As a kingcab owner, the first mod I did to my truck was to get rid of those useless rear seats. My fridge lives on one side & dry food storage on the other. I put cargo nets where the seat backs were. My tools and laptop live there now.
It makes so much more sense that your doing all this to an older, simpler truck. These people that tear up 45-55k new trucks is just crazy. Your making wise choices my friend.
I have a 22 Ram 1500, wasn’t cheap, I thought of taking out the back seat a number of times, I’m not married, my children are grown say that I trip a lot by myself, but I just can’t get myself to take the seat out as much as I’d like to, so the short of it, I totally agree with you!!
It's perfect! I did my build the exact same way, picking up pieces of scrap lumber and seeing if it would fit. When you said "being a hoarder always pays off" I laughed out loud.
It’s build episodes like these and many others you’ve shared, that prove camping with a suitable vehicle can be affordable and accessible! Certainly more enjoyable watching you build out your truck, than watching an overland bought truck channel.
@@The4x4WindowCleaner 🤣🤣👍 there are some individuals here that call these frontiers and Toyota Hilux’s etc “trucks”, this is fine … I just chose to not speak to them 🤣🤣🤣
@@4WheelingInNSW 😄 I mean, there are countless examples of terminology differences between the US and England or Australia. Hood vs Bonnet. Trunk vs Boot. Chips vs Crisps (and Fries vs Chips haha). As long as we all understand each other.🙂
Ohhhh yessss, that's brilliant. I have a standard extinguisher mounted just inside the camper, but I also have a specialized extinguisher designed for vehicle fires which I have not been able to figure out a good spot for - so it has just been sitting uselessly in my garage. I just went to check and it will indeed fit that spot. Thank you!
I didn’t want to take the seats out of my 2002 Dodge Dakota, and I didn’t want to spend a lot of money. I bought a short wire mesh shelf unit from Target for $50 and use a ratchet strap to keep it in place. It’s 36 inches wide and 18 inches deep. My fridge, EcoFlow battery, and gear totes fit perfectly.
Ha! We took out the larger seat in back and built a platform years ago and a few weeks back we took out the smaller seat. We do need to build a platform for that area still. But it’s really amazing how much room you get when those seats are gone. Function over form will get you outside faster along with no worries about it getting banged and scratched with this lifestyle.
Great timing. I did the 40% delete a while ago for my fridge. Now I'm getting ready to delete the other side. I'm going to build a platform for a dog bed, but if he's not with me it will open up extra storage space.
Love it, well done. Really appreciate you being realistic. A lot of channels are like the meme about using $100k of tools in a $40k building to build some free shelving out of pallets. I bought a Land Cruiser Prado not long ago, one of the first mods was pulling out the third row seats. Contemplating pulling out the second row too.
Thanks for sharing your design. It feels perfect for your needs. I like how you have your camera gear right at hand. I usually have a passenger so I may have to copy your idea, but in the back seat. Not to cast shade on the overland crowd, but I also take the practical route when rigging out my truck. It's all about function. I did a video on my channel about a bunk with a "drop side" that folds down makes for more storage as I travel, or up for a nice big bed. Nothing fancy, just practical. I really love camping out of the back of my truck. As always, thanks for the video!
A functional upgrade that can be altered if needed that meets your needs. Looking forward to seeing how it all works out. My Jeep JK has had the rear seat folded down with a furniture protecting blanket covering the floor and the back of the cargo area works for me for years now.
Well done Donald, I love seeing home made mods. I’ve done plenty on my Nissan Navara ( Frontier’s in the US ) and put a few videos up on my channel too, hoping to inspire others to have a crack at it. Who cares whether it’s pretty or not, practicality is what makes it good or bad and yours is great. And the best thing too, you did it on a budget. You’re not going into debt to make some over zealous ridiculous storage unit just to be the envy of others … you’ve built something you can use and that suits YOUR requirements, not other’s expectations so 🧢🧢’s off to you mate. ✊🤜🤛. Well done bud. If I can make a suggestion, and this is what I would do in mine, is maybe just a front wall or even just a couple of bungee / elastic cords or similar across the front section so if you’re driving forwards down anything steep, it stops your jackets from sliding off the shelf and down into the footwell covering your tripod etc. or rattling off on those rougher corrugated tracks. I hate things sliding around in my car and it would drive me crazy if that happened 🤣 But yeah, great stuff mate and keep up the great content. LOVE these build / modification clips too. 👍👍👌👌🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺 P.S - It’s just such a shame that here in Australia, we have quite strict rules regarding removing seats due to the change in payload. They can actually defect your vehicle here in Australia if we do what you have done and haven’t had it engineered and had a plate put under the bonnet/hood somewhere showing that it has been engineered. Quite hefty fines otherwise.
