Looking for comments/ info on load floor gap ~6" between rear of 2nd row seats when folded and the rearward load floor on 03/04 Expys.
Current 99 has flat floor (no gap) which the wife likes when kids are in 3rd row and the middle is open for dog, loading groceries etc. thru back doors, etc.
Do all 03 and newer have this gap? Is it really a problem? Currently shopping for a 03/04 for the wife and she is concerned about it. I didn't think it was a big deal, but it is her vehicle...
Our 99 has a fold over flap which creates the flat floor when the 2nd row is folded; did Ford eliminate this to save some money?

 

I don't like the gap on the 03, but I REALLY didn't like busting a gut lifting the 3rd row seat out of my 00.

Even trade for me.

 

A good point...

 

the gap doesn't bother me. i also have kids but if i had a dog i would put the kids in the 2nd row, fold the 3rd row flat, put a wire pet/luggage partition behind the 2nd row so the dog doesn't go flying through the windshield in an accident situation. good luck

 

I don't like the gap thing either in my 04 (well kind of), with my 2000 Expy during the summer we go to the drive-in and back it up and open the rear up. Everything is nice and flat. The 3rd row actually was cool in this type of situation ONLY because it also substituded as an outdoor sofa.

With that said, that only happened once a month if that. Being able to fold that baby down and not have to pull the bench out is worth it. Why couldn't they try that flap thing on the back of the 2nd rows seats, as they did in my 2000 Expy. It looked kind of cheesy if sitting in the third row. But it would have made it totally flat.

 

I stuffed a few pillows in there and my twin air matress fit perfectly in there with the rear hatch shut. Kept my booty warm on that sub freezing camping trip.

I'm no princess, but I don't think a princess could have noticed either.

To offer a solution that would work for other than sleeping arrangements, a carpeted piece of plywood would work fabulous.

Good Luck,
D

 

i'm going to try that one on my next trip. both kids in the back (with the seats folded down) and me and the wife in the front seats. it's gotta be be as comfortable or better than sleeping in a tent. : - X22