Troopy seating options

[Pskhaat]

For troopy seating, what form of seating would you choose? Please feel free to reply with another option and why.

Opt1 Basic what you'd expect

Opt2 Minivanish with two seats in the 3rd row.

Opt3 Eurovanish gives a little more room aft.

Opt4 You seriously think I should bolt the child's carseats to the floor/bed?

 

[flyingwil]

I vote option 5: OTHER

Take option one, but combine with your option three. So the 2nd row faces backwards, and the 3rd faces forward. It should optimize your rear space, plus you could load the kids in the back door easier.

 

[Bear]

Troopy Rear Seating

Scott,

Some thoughts on seating your kiddos:

All that buckling and unbuckling is a real pain--how are you going to access the kids' seats, through and between the front driver and passenger seats--any console or heater or stereo there, or from the back ambo doors.

As for rear facing, some kids and adults get sick from driving backwards, some love it--how are your kids? And what is the safety data on crashes involving rearward facing seats?

Referencing to van seating isn't the same in a Troopy--you don't have low floors, side door(s) access, fold-down seats.

I personally would use grade 8 and/or forged eyebolts or professional safety harness attachments for everybody, and thick plates under the floor to prevent ripout in an accident. I like that you are keeping just two abreast, keeping the kids more towards the interior of the truck, instead of outboard.

A possible thought to investigate: sometimes folks with Suburbans and minivans and such decide to get rid of the removable seats that come with their vehicles. Prices can be really cheap. Some of them fold and tumble and do all sorts of maneuvers, and you could replicate that to make access easier for you and your wife to get back in there.

And any type of roll bar setup, from fancy to plain old FJ40-style, will help give you some peace of mind. And remember they do grow up eventually, and may not like your seating choices forever, so watch the permanent welding setups

Well that's my two cents.

Yep, my daughter was once little, and now is medium sized.
She has survived so far.
But you'll see her once she starts driving in a few years. She'll be the kid driving the Tank, helmet on, bulletproof glass, bullbar, and runflat tires. And Dad will likely be riding shotgun if'n she's allowed ever to go on dates.

Isn't that what dads do?!
Best of luck.

 

[UK4X4]

Access as the previous poster mentioned will be an issue, depending on what seating you can find that suits.


As far as bolting goes - no a hole and a washer and a bolt will not suffice.

If I was fixing a 14" seat plinth onto a standard floor panel, I'd probably use a 14" X 2" 1/8" thick washer underneath the floor depending on the thickness of the material and the access.

I have a 70 series type truck here that had an extra tyre holder mounted in the rear space.

They welded in a 12" x 12" plate x 1/8" and bolted the tyre mount to that.

Any where close to a seam or join will be structually stronger than in the middle.

Now if it was safe........I like the original seats facing in from the sides, as the kids would be far more interactive, with even a table if space.

Obviously safety issues would have to be checked into-

the disco 2 had two facing jump seats in the rear.

 

[Hltoppr]

I voted 3, Eurovanish. One caveat...move the 2nd row seat to behind the passenger, if you'll be the one driving with one kiddo most of the time....easier to hand stuff back to him.

Also, move the seats closer to the front seats. The current placement of the fold/tumble rear seat is too far back, and makes getting a kiddo into the carseat a bit of a reach.

Keep the DS/PS center area clear, the kiddos can walk back between seats.

My spare seat is the right hand (OZ DS) one. You're welcome to it. Needs a cover.

-H-

 

[Jacket]

Bear makes many of the points I thought of.

- car sickness can be worse the further you sit toward the back, and worse if you are facing backward relative to the direction of travel

- helping a kid buckle up in the 3rd row will be tough, so keep that in mind. 2nd row will be more accessible, although a crowded second row will make the 3rd row hard to get to.

- might a bench seat be better for the 3rd row so that there's a place between the two kids to put "stuff" that they can reach (toys, books, drinks, etc.)?

I kind of prefer option2, although maybe with the seat behind the driver? That gives you an access point to all passengers from behind the passenger seat.

 

[Pskhaat]

- helping a kid buckle up in the 3rd row will be tough, so keep that in mind.

True, but they ride often in 3rd row in the 80 now.

- might a bench seat be better for the 3rd row

Should safety dictate, then yes, otherwise I want to stick all OEM from various LCs where possible.

I kind of prefer option2, although maybe with the seat behind the driver?

Remember, in Opt2, the 2nd row IS behind the driver seat

 

[Hltoppr]

O' yeah...everyone faces forward.

-H-

 

[masterplumber]

Not sure the width between the Troopy's wheel wells but the older jeeps are about 36''. maybe a double set of fold & tumble Jeep seats. When they fold forward most are removable & only leave the brackets in the floor so you could still haul a lot of camping gear if there are only 2 of you on a trip. I know it's sacrilege to think of putting Jeep parts in a Troopy but I saw this done by a family with a Scrambler & it worked great. Just have the older kids climb into the back seat first & reach thru the back doors to strap them in. Just my thoughts as that is what I would do if I were blessed with a Troopy.
Doug