Anyone Wish the Rear Seats Folded Up Like a Pickup Truck?

[Dude Lar]

Quick Read:

After pulling my rear seats to clean following a camping trip, I noticed something interesting. With the seat brackets folded up, it almost felt like I was looking at the back seat area of my old pickup truck. It got me thinking about whether a safe, removable bracket system could allow the rear seat bottoms to fold up and create additional storage space. Curious what everyone thinks.

Full Story:

I went on an overlanding camping trip with some buddies a few weeks ago and finally had time to do a deep clean. I pull the front seats so I can vacuum into the trapped areas and I decided to do the same with the rear.

While I had everything apart, I folded the rear seat brackets up out of the way and, for a split second, it reminded me of the rear seat in my truck. That got me thinking.

What if there was a simple and safe way to mount the rear seat bottoms so they could be lifted and secured vertically like the rear seats in many pickups?

It creates a surprising amount of usable space. If you're in the driver or passenger seat, you could reach back and grab gear in a larger area. It could also provide room for taller items that don't fit well in traditional under-seat storage.

Despite not being perfectly flat, there aren't any brackets, mounts, or hardware sticking up across the floor. It seems like it could open the door for some interesting storage solutions while still keeping the seats fully functional.

Of course, there are some obvious challenges.

First and foremost, it would need to be safe and secure. The seat bottoms don't naturally stay folded up either. I used a strap to hold them in position temporarily.

The floor brackets themselves also fold upward and don't stick out too badly. The underside of the seat bottoms might also need some protection since there is exposed hardware that could snag gear.

That said, if we came up with a clean way to safely raise and lower the rear seat bottoms and keep the seats securely locked in both positions while protecting the underside of the seats...am I the only one who thinks this would be a useful setup?

Curious to hear everyone's thoughts.

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[Denis]

Yes, and ...
My biggest problem with back seats that 2/3 split on driver's side, as I sleep in the car...
So, if 2/3 would be behind passenger, could set up bed, leave the back seat on driver side up, use space behind driver seat ... Now have to fold both back seats, and to your point, the way they are attached can't use space behind front seats if back seats folded ....
There is lot of opporutnity for improvement with back seats...

 

[Fordified1]

Our Gladiator had a nice storage area under the back seat. I miss that. But the Bronco seat bottom goes down and forward when you fold the backs down/forward leaving very little room under the seat bottom.

 

[Squatch]

Isn't that what your extra set of doors are for???

As a two-door Bronco Sapien, I should want this more due to your point about reaching more gear from the front seats. However, I just don't.

I do understand your point, but think the way the seat cushions flip forward and the seat backs flip down into the space gives a natural riser to any gear I would be reaching for.

I support the quest to make a solution like you want, though, options are good.

 

[TrailDamage]

I greatly wish that the seats were able to flip upwards. It would definitely make for better storage options especially for segmenting locations

 

[CalvinT]

Last time I drove a pickup the seats didn't flip up. But then it only had one bench seat.

 

[Dude Lar]

Thanks all for the points. I am hoping a company sees this and decided to take action. There is a lot of room for improvement all the way around with the back seat, for both 2 and 4 door. Fingers crossed!

 

[barbihardt]

YESSSSSS I came to bronco heritage from F-150 life. I miss this every day!!!!!

 

[Brokenparts]

I’m constantly hunting for storage… even in my 4-door. Anytime I go on a multi-day trip fishing or camping, I end up playing Tetris to get everything in, only to play myself again after I try to find a gadget buried somewhere near the bottom. Whatever I need seems to always be at the bottom.

Having gadget storage under that rear seat would be valuable. If that storage also had some dividers too….

 

[Dude Lar]

I’m constantly hunting for storage… even in my 4-door. Anytime I go on a multi-day trip fishing or camping, I end up playing Tetris to get everything in, only to play myself again after I try to find a gadget buried somewhere near the bottom. Whatever I need seems to always be at the bottom.

Having gadget storage under that rear seat would be valuable. If that storage also had some dividers too….

I know the exactly feeling. Nothing worse than feeling disorganized when you can't be. Got to give myself the little calming pep talk before gear starts flying around

There is more and more Bronco competition popping up around every corner now so hopefully that pushes more innovation with their current options.

 

[Bill R.]

I had an F150 and definitely miss the flip up seat. Serious room for improvement! I would definitely be interested in an upgrade if available.

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