Back seat mod doesn't work for my truck?

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JMod45

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I first heard about this mod a few months ago. I loosened the seat bolts, looked at the space, and said "not today". A few weeks later, I got a new fold flat floor for the back seat, which required removing 2 out of the 4 bolts, so I looked at it again, and once more thought "not today".

I saw on the forums last week where someone was able to fit a ladder behind the seat. Finally something that won't fit in my ramboxes, that I would like to have with me on trips. So over the weekend, I was determined to finally do it. I pulled the drivers side back seat (40) out of the truck, and looked over the remaining portion of the back seat (60). I don't have any room to benefit from. The space at the very bottom is already accessible from underneath when the seats are folded up, and there isn't any more room to be had.

This is what it would look like if the seat was folded down. It does look like a lot of space

CoUQ00a.jpg


With the back seat in the "seated" position, there does appear to be some space to use behind the seat, although the seat belt mechanism sits a bit in the way.

FRlo6M0.jpg


That is where the benefits appear to stop, (for me anyway). With the back latched in place, and the seat folded up for more floor space. This is the space I have remaining behind the seat.

kh6Rnm7.jpg


This picture gives an illusion of more space. There is maybe an inch of space between the seat and the back of the cab at the wider parts. I could barely fit the bolts from the seat in the gap. The hump may have a sheet of paper's width before it touches the seat.

2aIk1Gf.jpg

Is the insulation on the back of my cab different than other trucks? Or does the split back seat make a difference in spacing? I was hoping this would work for me, as I even bought a thin ladder to fit back there, but I think I'm finally giving up on doing the mod after my third attempt to convince myself.
 

22hemi13

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I think the ladder that guy was using was a very slim folding step type ladder. Not an actual fiberglass shorty. Yes. Not much room. Great for a hiift jack or amps. But not real usable space u less you have a need for it
 

sheets7777

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Ill be honest I would love some room back there but the videos I watched they were cutting the insulation to get more space. I'll pass on that, have been thinking about adding the cabin filter mod but not sure I wanna mess with that.
 

Jimmy07

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I first heard about this mod a few months ago. I loosened the seat bolts, looked at the space, and said "not today". A few weeks later, I got a new fold flat floor for the back seat, which required removing 2 out of the 4 bolts, so I looked at it again, and once more thought "not today".

I saw on the forums last week where someone was able to fit a ladder behind the seat. Finally something that won't fit in my ramboxes, that I would like to have with me on trips. So over the weekend, I was determined to finally do it. I pulled the drivers side back seat (40) out of the truck, and looked over the remaining portion of the back seat (60). I don't have any room to benefit from. The space at the very bottom is already accessible from underneath when the seats are folded up, and there isn't any more room to be had.

This is what it would look like if the seat was folded down. It does look like a lot of space

CoUQ00a.jpg


With the back seat in the "seated" position, there does appear to be some space to use behind the seat, although the seat belt mechanism sits a bit in the way.

FRlo6M0.jpg


That is where the benefits appear to stop, (for me anyway). With the back latched in place, and the seat folded up for more floor space. This is the space I have remaining behind the seat.

kh6Rnm7.jpg


This picture gives an illusion of more space. There is maybe an inch of space between the seat and the back of the cab at the wider parts. I could barely fit the bolts from the seat in the gap. The hump may have a sheet of paper's width before it touches the seat.

2aIk1Gf.jpg

Is the insulation on the back of my cab different than other trucks? Or does the split back seat make a difference in spacing? I was hoping this would work for me, as I even bought a thin ladder to fit back there, but I think I'm finally giving up on doing the mod after my third attempt to convince myself.
Yeah, it’s definitely one of the more useless “mods”. Even with the insulation off, you can probably stand up a few poster boards back there. Then you deal with the increased road noise and constantly hearing the cab vent flaps opening and shutting.
 

kkreit01

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The only reason I'd do it, is for amp mounting, and future access to amp tuning. Otherwise, you are correct -- it's not worth it for storage purposes.
 

muddy12

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I did this mod, but only on the 40% side.
Not much space at all. Only things I keep back there are a 4’level, and large umbrella.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

