seat bed question
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Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: SoCal
seat bed question
I was fortunate enough to find an Aerostar in my local u-pul-it uard that had a set of seat/bed benches that were not only in decent condition but also matching color to my van's interior. It was a short bed van.
I can't remember now, but I am almost certain that when I laid both benches down into the bed form, they formed a continuous bed. But when I installed them into my extended van, there is a 2" gap between the leading edge of the rear bench and the rear edge (back rest) of the front bench.
Doea anyone here have an extended van with the seat/bed benches? Do they have a gap between them when you lay them down?
I can't remember now, but I am almost certain that when I laid both benches down into the bed form, they formed a continuous bed. But when I installed them into my extended van, there is a 2" gap between the leading edge of the rear bench and the rear edge (back rest) of the front bench.
Doea anyone here have an extended van with the seat/bed benches? Do they have a gap between them when you lay them down?
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 389
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From: Rochester, NY
On mine, they come together with no gap at all. IIRC (I have captains chairs in at the moment), the rear seat back simply lays backwards, whereas the middle seat cushions actually move forward some in the process of the laying out. But the result is a continuous, unbroken flat surface. Maybe there's a difference in the short and long body seat spacing?
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
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I have one but I can't run out and check. I pulled the middle one and moved the rear one up. There is a difference between the middle and rear. Rear is wider. Love the cargo space and I can always put it back in. I don't remember any gap though.
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
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Hey guys I just bought a set at an almost-local U-Pull-It yard for $10 each (they were having a weekend special!) and they match my existing upholstery. Yes there is a gap between mine when laid flat -- I own a 1992 XLT extended in great shape, with the 4L V6.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: SoCal
Thanks Modman. Do you know if the seats you got were from a shorty or an extended van? Also, $10 each is a really cheap price. I don't remember exactly how much I paid for mine, but I'm sure it was a lot more, and they charged me for each of the seat belts. Also, they were pretty dirty, so I had to "steam" clean them.
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
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They came out of an extended van, but common sense would tell us that Ford did not make a different set of bed seats for the bobtail than for the extended van. And I suspect without checking mine, that the extra slots are also there in the floor for if I wanted to pop in the 2nd row captain's chairs from the -- what did they call it? Command seating option?
It's a darned shame that Ford isn't making the Aerostar or a more up to date rear drive small van platform with the same flexibility as the extended Aerostar. It's all most people really need when you think about it, and has to be better mileage than the Econolines -- just think of that with gas, diesel, flex-fuel, hybrid, all-electric and/or hydrogen options, in 2W or 4W configurations. I bet they could be as clever as VW used to be with a basic campmobile option too. My major complaints are the front end styling, the style and positioning of the switches and door handle in the front doors, and awkward left foot positioning (can't find a comfortable spot). Other than that I am still a happy camper with mine.
P.S. think about a pickup spinoff from the same platform too, just like the spiritual ancestors -- the original Econolines from the 60s!
It's a darned shame that Ford isn't making the Aerostar or a more up to date rear drive small van platform with the same flexibility as the extended Aerostar. It's all most people really need when you think about it, and has to be better mileage than the Econolines -- just think of that with gas, diesel, flex-fuel, hybrid, all-electric and/or hydrogen options, in 2W or 4W configurations. I bet they could be as clever as VW used to be with a basic campmobile option too. My major complaints are the front end styling, the style and positioning of the switches and door handle in the front doors, and awkward left foot positioning (can't find a comfortable spot). Other than that I am still a happy camper with mine.
P.S. think about a pickup spinoff from the same platform too, just like the spiritual ancestors -- the original Econolines from the 60s!
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 882
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From: Wichita
My '93 XLT ext seats fold down with no gap.
Modman, you are not alone. The Aero has been called the "dustbuster on wheels". It's a great vehicle though!
Modman, you are not alone. The Aero has been called the "dustbuster on wheels". It's a great vehicle though!
