Removing 3rd row seats - how do you fill the void?

[GregMilner]

Having just done the exercise of weighing my D4 and then calculating touring weights using Steve's brilliant spreadsheet, I'm now contemplating removing the third row seats for our next trip. But wondering what others have done to keep the flat floor, and how have you used the new space below the floor? Anyone have any photos?

[Hugh Jars]

I’ve done nothing about mine except cut some marine carpet to cover the gap left by the centre seat mount. Thinking of Drifta drawers or something like that, and using the void underneath to store stuff.

[GregMilner]

I’ve done nothing about mine except cut some marine carpet to cover the gap left by the centre seat mount. Thinking of Drifta drawers or something like that, and using the void underneath to store stuff.

Are you talking about the second row seats or the third row Hugh? I'm talking about removing the third row.

[DieselLSE]

Hi Greg,
I worked my way through this exercise a few months ago. I removed the seats and seatbelts, but retained the floor carpets to assist with sound deadening. I also retained the seat receivers (but removed the plastic bits) and used them as locating stays for the lugs of the false floor (which I made out of plastic that is stronger and lighter than MDF).
Note that my floor sits on top of the side floor panels as I needed clearance for the ARB twin compressor and the box that houses some of my winching gear.
It's still a work in progress and I plan on cutting out a section of the false floor to fit a 5 seat floor panel which is made out of carbon fibre. After this I intend replacing the MDF substitute with a carbon fibre panel (purely in the interests of weight saving).
I don't typically need access to the underfloor area. The compressor is linked to a distribution block accessed through the rhs access panel where the OEM jack used to be. The jack will be replaced shortly anyway.
So far the system works pretty well except that sometimes the stuff moves forward and lodges behind the second row seats. I'll sort this out when I make the carbon fibre floor replacement.
Hope this gives you some ideas.

[Konradical]

What are the measurements of that MDF? I'm going to remove our third row and centre seat for the Canning trip and was racking my brain as to how I will fill the void to put my draws back in

[DieselLSE]

What are the measurements of that MDF? I'm going to remove our third row and centre seat for the Canning trip and was racking my brain as to how I will fill the void to put my draws back in

L 1050, W 1030 D 12mm (equivalent to 18mm MDF I think). But if you're putting drawers back in I suspect you would want it to be at the same level as the old floor. Mine sits on top as this wasn't an issue for me and I needed the extra clearance. You could easily make up a false floor that sat on legs that would give you the correct height.

[Konradical]

L 1050, W 1030 D 12mm (equivalent to 18mm MDF I think). But if you're putting drawers back in I suspect you would want it to be at the same level as the old floor. Mine sits on top as this wasn't an issue for me and I needed the extra clearance. You could easily make up a false floor that sat on legs that would give you the correct height.Cheers for that.. that helps me immensely!

Yeah that height is going to be a concern, but I was thinking that if I have a thin piece on top (say 5mm) and a thicker piece underneath that fits in the space, plus a couple of legs, it should be strong enough to support the draws.

I'm not really looking to use that space as I won't have easy access to it with two car seats in the back, but I would use it to put the things that aren't important, but just in case.

Il have a hunt on the net tonight and see what I can get in Darwin during our weekend trip this week.

[DieselLSE]

Konradical, I'm not sure why you need such a strong floor? Do the drawers have a floor or do they use the carpet as a floor? If they come with a floor, then all you need to do is come up with a frame (aluminium would work) to support it.

[Hugh Jars]

Hi Greg,
I removed the 3rd row as per DieselSE. I reckon they weigh around 60kg! I put the second row in the fully down position to get the most load space. My car is a ‘works in progress’ :)

[LRD414]

I reckon they weigh around 60kg
Actually they are between 40-45kg, I've weighed two sets on removal.
They are awkward to carry & weigh but certainly no more than 45kg.

As I have a set of rear drawers the brackets I've made help support the drawer unit but would also work to support a false floor.
Easy to remove so as to refit the seats, which are only removed temporarily for trips.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/04/657.jpg

I couldn't use all the original seat bolts, two were too short so replaced with longer standard M10 bolts.
You do want to refit all bolts because some of the holes are exposed through to the outside world & would let dust in.

The dowels in the photo below add strength at the corners of the drawer unit where it bears down on the carpeted side pieces.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/04/658.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/04/549.jpg

The bracket towards front of vehicle is also providing some restraint for the second row platform.
Second row seats only removed specifically for trips when extra fuel and water is being carried.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/04/661.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2018/05/68.jpg

Cheers,
Scott

[Konradical]

Konradical, I'm not sure why you need such a strong floor? Do the drawers have a floor or do they use the carpet as a floor? If they come with a floor, then all you need to do is come up with a frame (aluminium would work) to support it.Well, let just say when I measured the width of the draws I wanted, I must have been a few cans in.

As a result they were made about 50 odd mil too narrow. So currently they sit square on the edge of the carpet ends, but mostly on the seats. I was hoping to move them across to the passenger side as far as practical and the false floor would allow more storage area on the drivers side.

I did think about an alloy frame, but Il be pretty limited to supplies unless I can pre plan and get to Darwin. Plus I'm paranoid about how strong it will be over corrugations.