McBroom

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I did the mod and love it. I did not cut the hooks!
I used 7 1/2” washers stacked and wrapped with black duct tape. Mod works great.
In the extra space I have 2- blankets 2- sleeping bags
Tackle box 1st aid kit w/2 cig lighters hammock. In the car seat loops I have 3 fishing poles.
Everything I need to E n E for a few days or week.
In the floor containers driver side are some can foods can opener. Passenger side is full of 6 Diet Coke and water.
Plus other bug out items under the seat.
I also have 3 full changes of clothes and truck rifle.
Everything a person needs in order to evaporate(disappear)


- The Blue Mule
 

theblet

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I did the mod and love it. I did not cut the hooks!
I used 7 1/2” washers stacked and wrapped with black duct tape. Mod works great.
In the extra space I have 2- blankets 2- sleeping bags
Tackle box 1st aid kit w/2 cig lighters hammock. In the car seat loops I have 3 fishing poles.
Everything I need to E n E for a few days or week.
In the floor containers driver side are some can foods can opener. Passenger side is full of 6 Diet Coke and water.
Plus other bug out items under the seat.
I also have 3 full changes of clothes and truck rifle.
Everything a person needs in order to evaporate(disappear)


- The Blue Mule

I have a 2019 bighorn, and was contemplating this mod.

Is it worth the space?
With the seat bottoms folded up, are the seat backs still secure or will they fall forward?

Thanks
 

WY-Dave

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I am the one (or of) the guys that have the folding steps (2018 2500). Sorry for the crappy photo, but I just ran out to the truck and took it.
I am at work and don't have access to my previous photos.

First I removed the middle seatbelt mechanism because I had a GSD pup that got pizzed because she could not go in the store with us and chewed it up . I have had 3 different steps in there. A 4/3/2 step. With the 4 step, I ran out of room for the toolkit(farsise), shovel(wintertime), and at the time ammo can. The 3 step was a PITA to get in an out, so I went with a shorty 2 step. It can stand vertically and give more room for the shovel. I now also added a fire ext. in a 4" PVC pipe to keep it from rolling around.

Where the Fire ext. is tucked in, there is about 6" and I still have about 2" between the front of the tube and the back seat. At the tightest point there is 4" with the seat down. With the seat up there is about 6" of space, but because of the pivoting of the seat it is about 4".

Rearseat mod.jpg


not mine, but room for some fun toys
maxresdefault.jpg

If you do it, might as well get plenty of the white hood protectors, for the '18 they are 68050636AA
 

theblet

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Thanks for this. Are the parts you are referring to the white plastic piece on the back of the seat hook? Would I still need this if i do the spacer mod instead?
 

WY-Dave

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Thanks for this. Are the parts you are referring to the white plastic piece on the back of the seat hook? Would I still need this if i do the spacer mod instead?


I live on a dirt road that is 99.99999% scrubboards and they were broken when I started the mod. Your mileage may vary.

I looked into the spacer idea but I did not like how the hoop would be out of its pocket and in the middle of the slot. To me this is weaker than in the pocket with more metal. But I have been know to be full of it.

When you cut off the (green) tip of the hook, the hoop goes back to stock location
seat hook.jpg
 

McBroom

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I have a 2019 bighorn, and was contemplating this mod.

Is it worth the space?
With the seat bottoms folded up, are the seat backs still secure or will they fall forward?

Thanks
It'll give an extra 5" of space. I turned the straps upside down and used them for a couple of fishing poles. And overnight camping gear.

Black 20 Ram
 

theblet

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Cool. If you cut the hooks, is it possible to replace them to put the seats back to factory?
 

MikeDee

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Is this different for a quad cab vs. a crew cab? Maybe the crew cab has more room?
 

PoMansRam

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WY-Dave, thank you for posting that pic / diagram. That will be very helpful to others. That is exactly how I cut my 2017 and 2019 classics rear seat hooks. I didn't want to go the shim route either. My 2017 had the one piece quad cab rear seat and my current 2019 classic has the crew cab one piece rear seat.

Like said, the seat hooks are replaceable should you ever want to return it to factory form.

The hardest part of the job is removing the 19mm bolts that hold the seats to the floor. They are loctited in place and come out very HARD. The hooks themselves cut through cleanly with a hack saw literally in seconds.

You don't gain much storage space other than the first foot or so from the floor level. To me, what's more useful about doing this seat mod is it allows you to better check for 3rd brake light leaks and rear cabin vent leaks which will happen at some point to every Ram IMO.
 
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