relocated my back seat - CJ7

[CrazyHorse6]

Been meaning to do this for awhile. I started with dropping the gas tank and prepared the underside for a reinforcing brace to mount the seat to. I ended up relocating the seat about 5 inches back, or in other words, about 7 1/2 inches forward of the edge of the tailgate, so there is still a little storage room. My tub already had two unused threaded holes in place that I gladly used to mount the front of the seat, and then I drilled three new 7/16" holes in the back. I used 1/8" angle steel for the reinforced brace on the underside of the tub as opposed to just bolting the seat to the body - not nearly enough steel to be safe that route. I then welded the 7/16" nuts to the angled steel and then bolted the angled steel to the underside of the bed. That way I didn't have to worry about losing the nuts if I wanted to remove the seat later on - I can easily remove and reinstall the seat in the future if needed. For the mounting bolts, I ditched the PITA torx head bolts and substituted 7/16"x1 1/4" grade 8 hex head bolts. Additionally, since my seat was beginning to sag, I used some extra pieces of 1"x18" flat steel and ran them on the underside of the seat. I then picked up some pieces of hard foam from an arts and crafts store and wedged the pieces of foam in between the metal strips and the springs of the seat, thereby proving a lot more support without the sag in the middle of the seat. Even was able to get the high lift jack back in - bonus!

[korisu56]

that's pretty awesome man. Not a bad idea for a car seat at all. Jeez, I dunno what I'm going to do when that happens.

[CrazyHorse6]

Thanks man - it actually wasn't just for the car seat - I just wanted the seat pushed back for more legroom for the kid. As you know, the CJ7's don't have a lot of rear seat space.

[korisu56]

its that very fact that had me take it out. It served no purpose for me at this current time. drats.

[HillBillE]

I bought an XJ for family wheeling!

That's a great idea Crazy Horse! Leaving a little room in back, everyone I've seen 'relocated' was pushed all the way back.

Now that my oldest boy is out of the house and has his own Jeep, it's usually just me and my 8YO son, so I removed the rear seat completly from the CJ.

[CrazyHorse6]

Thanks - I hope it turns out to be a good idea. Chris - I almost did take the whole seat out to just bolt his car seat into the floor! Wife wasn't buying it!

[HillBillE]

Thanks - I hope it turns out to be a good idea. Chris - I almost did take the whole seat out to just bolt his car seat into the floor! Wife wasn't buying it!

Master Craft makes 'Junior' bucket seats, with 4 (5?) point harness'.

Might be an option down the road.

I wanted to, but the cost stopped me. And the fact that the 6 doesn't wheel much, so it wasn't really needed. (when the wife wants to wheel, we take both rigs, or just the XJ)

[highlandercj-7]

We have 3 kids now, so the 7 isn't cutting it. I am building a CJ-8 with 3rd row seating so we can all fit.

[trailsnail]

That's a cool idea. You need to post a pic of the interior to show the gain between the seats.

[Ricky Booby]

Master Craft makes 'Junior' bucket seats, with 4 (5?) point harness'.

Might be an option down the road.

I wanted to, but the cost stopped me. And the fact that the 6 doesn't wheel much, so it wasn't really needed. (when the wife wants to wheel, we take both rigs, or just the XJ)

I just ordered the "pre teen" seat for my 6 yr old. Has slots for 5 point belts. I figure she can use it for the next 5 or so years, then she can upgrade to a reg seat. I'll post up pics when it gets put in (along with the new cage).

Bobby