[Aussie Jeepster]

After taking out the 3rd row, I put in a false floor (pattern came from another member on our site) and now I store my "stuff" under it.
The fridge has since moved to the middle of the 2nd row.
It's amazing mow much you can put in there.
Alan

140250140251140252

[Konradical]

After taking out the 3rd row, I put in a false floor (pattern came from another member on our site) and now I store my "stuff" under it.
The fridge has since moved to the middle of the 2nd row.
It's amazing mow much you can put in there.
Alan

140250140251140252Alan, do you still have this pattern?

[Aussie Jeepster]

Alan, do you still have this pattern?
That is a really good question?
I'm trying to remember who I got it from.
Give me a while to see what I can find.
Alan

[BobD]

Greg,

You should have had a look at my car on the Gibb trip we both did last year. I had removed the third row and two of the second row seats and left only one second row seat for Carmen to sit on.

In my case I just use the extra space for stuff! Why do you need a perfectly flat floor? My second spare went on the rear cargo area floor strapped to the tie downs and I removed the second arm on the Kaymar bar to save some more weight and get the weight further forward. In fact the spare is still there and I haven't put the third row seats back in, just the two second row seats.

For a perfectly flat floor I have my L405 Vogue with about half the space of the D4.

[Mungus]

That is a really good question?
I'm trying to remember who I got it from.
Give me a while to see what I can find.
Alan

Search for a thread titled ‘drawer systems’ and check out my post #21. Is that it Alan?

[Aussie Jeepster]

Search for a thread titled ‘drawer systems’ and check out my post #21. Is that it Alan?

That wasn't quite it, but the problem of location has been solved. Thanks.

[GregMilner]

After taking out the 3rd row, I put in a false floor (pattern came from another member on our site) and now I store my "stuff" under it.
The fridge has since moved to the middle of the 2nd row.
It's amazing mow much you can put in there.
Alan

140250140251140252

That's exactly what I'm looking for. I assume you've made the floor from marine ply with carpet stuck to it? Did ou find the pattern Alan?

[GregMilner]

Greg,

You should have had a look at my car on the Gibb trip we both did last year. I had removed the third row and two of the second row seats and left only one second row seat for Carmen to sit on.

In my case I just use the extra space for stuff! Why do you need a perfectly flat floor? My second spare went on the rear cargo area floor strapped to the tie downs and I removed the second arm on the Kaymar bar to save some more weight and get the weight further forward. In fact the spare is still there and I haven't put the third row seats back in, just the two second row seats.

For a perfectly flat floor I have my L405 Vogue with about half the space of the D4.

i did have a look at yours Bob, but I'd like somehow to store stuff under the floor, with hatches to get to it like Alan has, above. I'd more than likely strap my second spare to the boat loader on the camper though. (I just picked up a second hand set of wheels for the Disco, so I'll have two spares with rims)

[Aussie Jeepster]

That's exactly what I'm looking for. I assume you've made the floor from marine ply with carpet stuck to it? Did ou find the pattern Alan?
Didn't go with marine ply, I let the guys doing the cutting sort it out, and it's worked brilliantly.
Like I said, it's amazing how much you can put under there, and having weighed the old girl yesterday, with all the gear underneath the floor, I have plenty of spare weight to use!

[BobD]

i did have a look at yours Bob, but I'd like somehow to store stuff under the floor, with hatches to get to it like Alan has, above. I'd more than likely strap my second spare to the boat loader on the camper though. (I just picked up a second hand set of wheels for the Disco, so I'll have two spares with rims)

The trouble with doing the false floor is that you are adding more weight and that reduces the weight saving achieved by removing the seats. If you use the extra space you will take even more stuff and put the weight back on as well.

I have now gone the opposite direction with the RRV, no bull bar, no rear bar, no long range fuel tank and keeping everything as light as possible. I am ugrading the ATM on my Kimberley to use the trailer to take as much weight out of the car as possible. So far, I am getting significantly better fuel consumption towing the KK than I was in the D4 without towing, so I don't really need extra fuel for most trips. If I do need extra, I will probably get a 40l plastic container that goes in the boot of the RRV and I still have the D4 for really remote hard core tracks if required.

[Aussie Jeepster]

The trouble with doing the false floor is that you are adding more weight and that reduces the weight saving achieved by removing the seats. If you use the extra space you will take even more stuff and put the weight back on as well.

I have now gone the opposite direction with the RRV, no bull bar, no rear bar, no long range fuel tank and keeping everything as light as possible. I am ugrading the ATM on my Kimberley to use the trailer to take as much weight out of the car as possible. So far, I am getting significantly better fuel consumption towing the KK than I was in the D4 without towing, so I don't really need extra fuel for most trips. If I do need extra, I will probably get a 40l plastic container that goes in the boot of the RRV and I still have the D4 for really remote hard core tracks if required.

I weighed my D3 yesterday, and even with the floor, and everything under it (and on it!), I still have 200kg up my sleeve, and that's after allowing for 60L of water, roof top tent, and camping gear.
Plus everything is out of the way, and out of sight.

We are getting a van at the end of the year, so I'm trying to make sure that I have the weights under control as "caravaning" will be a new experience after swagging and camper trailering around.