Hi, I currently drive a 2007 Explorer XLT. I did not go with the 3rd row seating option, but now my needs have changed. Is it possible to retrofit the car to have the 3rd row seats or am I out of luck?

 

your out of luck. the deal is you jsut don't swap in the third row, it isn't just a bolt in application per say. The 2nd row in your non 3rd row is fixed in that it will fold flat for hauling stuff but the 3rd row setup uses a different 2nd row seat in that it also flips forward so you can get into the back, it uses a different frame., they also use different flloor trim panels all the way to the rear door in non 3rd row explorers and upper trim panels and remove the seatbelt ancors.It would take alot of work to do it. my wife and I looked on a non 3rd row 06 when we bought ours and having a non 3rd row 03 we decided o get the 3rd for this reason, you aren't making it a 3rd row cheap. thats kinda the quick of it, it is a little more indepth than that. it isn't totally outta reach but your gonna have to find a totaled 3rd row explorer and buy the whole rear interior basically and hopefully score the right color.sorry

 

MOst of the XLT's on the lots were ordered with 3rd row seats. I looked far and wide to find one without it, and finally settled on an '06 with the seats plus a few other options I wasn't wild about. The 3rd row cuts down on cargo space - that's why I didn't want it. It was too late in the year to order an '06, and I didn't want to pay another $1000 for an '07.

Wanna trade? I'm 1% serious. I never use the 3rd row.