5th gen 2nd row bucket seats ??

[///AIRDAM]

I have been reading for almost 2 solid hours, searches brought up zero. i even checked out about 30 build threads and read thru them looking to see if anyone has done it.

So we have a 2012 LE with 3rd row seats. They primarily stay folded down and we use the cargo area. Recently the misses went and looked at platinum Sequoias and loves the bucket 2nd row seats, similar to what most Yukon and Tahoes and Suburbans have. It does give the 2nd row passengers more comfort in a bucket seat as well as make the entry into the 3rd row more accessible without folding down seats and squeezing in the back. We rarely use the 3rd row because its such a hassle to get passengers back there since our child is in a car seat in the 2nd row. so in order to fold the seat down and access the 3rd row you need to pull the strapped in car seat out first. MAJOR hassle and makes using the 3rd row pretty much useless. Has anyone on here done a 2nd row bucket seat swap. I am very mechanically inclined and can build any bracket and machine any pieces necessary and have done many bucket seat swaps in regular cab trucks in the past. I know the floor has a rise or two under the 2nd row seats but the carpet is solid under the seats so doing bucket 2nd row the floor will look somewhat normal. i may even built a small console that can be slid forward or something that sits between the two seats. Looking at seats on ebay, and then corresponding videos on youtube on seat functions, i think the Honda Odyssey seat is probably the most legit. the seat will flip forward and fold up into the floorboard for great access to the rear 3rd row seats. you can leave the center seat in, leave it folded down for a console, or run without it completely. But our car seat could sit on the passengers side, and the drivers side rear be the one that folds down in order to allow passengers into the back seat. since the seat will simply slide forward, and also fold in half and flip forward, i think this is honestly a great candidate for a conversion. The seat base needs to have two loops in the front of the seat for the latches to catch onto and a bar at the back of the seat to latch to as well. the seat slides forward and backward within its own track built into the seat base.

i really liked the idea of the toyota sienna, the color matches our T4R seats plus fit and finish would match but the sienna seats slide forward and back with a track in the floor. that would be a no-go on our stepped floor. even with the stepped floor the Honda Odyssey seats may seem like a difficult swap but there appears to be a substantial amount of room under the seat to the latches, i bet i could cut a solid 2" out of that room to make the front and rear latch work on our stepped floor. Here are some pictures and a short video of the Odyssey seat and its functions. The Odyssey seat appeals to me because the center seat can be latched in for a full width bench or folded forward for a tall center console, or pulled out to reveal cup holders in the floor. There are so many possibilities.

2011 - 2017 Honda Odyssey second row TAN LEATHER 2 BUCKET SEATS & MIDDLE SEAT | eBay

2 GRAY LEATHER BUCKET SEATS truck van bus classic car hotrod rv | eBay

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q880vrl_UBM




If you know anyone who has done any similar swaps please let me know.

 

[///AIRDAM]

Here is another one i found with an actual real center console with flip up lid. i am sure some massaging and you can make the plastic center console follow the contours of the stepped floor we have. and since the two buckets will flip up and out of the way to gain access to the 3rd row then you should have plenty of room and comfort.

bad thing is this set is grey and we need the light tan.

CHARCOAL LEATHER COMPLETE SET 2 BUCKET SEATS & CENTER CONSOLE truck hotrod van | eBay

 

[Jhalko]

Doesn't the GX have an option for second row captain chairs? Maybe you could find a wrecked one, the dimensions would be the same so you know they would fit.

 

[ryan87]

Mine was a direct bolt in for the seats but here is just another example of my old silverado.

 

[blakjack23]

Doesn't the GX have an option for second row captain chairs? Maybe you could find a wrecked one, the dimensions would be the same so you know they would fit.

This. I think it just started in the 2017 GX, but they do now have 2nd row buckets available. The Highlander also has 2nd row bucket option.

If they bring this option to the 4Runner I'll probably be getting a new 4Runner. My wifes number 1 want in a new car is 2nd row buckets with third row seats. But I'm not trading in my 4Runner for a Highlander.

 

[HerT4R]

Doesn't the GX have an option for second row captain chairs? Maybe you could find a wrecked one, the dimensions would be the same so you know they would fit.

the Sequoia does too, and the older gen sequoia is close to the current 5th gen 4runner in size. start hitting junkyards? :shrug:

 

[RyanEJ25]

Does your car seat have LATCH? Mine has that and good Lord it's a dream. 2 clicks and it's in/out.

 

[flyrv9]

There may be some electronics to consider too. The rear seats may be tied into the rear side airbags and seat belt systems. Also, others have mentioned that drilling into the floor (to mount new seat hardware) may be a blind operation with no visibility underneath or access for that matter. I like industrial strength velcro! It's easy but probably not very safe!

 

[Jono.ful]

@op: you know the second row slides when you fold them forward to make access to the third row a little easier, right?

 

[4RnR Grl]

There may be some electronics to consider too. The rear seats may be tied into the rear side airbags and seat belt systems. Also, others have mentioned that drilling into the floor (to mount new seat hardware) may be a blind operation with no visibility underneath or access for that matter. I like industrial strength velcro! It's easy but probably not very safe!

