Third Row fail. Need advice.

[carolinapanic]

I'll start by saying I'm new here and I used the search function to try and find a thread on this but didn't see much.

So I just sold my TRD Tundra for a T4R SR5 Premium. Moving to SF I needed a smaller rig and I was able to trade in the truck and pay nothing but fees for an SR5 Premium.

Except I made one mistake. I assumed I would be able to just pull out the third row and convert the SR5 into an Antman style sleeper mod. What I didn't notice is that the back row does not hinge forward and sits at about a 15 degree angle upwards (I bought it at 9PM and it was pretty dark out), making sleeping in the truck vs in the snow pretty uncomfortable. oops.

Does anyone know if retrofitting is a possibility or if there is a workaround? My guess is that this is probably and impossible and I am SOL. Super happy with the new truck, just a little disappointed I didn't notice this until it was too late.

 

[4RnR Grl]

Here's a start to get them out.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-g...-row-seats-limited-flooring-ideas-anyone.html

I would imagine you will have to build something to level the floor out. The side panels with the third row are not the same as a 4Runner without the third row so you will run into some difficulty I'm sure. I know I have seen another thread that I think someone took the seats out and built something. There are quite a few folks on here who have built platforms in the back of their runner as well. Antman has a really good one which I hope to apply for my own needs..... http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/92013-antmans-thread-11.html#post876313

Good luck!

 

[HerT4R]

then after you rip out the third row you can lay down sound dampening material (like dynamat) before you add a "floor". and then you can better.

 

[carolinapanic]

Here's a start to get them out.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-g...-row-seats-limited-flooring-ideas-anyone.html

I would imagine you will have to build something to level the floor out. The side panels with the third row are not the same as a 4Runner without the third row so you will run into some difficulty I'm sure. I know I have seen another thread that I think someone took the seats out and built something. There are quite a few folks on here who have built platforms in the back of their runner as well. Antman has a really good one which I hope to apply for my own needs..... http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/92013-antmans-thread-11.html#post876313

Good luck!

Thanks for the details. The Antman Mod is pretty nice and thats what I am striving for. My only obstacle should be figuring out how to build something that compensates for the angle on when the second row is folded down (it doesn't fold forward). Essentially you have to build some sort of temporary, removable inverted wedge that compensates for that incline and makes it flat. That way you can remove it when you need the second row. yikes

 

[ST1FLER]

I plan on taking my 3rd row out and building a false floor for storage

 

[Engineer]

Before ripping anything out how about making a platform that sits just above the 2nd row seat backs when folded down? I have seen others make something similar but I would thing this would be more useful/reversible. The only downside is you loose head room when sleeping but then again this is the back of the 4runner not the Ritz.

 

[Engineer]

I plan on taking my 3rd row out and building a false floor for storage

^This, If I had a 3rd Row I would try to remove the seats and make storage area that looks factory.

 

[Jhalko]

Thanks for the details. The Antman Mod is pretty nice and thats what I am striving for. My only obstacle should be figuring out how to build something that compensates for the angle on when the second row is folded down (it doesn't fold forward). Essentially you have to build some sort of temporary, removable inverted wedge that compensates for that incline and makes it flat. That way you can remove it when you need the second row. yikes

I just lay out two pads, the first I fold in half and overlap the back seat, the other I lay out all the way on top. That slight incline is then mostly gone. Faster and requires no cutting.

 

[carolinapanic]

Before ripping anything out how about making a platform that sits just above the 2nd row seat backs when folded down? I have seen others make something similar but I would thing this would be more useful/reversible. The only downside is you loose head room when sleeping but then again this is the back of the 4runner not the Ritz.

I think the best bet is to:
1: pull out the third row and make the usual drawer platform.
2: Have an angled wedge (flat on the top, angled on the bottom to compensate for the 15 degree-ish incline) attached to the back of the second row with some sort of hinge system.

Would be able to use the second row for passengers and drop it down when I go fly fishing. I dunno. Gonna have to really map it out for the hinged wedge to work.

Normally I don't care about popping a tent down in the Sierras and dealing with snow. My GF, not so much.

 

[ST1FLER]

^This, If I had a 3rd Row I would try to remove the seats and make storage area that looks factory.

thats the game plan. right down to keeping the factory plastic trim around it

 

[mlc2000]

My '05 SR5 came with the third row but they were bucket seats and just popped out. I could fold them up but they hook onto the side and fold up against the back side rear window, leaving me with more of a blind spot. Not a good design.

