3rd Row Or Not To 3rd Row Thats My Question

I'm happy I got with the 3rd row seat. I fit on the 3rd row seat. However when the 3rd row seat is up cargo space is pretty much useless. As tested on mine here on the video when the 3rd row seat is up I only have 7.5" of cargo space;

https://youtu.be/RnbNDRR9HiQ

 

Just some thoughts:

> Two row setups give you the most height from floor to ceiling but the least length between the front seats and the hatch. They also have a 2-3 inch hump between the cargo floor and the folded down rear seats. Not fun to try to sleep on. Also, you won't be able to stretch out straight unless you are pretty short.

> Two row setups with the sliding cargo tray have the same length but eliminate the hump at the expense of raising the cargo floor 2-3 inches.

> Three row setups lose you 4-5 inches in height from floor to ceiling but gain you a good 6 inches in length between the front seats and the hatch. Even more if you slide the front seats forward (or the driver / front passenger have short legs to begin with). This is because the second row seat bottoms do not need to be folded forward and up toward the back of the front seats, where they’d form a thick wall. Instead, the seat backs just fold down on top of them. This creates a lot of extra length for the cargo hold. It's the same result you'd get by unbolting the seat bottoms in a two-row 4R and leaving them at home, except they're still there if you need them!

Also, the second row seats slide forward and back (and for that matter also recline). Sliding them forward lengthens the floorspace and creates a trough between the cargo floor and the folded seats. This trough can be used for storage -- or to stuff blankets or whatever in there to eliminate the hump.

I went with the third row because I may occasionally need to fit 6 people in the truck. But the above was also a major consideration, because I want to be able to sleep in there stretched out straight. I'm 5'11" and there's no way I could do that with the two row configuration. With the three row I can do it with a lot of length to spare. And even the hump is not a problem if I sleep with my head at the hatch and my feet toward the front seats. In that position, the seats raise your legs instead of the hump being in the middle of your back.

 

I've been thinking of this due to a growing family, but I've heard it's a total pain. Have you found any good videos on how to install the third row? And where did you get your third row seats from?

 

I've only seen a few forum posts, and none of them are very detailed. From what I understand, the false floor comes out and the seats settle into their specific spot, and you mark and drill the floor sheetmetal. Once holes are drilled, there are already threads in place to bolt the seats down to (so drill carefully).

After that, things get a little tougher. Unlike the floor holes, Toyota did not include the mounting points for the upper shoulder seatbelt anchors on 2-row models, so something will need to be fabbed up to attach them to. And you will want to make sure it's as strong as factory.

The last thing, other than some interior trimming for the outer lap belt mounts, is a means of attaching the rear shelf bar. This is the bar that adds stiffness to the rear of the seat assembly so that you can put weight on the rear shelf when the seats are folded down. In the factory 3-row truck, this rear shelf bar attaches to the raised trim areas on either side (2-row trucks do not have this raised trim). I intend to fab up side plates for the seats that will serve this purpose.

This is a project that has been on my back burner for a very long time, at least a year. I intend to fabricate all of the parts myself, and I may decide to produce small runs of parts for others that might be interested as well.

As for where to get the 3rd row seats, look around on the forums or Facebook groups- some SR5/Limited folks are looking to get rid of them to make more room for gear. I picked mine up for a few hundred bucks in San Diego. When you get them, make sure you take ALL of the hardware, the seatbelts, the D-pillar covers with seatbelt openings (I traded my blank ones when I got the seats) and try to get the rear-most piece of trim (it covers the gap between the tailgate rubber seal and the rear of the seats). It won't really look factory due to the mix-match of surrounding trim height, but it's livable.

Also, keep in mind that 3-row trucks have a sliding 2nd row, while 2-row trucks are fixed. Some elect to switch the 2nd row as well, but I have no knowledge about the particulars on that swap. Getting in and out of the 3rd row without sliding/tilting seats may be tougher than you'd like, just a heads up.

 

Thanks for the info! Looks like it is a complicated process. I'm sure we'd all appreciate a write-up and pics when you finally pull the trigger on the mod. Good luck!

 

Can you post the native word for us? Is it german?

 

You don't want the hassle of tying to install a 3rd row in a 2 row model. You don't have the sliding 2nd row which will make it a royal pain in the ass getting in or out. Sell and get 3rd row model.