar lower trim pieces to have access to hidden fasteners.

 

[swellguy]

I was able to do the installation without removing the exhaust or heat shield. I used a long socket extension to install the thick washer and nut from below. I will try to take some pictures from below over the weekend.

Did you use class 10 washers, fender washers by chance? I'm going with class 10 flange nuts, can't seem to find class 10 fender washers. How do you feel about washers v. the welded in nuts like they have in the passenger vans? I know from talking to an after-market installer locally that he uses washers only as well. I would think at least a plate would be required.

 

[kenjent]

Did you use class 10 washers, fender washers by chance? I'm going with class 10 flange nuts, can't seem to find class 10 fender washers. How do you feel about washers v. the welded in nuts like they have in the passenger vans? I know from talking to an after-market installer locally that he uses washers only as well. I would think at least a plate would be required.

You can use grade 8 SAE fender washer if you can not find class 10.
I used Ford oem bolts/plate/clips above floor with individual 3/16 thk steel plate/class 10 nut/class 10 lock washer at the bottom. I would be comfortable with class 10 fender washer at a minimum.
I did not use fender washer at some locations for the right/center track because the fasteners are centered on the flange of one of the longitudinal beam.