My wife thinks this project is several months behind schedule since summer is clearly now over, but what she doesn't realize is this project is actually ahead of schedule for summer of 2016 . Shhessh silly girls, don't they know this stuff takes time to plan out, scrounge parts and then execute ?

Anyhow, the plan is to make a secure mount but still keep the ARB freezer/fridge easily removable.

I didn't want to mount it in the cargo area because I frequently travel to Baja Mexico and camp out of the back and leaving an expensive item outside over night even on a seemingly remote beach is just a invitation for trouble.

I found these leather buckets out of a 98 Lincoln Navigator and the color seems to match my 01 ex just fine.

Test fitting everything still but it looks like I will be able to gain 10" of leg room for the second row seating and still have about 6' 7" of flat cargo room for my air mattress with the seats folded forward.

The yellow string on the floor is the old seat mount line.

The ARB will be painted to match the tan plastic trim in the EX and the top will be covered in in a yet to be determined darker leather. Thinking a chestnut to match the darker dash color.

Anyhow, some pics....

 

It's hard to get good interior pics but the 3rd seat is still functional although legs room is now strictly kid sized. I didn't think that was to big of a deal since that is the only passengers I have ever had sit back there.

My 6'7" son can sure stretch out in the second row though !!!!

Plus these buckets recline !!!!! Double win.

 

Front seat is moved all the way back, you can gauge the placement and additional leg room by the floor mat.

 

I didn't measure the access to the 3rd row seat with the OEM second row seats installed but access with the navigator seats where I have them seems no worse or better.

 

looking good!!

 

This is interesting. Does the fridge run on battery or the alternator? Do you have a separate system to keep it on for expeditions?

 

Can't wait to see it finished!

 

It will run off 12v DC or 110v AC.
On 12v battery power it only draws .85 amp hrs. There are 3 settings to choose from on how far you want it to draw down your battery before shutting off. This keeps you from having a dead battery if you forget to recharge.
Depending on the outside temps and what temp you set the unit for I can go 2 or 3 days before needing to run run the vehicle to recharge the batteries.

Obviously keeping ice cream ( or meat ) frozen when it is 100 degrees out will shorten the time over keeping beers cold when it is 85* outside.

We have used these for years and love them. So much so I am finally building it a permenant home

Here is a link with some mfg info.
http://www.arbusa.com/uploads/PDF/ne...s_PR_media.pdf

Edit...... I run it off my Factory 7.3 dual battery setup.

 

Me too lol

I used a roto broach and drilled the spot welds out of the floor section of the Lincoln that has the mounts, but now that I have it test fitted I think I am just going to build my own. It is actually pretty simple and I can make a cleaner install by building my own. The Lincoln floor mounts would fab in easy enough but I want to build in a sub floor to put my stereo amps under.

 

Whoops, forgot the pic of the navigators floor section.

 

Pirate, where you located?

 

Northern CA ....... East of Sacramento

 

I....hate....you. I need my rear seats scooted back like yours and I trust your skills

 

Let's see how this turns out but if it goes according to plan I think anybody with a drill and a tape measure could accomplish the task.

But if you want to hate me, Hate me because I scored both seats for $40
Gotta love pick and pull 1/2 off days. Yes I spent Black Friday in a junk yard ! Lmao

I also nabbed the front center console.... I guess I should post a pic of that as well.

top pad and the side pockets will be recovered in the same dark leather i go with for the ARB fridge. I will probably end up painting the plastic as it is just off color enough that as of now it is bugging me.

 

speaking of Black friday....

I have been looking for a 2wd 7.3 Ex as a project to build into my rendition of a rat rod but this one was well beyond my skills to revive. So we raped it.

had the kids come over and help me pirate off a "few" parts... carted off the rear doors and hatch, front doors, dash, trim, switches, computer, and pretty much everything else we could manage before it got dark. best $250 shopping trip ever !!!!