In another post you said you reconfigured your seating to move the four seat bench up a row. Were the holes already there for moving the bracket? I would like to be able to move my last seat forward a row but don't what to mess with the carpet unless I know the holes are likely to be there. Thanks in advance.

 

Al,

No, the holes were not there, but it was very easy. Here is what I did:

NOTE and Disclaimer: I used the Row 3 brackets instead of the huge Row 4 brackets. Keep in mind that if you are carrying 4 adults on the 4 seater bench you may want ot use the bigger brackets. I do not do that and I am willing to live with the 4 seat bench attaching to the smaller brackets.

I went to a home improvement store and purchased a steel structural strap with holes in it made by Simpson to use as a backing plate for the new mounting. I think it was a 12 inch one that I cut in half and had to slightly open up the holes. I also purchased 4 high quality nuts that had the same thread as the Ford TORX head bolts, plus 4 large washers and lock washers. I also purchased at Lowes, 16 plastic push in hole plug things to fill the 4 holes from row 3 plus the 12 holes for Row 4 that I wasn't going to use for brackets.

With that said

First:
The Drivers side brackets for Row 3 and and Row 4 line up the same, so no drilling required or moving required. That was easy

Next: Remove the two Row 3 Passenger side Brackets. 4 TORX bolts, you may need to squirt penetrating oil on the underside of the van to help them to loosen up. You may need a breaker bar to get them loose. Make sure you have the right size TORX driver.

Next. Move the 4 seat bench up to the row 3 position and attached it to the drivers side brackets and aligned the seat so it it was even across the van. Then put the two loose mounting brackets into the slots on the passenger side of the seat, make sure the brackets are well seated and centered in the slots. Mark the 4 holes on the carpet with a marker. remove the brackets from the seat and move the seat out of the way.

I then used an exacto knife to make an "x' cut in the carpet at each of the four spots . This is so the drill can fit through and not rip the carpet. There is not much to run into below but first check and see and still be careful to just get the hole cleared and then pulllback on the drill.

Drill the 4 holes with the right size drill bit to allow for the TORX bolts to fit through.
I put the seat brackets in place from above making sure to put the front one with the hole in front and the one with the tapered slot in the rear. Clean up up the drill shavings. Put the TORX bolts in all 4 of the holes so they are through the floor.

From underneath put the backing plate on and secure with the large flat washer, lock washer and then nut. Do the same for the other bracket. Make sure they are tight. You may need someone in the van to hold the TORX bolt while the nuts below are tightened. (If you have a welder you could weld this assembly in place after you get them all aliugned and positioned. I did not have one)

Mount the 4 seater bench onto your newly relocated brackets and presto you are done. It took longer to drive to the Home Depot / Lowes then it did to drill and mount.

Next I made a pretty coiol platform for behind the seats that I can use as a bed sideways with storage under. That was a bit more entailed I can send pictures if you like for that or the seat mounts. Just let me know......

Good Luck, you will love it,.

 

Thanks for the info. If I do this I definitely want to be able move the seat back and forth between rows as needed. I would only move it forward occaisionally, like on long trips. I'll have to think about more before I take the plunge and start drilling. I'm not sure I would use it enough to make it worthwhile.

 

Trick to this would be to get another set of mounting brackets (the two for the passenger side) and mount in Row 3 passenger side since the driver side ones work for the 4 seater bench. This would give you the flexibility you want. Wrecking yard with a passenger van should have them.