I have a 2016 Colorado extended cab. I had a platform on the rear seat for many years. I finally removed the rear seat and the small cubbies (never used). It definitely opened up the rear and I gained some storage. Still a work in progress. Took some scraps I had in the garage and made a flat platform utilizing the front metal rear seat support. Thinking about adding Milwaukee Pack Outs in the rear. I know they are pricey.
A rear seat delete is one of the best mods I've ever done. I did it in my JK which gave me tons of space and after she was totaled, may she rest in peace, I did it right away to my JT. If you have even basic skills, do it yourself. The pre-made solutions available for sale are ridiculously expensive. My entire delete for my JT cost less than $100. Thanks, Donald for a great video.
Very creative! As one who also keeps bits of wood and other material for 'just in case' purposes, being able to create something without having to purchase new materials is very satisfying. Years ago, we had our kitchen remodeled. There were about 30 cabinet doors left over that I kept and have been using for various projects ever since. I think I still have about 10 left. Now, if I could find a convenient pass through in my cab....
New storage looks good. You might think about packing cubes for your outerwear. They make it a little easier move items like clothing around a compact space.
Great decision! I did this to my Land Rover Discovery 5 and created a platform for items as well as containers for my chairs/etc. thinking of doing this for the Ranger Raptor build.
I did a complete rear seat delete on my 04 Tundra Extended cab back in February. (The Nissan King Cab is like the Extended cab) . Finding this amazing, flat platform area under it. Nobody had sat in that back seat for years. My 50qt fridge and Jackery. Able to strap them down now just in case while offroading. Six bolts. As easy to put back in as it was easy to take out!
I looked into doing this in my Mitsubishi Challenger, but in Australia if you remove a seat from a vehicle then you need to have it inspected by and engineer and then re-register the vehicle as a different class. Of course, fees are involved. There's always fees.😅
Really? What´s the reason? Removing seats mean reduction of risc as less passengers can be hurt... In our very restricted germany nobody really care if seats are removed (as long air bags still working / warn light works). Its not expressly "allowed" but also not forbidden😉
@alteregoklause1694 I'd say it's "safety," but more likely, it's for government fees. I understand that when fitting the seats, make sure the factory bolts are torqued properly. It was a couple hundred bucks. And an engineer has to certify the vehicle. And not worth doing temporarily.
Your an amazing dad for getting your daughter an SH Forester. ;-p I bet it was even a manual transmission! Glad to hear she is enjoying her independence!
I still have my Autowitz capacitive jump starters based on your original review. They've saved my bacon a few times, particularly before I added the "house battery" to my mobile ham radio setup. My wife recently used hers to jump start her car on a rainy day away from home. She has a new starter battery now. BTW, the notch in your shelf looks like a great home for a fire extinguisher. 😊Keep up the good work! -Scott
I'm glad to hear the jump starter has been working for you. I have yet to actually need mine. Fire extinguisher...yes. I wish I had thought of that when I was working on this. I have one mounted in the camper but also have a second extinguisher specialized for vehicle fires that I've wanted to mount in the cab but haven't had a good spot for it. Pretty sure I'm now going to integrate it in that spot. Thanks!
I just screwed most of the seat mounting bolts back into the truck. My old Toyota actually has this completely flat, raised platform about 4" tall. With two removeable panels giving access to internal compartment space. Where the stock jack and tire changing tools reside. So Happy with this upgrade!!! You only have X amount of space to use.
