removing the back seats

[nfpgasmask]

Hmmm, I have been thinking of doing this very thing also. I am a family of 2 (me and my wife) and I don't usually cart friends around often, and when I do, they can sit on the floor in the back I thought if I take the seats out.

So, I was thinking of pulling the seats and then buying some real thick rubber diamond plate matting and filing out the entire area with it.

But, now I'm wondering, sounds like pulling the seats leave actual holes to the outside in the floor? Is that what you guys are concerned about?

Bart

PS - I hate the rubbing leather sound too.

[etlsport]

yeah, i pulled the bolts out and while i was inside puttin the bolts into my toolbox so i wouldnt lose them i noticed the bottoms were pretty nasty, so i got to wondering where they led to, i looked in the back of the vx at the holes and wouldnt you know it, i was lookin at asphalt, so i put tape over them but realized the paint was probably stripped off inside the holes from the bolts, so i replaced them with a dab of lock tite to make sure they were sealed.. the last thing i need is rust

im definately thinking about just leaving them out now that theyre gone im lovin the room.. so i was looking for a more permenant solution than just leaving the bolts in place

[nfpgasmask]

im definately thinking about just leaving them out now that theyre gone im lovin the room.. so i was looking for a more permenant solution than just leaving the bolts in place

What about some sort of rubber plug or something? Something flat but with lips on it that you could seal off with silicone sealant? When you're back in there next time, would you mind taking some photos of how the back cargo area looks with the seats out and also some shots of the where the bolts stick out? This will save me some time and help make my decision up without doing the work you did!

Thanks -Bart

PS - It would be cool to make a stand or floor mount for your back seats so you can use them in the living room while they are not in your VX!!

[Tobert]

I pulled my seats out this weekend. I love all the space it freed up and the dog seems to enjoy it too. I'm thinking of making a small part to cover over the rear floorboard area and turn it into semi-hidden storage.

I just put the bolts right back in and didn't worry about sealant. When torqued down a little, they should seal just fine, since there shouldn't ever be any kind of pressure on the bottom side. I also pulled the seat belt bracket but left the seat latch for now.

I really like the rubber diamond plate idea.

[Ldub]

PS - It would be cool to make a stand or floor mount for your back seats so you can use them in the living room while they are not in your VX!!

Now THAT'S a good idea...my back seat has been wasting closet space since about three days after I purchaced my VX back in 03....brilliant!

[Chopper]

tape the holes from the bottom, then fill them with silicone RV sealer(the kind that stays rubbery) waterproof-no bumps-picks out in a snap to put the seats back.

[etlsport]

great ideas! ill leave these bolts in for the trip, and if i decide i like the vx better without the back seats ill probably use the silicon sealer

bart.. if you check my gallery i posted some photos of the back seat removed.. heres a breakdown of what they all came from

1. seat belt anchor
2.seat anchor (2 bolts)
3. seat anchor (2 bolts)
4. seat belt anchor
5. seat belt buckle (this is the one thats causing most of my frustration)
also peice sticking up next to it can be removed, but i left it to tie luggage down to
6&7 are the carseat anchors, they would be a pain if i didnt have the cargo mat

i took photos of all the bolts that i can email to you if you want, just didnt want to post them all

p.s. the fire extinguisher fits like glove! (back seats even fold up while its there)

[mbeach]

Ha,
That's the exact same place that I've mounted the fire extinguisher in both of my VXs.
I put them in after seeing that clip of the guy filming his car burning to the ground. A nice turbo Golf, he even saw the fire start -downpipe burnt sound deadening -he had a video camera but no fire extinguisher.

[nfpgasmask]

Hey, thanks for posting those pics. It looks nice back there without the seats actually. Hmmm, this maybe something I need to do. I told my wife I was thinking about doing it and she was concerned about carting friends around, but I was like, "Screw them, they can sit on the floor!".

LOL, I guess I do need to think about that, since the back seat can be a bumpy ride, especially without a seat. But, on the same token, the storage space gain would be nice, not to mention a nice new piece of furniture for my living room!

I see what you mean about the bolt. That would definitely need to be removed and sealed off in some other "flat" way.

Bart

great ideas! ill leave these bolts in for the trip, and if i decide i like the vx better without the back seats ill probably use the silicon sealer

bart.. if you check my gallery i posted some photos of the back seat removed.. heres a breakdown of what they all came from

1. seat belt anchor
2.seat anchor (2 bolts)
3. seat anchor (2 bolts)
4. seat belt anchor
5. seat belt buckle (this is the one thats causing most of my frustration)
also peice sticking up next to it can be removed, but i left it to tie luggage down to
6&7 are the carseat anchors, they would be a pain if i didnt have the cargo mat

i took photos of all the bolts that i can email to you if you want, just didnt want to post them all

p.s. the fire extinguisher fits like glove! (back seats even fold up while its there)