So I physically pulled them out and leave the back for storage. My back seats fold down and then up against the front. When I need more storage room, I remove the back seats and gain an extra 2 feet.

 

[Apex Overland]

When I sleep in the back I just back the rear wheels up on a curb. Its not completely level but helps a lot. Ive thought about making a sleeping platform/storage box that slides over the second row, but not worth the time or money to me for sleeping in the back once or twice a year when I'm camping by myself. RTT changed my life!

I have plans for a rear box I drew up that is angled to fit over the third row making it level, then a tray that slides out to bridge the gap between the highest point of the second row folded down and the top of the box. just didn't do it because cost/reward ratio isn't there for me and i don't want to take the box in and out every time we use the third row.

Rear wheels on a curb or park the truck on uneven ground and a twin air mattress IMO is the best bet.

 

[5Sport]

You asked the same question I did a while back. I am looking at building a removable sleeping platform/storage to do the same thing. I won't need it for a while so if you find a solution for a flat sleeping platform please post what you do. I will do the same when I get around to it.

Good luck

 

[Danimal]

I seem to have the opposite problem; spent months talking with my wife about family size before picking up my trail edition... We're done with kids, right? No need for a third row, right?

Now we're planning on one more (three total) and I need a 3rd row in my trail.

Dan

 

[EEEliminator]

I seem to have the opposite problem; spent months talking with my wife about family size before picking up my trail edition... We're done with kids, right? No need for a third row, right?

Now we're planning on one more (three total) and I need a 3rd row in my trail.

Dan

Third row is pretty much just for short trips, when its up there is ZERO storage behind the seats. You'd be lucky to get a single bag of groceries back there (1 row of bags). You also have to think that if you were rear ended there isn't a lot space there either. I tried it out with my kids for awhile and I'd rather have all 3 of them in car seats in the 2nd row even though its a PITA. There is also no heat or air back there, it might be okay if there were.

I think of it more of a jump seat that we can use in a pinch if we're picking up nieces, nephews, or the kids friend. If you want to utilize a 3rd row regularly I'd look at another vehicle.

 

[Danimal]

I think of it more of a jump seat that we can use in a pinch if we're picking up nieces, nephews, or the kids friend. If you want to utilize a 3rd row regularly I'd look at another vehicle.

Would probably not use it regularly, but for occasional long trips (i.e. over 2,000 miles) with 1 kid back there. Your points are valid for that case as well... ugh...

Thanks - and sorry to thread jack.

 

[Kire4Runner]

Third row is pretty much just for short trips, when its up there is ZERO storage behind the seats. You'd be lucky to get a single bag of groceries back there (1 row of bags). You also have to think that if you were rear ended there isn't a lot space there either. I tried it out with my kids for awhile and I'd rather have all 3 of them in car seats in the 2nd row even though its a PITA. There is also no heat or air back there, it might be okay if there were.

I think of it more of a jump seat that we can use in a pinch if we're picking up nieces, nephews, or the kids friend. If you want to utilize a 3rd row regularly I'd look at another vehicle.

Agree with all points here. We can fit our three kids (5y/o, 3y/o, and 10m/o) in the middle row with some maneuvering of the car seats if everyone comes along in my truck.

 

[Jono.ful]

step one, remove seats/install dynamat

step two, install base (in my case, leave it like this for ~1 year

step three, build drawers

step four, drink much beer to celebrate arty:

:humble:

 

[one4x4dad]

I think the best bet is to:
1: pull out the third row and make the usual drawer platform.
2: Have an angled wedge (flat on the top, angled on the bottom to compensate for the 15 degree-ish incline) attached to the back of the second row with some sort of hinge system.

Would be able to use the second row for passengers and drop it down when I go fly fishing. I dunno. Gonna have to really map it out for the hinged wedge to work.

Normally I don't care about popping a tent down in the Sierras and dealing with snow. My GF, not so much.

Cant you fold the 2nd row down and then get a ratchet strap and compress the seat backs down to the seat bottoms?

 

[BearBio]

Haven't slept in it but have laid down in my 2019 SR5 Premium with third row. We do put the second row down for storage on long trips. Seems "OK". We had an AirBedz mattress that worked fine when we tried it but I sold it because, at our age, camping is out of the question. Have slept in some pretty uncomfortable places (back of trucks, a Scout, etc. in my youth with just a 4" foam pad.