Not such thing as an unskilled craftsman if what you build is sturdy and useful. Plus you used materials you had on hand. I've watched your videos for quite some time and you have very capable skills.
Love the DIY seat delete you’ve done. One thing I saw I wanted to bring to your attention is to make sure you can access your recovery gear from its home if you’re not able to open the passenger rear door. Years ago I helped pull a guy out who had slid into a ditch preventing him from opening the back of his jeep. In the back in a drawer was his winch controller and shackles. Since he could not get his door open he was not able to self recover and had to wait for help. That stuck with me on keeping critical gear accessible from multiple angles.
That's a really good point. I need to check to see if I can reach the recovery gear pulling from the front. Another commenter was suggesting I close off the front part of that shelf, but you've just given me a very good reason not to.
In my mini truck days a lot of guys would remove the glass in the back of the cab and the glass in the front of the shell,and they bought a boot that enclosed all that. It made a big pass through because everyone had a stereo system in the bed of the truck. It would be awesome if you did that so you could just reach in there and grab something out of your fridge or whatever while you're camping. I've been watching overland videos for years and I never seen anybody do it inside of their rig. Maybe they don't make the boot anymore. I guess it's something to think about.
I'm pretty sure boots like that still exist, I feel like I've seen some builds along those lines within the past couple of years. It's not worth the trouble for me - I cook outside and generally don't need fridge access from the camper - but I believe it would be possible. Thanks for watching!
Excellent modification. You have really made it easy to access your gear. I do worry about some of the things in the bins having the potential to 'launch' in the event of a sudden stop.
Well it's all pretty lightweight stuff that has been riding unsecured all this time already. The Jackery was my biggest projectile concern but it's tied down. The open bins could conceivably be replaced with something that has latching lids. I didn't have anything on hand but it would be cheap enough to swap them out...I'll at least keep my eyes open for something that could work. Thanks Bill!
I really enjoy your build and gear videos (actually I enjoy all your content), you remind us that the destination is great but the journey makes it worth it! -Are the Falken tires holding up and what ply did you go with?
With the bolts going all the way through, spraying PB on the back multiple times for a couple days beforehand would help. An impact gun also has a better shot of breaking the bolt loose if it is corroded/rusty.
I have a king cab but i couldn't find a pro4x king cab in good enough shape or no rust so i settled for a sv. I really needed a rear locker so i just axle swapped to a m226 off of a pro4x. The best part about the axle swap was that i dont have it plugged to the ecu so i can use it in 2wd or 4hi and 4lo ive been very happy with it. I obviously put a better suspension setup on it to from ado i got the Bilstein 5100 kit with uca's and 33s and i gotta say its maybe one of the best riding trucks ive ever had on road and off road.
Deleted my frontier rear seats and replaced with floor storage, fridge/freezer spot pantry cabinet and top pantry storage space and I absolutely love it. Never putting my rear seats back in😂
Thanks for sharing! I took out the back seat of my sedan and built a platform that lifts up and accessible storage. Might need a redesign for shelves like that. Sure would make it easier.
It's cool seeing a Frontier being modded. I have a 2020 Pro-4X and it's still too new to do stuff like that for now. I bet in the future you'll end up deleting the front passenger seat too lol.
Years ago there was warning issued about removing any through-floor fasteners. If you were sitting idling there is a possibility of getting carbon monoxide into the cab through any open holes/fasteners. Make sure you re-insert the bolts is fill the hole with some RTV.
With that stock jack delete you might want to think about a Hummer/HumVee jack. Off shore replicas all over eBay, both surplus and new all over the place from various outfitters. Least expensive is a military online auction. You do need a bit of space but for a no gimmick, almost no limit jack that works almost can't be beat. Careful with the space it requires tho.
One thing to consider when ditching the factory scissor jack.... If you have a complete tire failure where the rim is on the ground a bottle jack may not be short enough to get under the axle or lower control arm which means a lot of jacking off the frame to lift high enough for the suspension to droop and then lift the tire. Having a second lower profile jack to assist in these situations may be work the space it takes up.