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Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 5,720
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From: Washington state
Aerostar makes the best mid size camper van in the world
throw out the seats and leave at home
put in a queen size camper blow up bed and a 12v air pump for same
works great in back of EXT van and then in tent for longer stays.
curtains on velcro for the windows.
far safer in an Aero when a bear comes with the bread munchies in the middle of the night.
our camping machine for years.
kids in tent on thin pads
, Dad and Mom on SOFT air mattress inside Aero where it's warm
body got too old and wore out for tight quarters and night time flashlight run to camp ground bathroom.
Aero AWD still a young spring chicken ready to hit the camp grounds at 20 mpg, sun rain or snow on the ground.
throw out the seats and leave at home
put in a queen size camper blow up bed and a 12v air pump for same
works great in back of EXT van and then in tent for longer stays.
curtains on velcro for the windows.
far safer in an Aero when a bear comes with the bread munchies in the middle of the night.
our camping machine for years.
kids in tent on thin pads
, Dad and Mom on SOFT air mattress inside Aero where it's warmbody got too old and wore out for tight quarters and night time flashlight run to camp ground bathroom.
Aero AWD still a young spring chicken ready to hit the camp grounds at 20 mpg, sun rain or snow on the ground.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 192
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From: Illinois, usa
I have the bed seats, from an EXT 93, there was a gap, 1 1/2 maybe.
Transferred them to the '90, and the gap remained. I have slept in the thing,
when doing the skibum thing with son...you don't really notice it when laying down,
within a sleeping bag or 2, anyway. However, there is a real weight penalty,
I think the difference between 90 standards and the 93 bedseats was 50 lbs,
should have wrote those numbers down! Your BACK will tell you so when pulling them out!
Transferred them to the '90, and the gap remained. I have slept in the thing,
when doing the skibum thing with son...you don't really notice it when laying down,
within a sleeping bag or 2, anyway. However, there is a real weight penalty,
I think the difference between 90 standards and the 93 bedseats was 50 lbs,
should have wrote those numbers down! Your BACK will tell you so when pulling them out!
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 4,452
Likes: 1
From: Southern California
I have the bed seats, from an EXT 93, there was a gap, 1 1/2 maybe.
Transferred them to the '90, and the gap remained. I have slept in the thing,
when doing the skibum thing with son...you don't really notice it when laying down,
within a sleeping bag or 2, anyway. However, there is a real weight penalty,
I think the difference between 90 standards and the 93 bedseats was 50 lbs,
should have wrote those numbers down! Your BACK will tell you so when pulling them out!
Transferred them to the '90, and the gap remained. I have slept in the thing,
when doing the skibum thing with son...you don't really notice it when laying down,
within a sleeping bag or 2, anyway. However, there is a real weight penalty,
I think the difference between 90 standards and the 93 bedseats was 50 lbs,
should have wrote those numbers down! Your BACK will tell you so when pulling them out!
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 192
Likes: 0
From: Illinois, usa
Ha, no, I have always done the grunt work. He just turned 15, so last year that would be a bit much for him ( I think the rear seat is 118 lbs.)
I buckle the lap belt, cinch it up tight, and use that as the "handle".
But i have 2 others, 21 and 19 now...they have helped with the middle seat,
as it was slid out side door...
I buckle the lap belt, cinch it up tight, and use that as the "handle".
But i have 2 others, 21 and 19 now...they have helped with the middle seat,
as it was slid out side door...
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 718
Likes: 0
From: North Jersey, New Jersey
Ha ha I know what you mean I cringe everytime I need to remove the seats to haul an appliance or whatnot.
At least I save on the delivery fee though and get it the same day
.
The sales jockeys ask me if my vans big enough of course it is it's an Aero.
Those seats are very decieving they don't look too heavy at first glance but when you lift them is another story. Luckily for me I only have the bench seats I don't want to know how much the captain chairs weigh.
At least I save on the delivery fee though and get it the same day
.The sales jockeys ask me if my vans big enough of course it is it's an Aero
.Those seats are very decieving they don't look too heavy at first glance but when you lift them is another story. Luckily for me I only have the bench seats I don't want to know how much the captain chairs weigh.
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 624
Likes: 0
From: Houston, TX
As far as the fold down bench goes, I moved mine from my EB to my XLT (both extended) and no gap in either van.