How easy do the 2nd row seats flip up on the 09 up models to get into the 3rd row?
Do you need to fold it in half (back down) first and then lift up on the seat.

The excursion just has a leaver on it and the whole seat slides forward with the back folding forward some what at the same time.

 

On my wife's 2011 they seats fold in half, and then you pull a strap that makes them unlatch at the back and rotate forward toward the front seats. It's pretty simple and easy to get in and out of the back even for adults. The third row in the Expedition is the most comfortable for adults all around I think (at least compared to the suburban, tahoe, and other models we looked at).

 

Well it's official.

We now own a 2011 Expedition Ltd, Max. Should be here in a few days and then I can dig into the centre console and see what can be done about the jump seat.

 

This...mine has to fold and fold again which sucks with mounted car seats. My wife's QX is as you can slide the 2nd row forward WITHOUT having to remove the car seats or folding. I don't think the QX does seating for 9 in the US/Canada.

 

I have to see how this turns out. Keep us posted.

 

Well, I had some time this afternoon to do a little exploratory investigation into this 20 center seat.

Stopped by the dealer and had a look at an XLT with the seat to try and get logistics on mounting.

Then tore apart the center console to see if I want to shop around for a center seat.

Well it looks like I will be in the market to get a center seat. Looks doable, with some creative fabbing for the brackets for the shift control, also something to mount the rear audio controls to.
Just like I figured for the shifter, it is just a linkage, be a fairly stiff cable, that goes thru a rubber plug thru the floor. Looks like it should be no problem to have it move forward a few inches and even a little left of the position now. I'll have to play it as it goes in for the height. The shifter is a separate unit that is screwed down to the console inside. New brackets will have to be made to mount to, and then some exterior finishing to cover them up,
Probably not be able to use the pull out cup holder under the seat, maybe cut it in half and use half only, but that is again after the seat goes in. Might even be tight but work, fit.
The rear controls will be able to stay on the panel they are now, just will have to come up with a way to mount to the floor brace that the seat will mount onto. Will have to wait and see what it looks like and figure that out as I go.
The seat itself might have to be mounted slightly back of the position it is in in the trucks, but that really is a mute point.
The trucks also have a pull down cup holder, media link under the portion of the dash, that the center console attaches to now, so I might be able to order that part and kinda tie the dash together so it doesn't look like it is missing something. Even if it is just for the finish look.

There are two fairly large plugs that all the audio, rear seat heat and what not electrical, run under the console now, but that should be ok to run under the seat.
Bit of a metal bracket under the console near the front that these electrical plugs snap to, but that will be removed when seat goes in.
The only other thought would be there is a bit of carpet cut out from the area that would be visible in front of the new seat, but I'm thinking a quick fix would be the husky front row liner for the pick up truck, with some notching for the floor shift.

All in all took about 2.5 hours to remove the console, take pics and replace everything. Not bad considering this is the first time.


Video connections for the in seat head rest DVD players. unhooked to remove the console completely out of truck. Kinda tucked in behind the rear of the front seat.


Console out, you can see the electrical plugs that will need to be hidden under the seat. green arrows Maybe even make a bracket to tie them down. We will have to see. Red arrow the truck part for the dash to finish the look. Yellow arrow, bracket that will be removed. Blue arrow, shift linkage,

 

just wondering but why not just install the steering wheel shifter that comes standard on the SSV units? That takes out some of your logistical issues.

 

Sure does, but I don't want this costing more than it needs to.

Have not ruled out getting a wrecker column and new shift cable, probably need new instrument cluster, but still going to pursue this route for now. (just sounds pricy) Didn't get a good chance to look underneath at the shift cable routing when I pulled the console, but there is still the possibility of putting a new hole and having the cable enter the cab a few inches over.

Biggest issue right now is trying to find a seat. Not many people want to ship to Northern Canada, and the town is not big enough to have a decent amount of new wrecks to have seats for the taking.

 

Ok, just want to quick update this thread for those interested.

I finally purchased a 20 section folding seat, and it has finally arrived. Picked it up tonight after work. Of course I had to unwrap it, and do a quick test fit.
Threw it up onto the console to get a general idea of work ability into the opening.
Pics attached.



Back of seat view, with rough spacing.



Front of seat.

Yes it is only cloth, and grey, but both are mute points. The chances of finding a black trimmed one, with leather are pretty non existent. I will be looking for the black leather as time goes on, but wanted to have a usable seat before I have black leather. Might take the plastics off and paint black for now. LOL, probably just install the way it is, being mid winter and no painting inside the house for this guy.