After recently removing my rear seats, and seatbelts I can assure you there are no electronics.

 

[///AIRDAM]

There are no electronics in the 2012. There are side curtain airbags but they deploy from the roof pillar. There are also no electronics in the Honda Odyssey to worry with.

There are many other toyota models with the bucket 2nd row seats, the sienna, highlander, and sequioa Limited and Platinum models all have bucket 2nd row options. The Sienna seats in leather probably match our seats perfect color and all but their latch and slide mechanism is built into the floor rather than the seat slide on its own base/bracket. So that makes using the Sienna seats pretty much a bust. The highlander seats are apparently so new the chop shops dont have a single set on ebay yet as far as i could find.

building the brackets is no big deal i can fabricate or machine any part i need, and cutting the seat bases down to get the seats level and lower to the carpet isnt hard at all either. if its possible i will get them down to where they sit like they should. My wide wants bucket 2nd row bad, she almost went and traded the 4runner in today on a sequoia platinum because it has 2nd row buckets and a console. it looks good but that $70,000 price tag sure is a hefty pill to swallow. A yukon Denali is $70,000 and GM will knock off $10K off sticker to make a deal. The toyota dealers are hemmed up at $7,000 off sticker and say thats bottom dollar invoice price for them. at that price point i would rather put buckets in our 4runner and try to make her happy for now.

i am aware that the seats flip forward to access the rear 3rd row. but when you have a kids car seat strapped in, that becomes a bit more of a hassle and borderline impossible. you pretty much have to climb over the seat cause you cant slide the seat far enough forward to make it worth while and you cant fold the seat up with the car seat strapped in. it pretty much sucks. a bench seat in the middle kinda aint that great for accessing the rear seats. but with a seat like this honda odyssey, that will fold up flat, and flip forward into the floor board allows you a TON of room for even the most awkward individual enough room to get in the back with ease. strap the car seat in the passengers side, and any individual needing to climb in the back can flip the drivers rear seat up and be in with ease. I am surprised this hasnt happened before i have used 4runner seats in a few regular cab trucks of mine in the past. how come nobody has done 2nd row buckets in a 4runner.

 

[FrenchToasty]

There are no electronics in the 2012. There are side curtain airbags but they deploy from the roof pillar. There are also no electronics in the Honda Odyssey to worry with.

There are many other toyota models with the bucket 2nd row seats, the sienna, highlander, and sequioa Limited and Platinum models all have bucket 2nd row options. The Sienna seats in leather probably match our seats perfect color and all but their latch and slide mechanism is built into the floor rather than the seat slide on its own base/bracket. So that makes using the Sienna seats pretty much a bust. The highlander seats are apparently so new the chop shops dont have a single set on ebay yet as far as i could find.

building the brackets is no big deal i can fabricate or machine any part i need, and cutting the seat bases down to get the seats level and lower to the carpet isnt hard at all either. if its possible i will get them down to where they sit like they should. My wide wants bucket 2nd row bad, she almost went and traded the 4runner in today on a sequoia platinum because it has 2nd row buckets and a console. it looks good but that $70,000 price tag sure is a hefty pill to swallow. A yukon Denali is $70,000 and GM will knock off $10K off sticker to make a deal. The toyota dealers are hemmed up at $7,000 off sticker and say thats bottom dollar invoice price for them. at that price point i would rather put buckets in our 4runner and try to make her happy for now.

i am aware that the seats flip forward to access the rear 3rd row. but when you have a kids car seat strapped in, that becomes a bit more of a hassle and borderline impossible. you pretty much have to climb over the seat cause you cant slide the seat far enough forward to make it worth while and you cant fold the seat up with the car seat strapped in. it pretty much sucks. a bench seat in the middle kinda aint that great for accessing the rear seats. but with a seat like this honda odyssey, that will fold up flat, and flip forward into the floor board allows you a TON of room for even the most awkward individual enough room to get in the back with ease. strap the car seat in the passengers side, and any individual needing to climb in the back can flip the drivers rear seat up and be in with ease. I am surprised this hasnt happened before i have used 4runner seats in a few regular cab trucks of mine in the past. how come nobody has done 2nd row buckets in a 4runner.

You must have your heart set on keeping your kiddo on the passenger side and 3rd row geusts only to enter from the drivers side...........and getting buckets of corse

I totally hear what your screamin though

 

[ATrain]

If cost of the Sequoia platinum is the main reason for not considering a Sequoia, the 2nd gen 08+ Sequoia SR5's can be modified or optioned with second row buckets. An SR5 option called "sport appearance package" is available in at least some Toyota regions which offers black cloth interior and second row buckets. Additionally, the SR5 and Limited second row bench seat operates as 3 separate seats - allowing for removal of the center seat completely. Some folks on a Sequoia forum I also follow have ordered Weathertech mats for the second row bucket limiteds to cover the tracks in the floor.

 

[Moto69Joe]

I turned a bench seat into two buckets once by cutting out middle section and recovering seats with katzkin leather. It looked factory. I may attempt this in my wife's future 3rd row 4Runner to make access to the 3rd row easier.