Has any one figured out how to seat 3 to 4 people in the back of a jeep LJ??I have 3 kids plus me and the wife and we are running out of room!!!Troop seating would be ideal(that way i could carry people and the camping gear could lay on the floor) but would have to modify the top and the roll cage which i would be willing to do. has any one done this? would love to see pictures.. Thanks!!!
troop seating???
- Thread starter bamajeep
- Start date
NOMADIC_LJ
Explorer
I thought about jump seats for a long time. Only problem is you may be compromising the safety of your kids. If you were ever in an accident and god forbid something were to happen to anyone riding in the back, the first thing they would say is you are liable for modifying the original factory design. Probably would not be worth it.
The actual interior width of an LJ between is wider than an XJ. The problem is the wheel wells. I'm not totally sure how the interior of an LJ looks, but if you could put the rear seat in front of the wheel wells, you could swap in a much wider rear seat that would hold three kids (assuming leg room doesn't become a huge problem). Then you would just need to figure out seat belts. I remember seeing a build once upon a time of a stretched YJ with a three person wide rear seat in the back.
I know exactly what you're going through. I'm fighting hard to justify keeping the TJ with three kids. Even though I know an XJ is the more logical choice in every way, I just really really like taking the top off.
I know exactly what you're going through. I'm fighting hard to justify keeping the TJ with three kids. Even though I know an XJ is the more logical choice in every way, I just really really like taking the top off.
BIGdaddy
Expedition Leader
I second the width comment, and through my research found that PRP makes a 3 position seat that if positioned correctly, will fit 3 smaller kids very comfortably when the wheelwells are bypassed.
Having owned a Cherokee for 2 years now,though, I find that the livibility of my XJ far exceeds that of my LJ. I love the 4 doors, 4 operable windows, large load area (compared to the unlimited) and ample rear passenger leg room. I also appreciate that I retained the 4.0L, aw4, non-pushbutton np231, and solid axles.
I normally carry my 3 kids in carseats (6 years old, 4 years old and 21 months), but recently drove 4 of my wifes students, (1 girl in the front seat and 3 girls across in the rear seat) with surprising results. For our 25 mile drive from el cajon to mission valley they seemed perfectly content with the level of comfort. Very good data gathering session during that drive.
Definitely gave me great hope for the future.
My wife is a normal sized girl, and my three girls will likely follow suit. Seems the rig is going to be able to serve us well space wise for long time, which consequently gives me enthusiasm about continuing building a rig that is smallish, nimble on and off road, safe, easy to work on, has great aftermarket suppot, and best of all - is paid for.
Would you stop it with that sensible stuff! I'm trying to think of illogical, emotional-based reasons NOT to sell my TJ and get an XJ. It's a short list already, and you're not helping. Ideally I'd like a JKU, but the lack of 20k+ to spend on a Jeep makes that decision for me.
BIGdaddy
Expedition Leader
Understood, sir!
In that case, continue with the PRP seat install, and then put one of these on the back!
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=54292
Cheers
-B
The dilemna that you all are discussing was solved with the Jeep JK models. Three across rear seating, with seatbelts. (And there are third row seats with belts available too.)
I went with a JKU for the room, and its is actually better off road in almost every manner over all terrain than my LJ, which suprised me, so trading, say BigDaddy's XJ and LJ in on a JKU with two tops, isn't sacrificing, its improving.
I still have my LJ, and, for what its worth, I occasionally stuck a third in the middle. The ever present chance of an accident always worried me.
JPK
I went with a JKU for the room, and its is actually better off road in almost every manner over all terrain than my LJ, which suprised me, so trading, say BigDaddy's XJ and LJ in on a JKU with two tops, isn't sacrificing, its improving.
I still have my LJ, and, for what its worth, I occasionally stuck a third in the middle. The ever present chance of an accident always worried me.
JPK
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jscherb
Expedition Leader
The Scrambler's inner wheel wells don't go all the way to the back of the tub like the TJ/LJ fenderwells do, so there's plenty of width behind the fenderwells for jump seats or troop seating:
Unfortunately these jumpseats won't fit in an LJ.
And here's a shot of the interior of a Scrambler with factory troop seating.
But the TJ/LJ inner fenderwells are also too high to permit the seats to go on top of them like they do on the Scrambler.
I haven't seen any good jumpseat or troopseat solutions for the TJ or LJ due to the amount of space wasted by the inner fenderwells.
Mashurst
Adventurer
As mentioned, I think it would require redoing the inner fenders to some degree to lower the seating position. I think this may not be real hard and there is room. As I think you know the role cage would need to be completely reworked. Also having spend a day in troop seating ones on dirt roads I can tell you its not a luxury ride. I would rather walk. That said, and safety aside, it would be very cool.
jscherb
Expedition Leader
No. The Scrambler's wheelbase is 10" longer than the CJ-7's, and the tub is 24" longer. You'd have to lengthen a CJ-7 frame in two places to fit a Scrambler tub.