This is a quick test to see if there is going to be room for the gear shift, and it looks totally possible. I will be attempting this on Sat if everything works out. Time of making a mount for the shift lever is going to take the longest, and beauty trim will be scabbed together because I think I will have time constraints.

I will keep you all posted later this weekend or early next week with pics.

 

Is the seat belt part of the seat?

 

Yes,

The shoulder belt is integrated into the seat back, and the buckle snap is bolted onto the side of the seat into the steel bottom rail.

 

Ok, I'm back home, and on the computer posting, soooooooo......



That means the 20 seat is installed and pretty much finished. I will get a husky liner for the center hump area just to finish that off. Will probably get some black carpet and carpet the gear shift support. May even just get lazy and leave it.

Our expy has the headrest dvd players, so that means all the extra wiring is under the console and controls on the back of the console. That just added extra wiring under the 20 seat to deal with that not all will have to contend with. I was able to not have to make new hole in the vehicle, because I hate doing that, and will have no problems putting the console back in when need be to sell.

I ended up drilling some new holes in the F150 20 seat, 1" forward of the rear stock location, just to be able to have the seat moved back a little bit. Used the stock back bolts that hold the console down, to bolt the rear of the 20 seat down. It actually ends up being even with the other seats when they are in the rear most position. That works.

Under the console is a restraint module, that I had to move back a few inches, as the front of the seat bracket was right at that position. I ended up cutting a sheet of stainless and screwing it down with the bolts that hold the front stock bracket from the console. I drilled a hole in the front of the 20 seat rail and bolted that down from underneath of the stainless plate. There are two 5/8" bolts holding the front of the plate down and 1, 1/4" bolt holding the back of the plate down, again only using the stock locations. I was able to screw the restraint module down to the front bolt holding the front of the seat down.

I had to remove the front cup holders front the 20 seat to be able to put all the wiring back under the seat, but was able to use the little cubby under the 20 bottom seat. Kinda figured I would loose the cup holders just because of the gear shift location. I might end up making something in the front, under the dash for cup holders, as there are none in the front now, but none of them really worked for my stainless coffee cup, so no real loss there.

I used some alum tubing that I had at work. 4 1/2" x 1 3/4". Ended up using 3 screwed together to get the required width for the gear shift. Screwed 2 together and then bolted that down using the drivers side stock 5/8" bolt that held the front console mounting bracket down to the floor. Pic will explain. Then added the third tube to those.

All in all not a huge job, just a little bit of time to sort out the stock bolting locations, and the wiring and sync module under the console. 2 modules are bolted under the console and all the wiring has to come off and go back into the expy, all hiding in the front section of the 20 seat where the cup holders would go.

Back of the rear with all the controls mounted. I used 1/8: lexan and bent into shape and screwed that to the seat steel rail, and screwed all the rear controls down.




Passenger view of the gear shift. Bolted down and then screwed a thin pc of plexi over the open side, just so it keeps fingers and objects from that area. Put the silver plastic trim back on and the plexi is tucked under into the groove to hold the top. You can just see one of the large bolt together connections of wiring. Just not long enough from under the dash to be able to hide it completely under the seat.



Before the pc of plexi went on. You can now see why I did that plexi pc. I also used a pc of carpet underlay into the area that is factory cut out for the front bracket for the console to screw down to the body. Just enough room at the front of the gear shift to get your hand around while using.




View of the 2 pcs of alum tubing, and how I bolted it down in stock local. The front I used some stainless and screwed that to the bottom of the tubing, and tucked it under the front venting tube that runs under the dash in that area. Turned out to be very sturdy.



Front shot of 20 seat installed. the drivers seat is in the rear most position for the shot.




Took about 8 hrs to complete the job, from home to home. The seat is doable for an adult, but would be cramped for a long trip. Still decent leg room when I sat in there to test.

 

Nice work! I would like to see what you do with the shifter once it's finished.

Also cant imagine it would cost that much to get a black leather or leatherette seatcover for that.

 

I was finally able to order in a husky center hump liner for a F150 to place on the floor around the console.

Sorry for the blurry pic of the passenger side. You can see my quick added cup holder on the side of the shifter. Seems to work pretty decent. That will get screwed on top when I finally track some black carpet. Now that the weather is warmer I can start the hunt for some thru a local upholstery shop.




Drivers side view. I was able to tuck the edge of this side under the alum a little to hold it in place. Seemed to work well and finish off nicely.



More to come as I get the black carpeting on to finish this build. The black seat cover has not been a priority at all, but I might start looking for a cover.