Totally agree, I'm not ditching it. It's now tucked into the storage compartment of my camper where I have other What If items. I've seen scissor jacks prove useful in many scenarios that don't necessarily involve changing a tire. :-)
I like your summer content quite a bit actually, it's a nice change of pace. You could take the upholstery off and store just that to use if you ever need to reupholster your driver's seat. It reduces the cost and headache of finding matching material substantially. Also, you could use that little cutout in the shelf to store a fire extinguisher maybe? Anyways, I always daydream about what I would do with my rig if I could take the back seats out so it was great to see what you did with yours.
Yes, in fact I have a dedicated vehicle fire extinguisher that has been sitting in my garage because I couldn't figure out where to secure it in the cab of the truck (I do have a standard fire extinguisher in the camper) and I think this is going to be the spot for it!
My biggest concern was added cab noise. But I found a layer of factory insulation installed on the back cab wall. I watched several TH-cam seat delete vids for my same year truck before attempting it. 4 bolts instead of 6, zero insulation on the back cab panel. Trucks that previously had the rear seat deleted and reinstalled.
2010 Subaru Forester guy here, been watching your vids since idk maybe 2019? You inspired me to do a lot. Lol I just made a video about my thought process in builds and its really similar. Its funny we are both making vids on kind of the same things. I just took everything out except the drivers seat, including the trim. I made a pull out couch bed. It has so much room its like a minivan now. Im still in the middle of the rest of the build but you can see the couch-bed and a decent idea of all the room now in the 2nd to last video I made if youre interested.
Yeah so I just took a look at yours...it's astonishing how much more usable the space inside the Forester becomes with all those seats removed! Kinda makes me want to try it again with a Forester now that I no longer need to transport passengers! 😄
@@softroadingthewest Oh man, picture or videos do not do it justice at all. It is, imho, absolutely ridiculous the amount of wasted space in these vehicles! Now that I have taken the ceiling trim out, I keep looking at the moonroof and how cool it would be if you could enter a rooftop tent from there... Im not that crazy yet though haha. If you get another Forester Ill come help you tear it up!
Indeed...numerous viewers suggested that, and I agreed it was a great idea. I do already have an ABC extinguisher mounted just inside my camper door, but I had a second extinguisher - formulated specifically for engine fires - just sitting in the garage because I couldn't figure out a place to put it in my truck. It's now mounted in that notch and fits perfectly. Thanks for watching!
I think your rear seat storage is a good place for heavy / dense items for better center of gravity. Maybe a water tank? Larger capacity battery? Tools, etc.
I think I passed you outside La Grande on labor day. If not it was a copycat down to the traction board mounts! Thanks for the build video, it stirs up my brain matter for future projects!
@@softroadingthewest well you definitely have a super fan then! I didn’t have time to look but it was the same color truck with the same camper. Must be a celebrity stalker!
Haha! :-) Before I got the Forester back in 2017, I just drove cars, I didn't mod them or work on them. I was completely unfamiliar with using the term "delete" to indicate "remove" when referring to part of a vehicle. My sense is that it implies you're eliminating something that was a component of the original car design. Like, if I were to pull out the GMRS radio I installed in the truck, I don't think anyone would call that a delete...that would just be "removing" or "taking out." But pulling off my factory roof rack and plugging the bolt holes...that would be a delete. As I understand it anyway. :-)
@@softroadingthewest Yep I think that is about right. I asked her what she considered a delete and she said welding the bolt holes shut so it couldn't go back in.
Makes such a big difference, interesting with the double cab process, still quite easy. Removed the backseats from my Isuzu space cab (ugh in Germany you need to update your vehicle papers for that, but worth it), and even though space cab seats are tiny, the anchor points are just vital to mount anything securely. The best solution is a free solution that works for your needs, I love it. Are you planning on building it higher anytime soon? Btw, drawers inside the cabin? Had that in the Forester, ooh the rattles.
Greetings from germany, like all your videos no matter if the content is really exciting😁 just because your voice and kind personality. But I´m missing your meditative journeys to wonderful landscapes very much! Keep on moveing...
@@softroadingthewest Yes, I certainly noticed your promising announcement in the video😁 I guess everybody feels your enthusiasm. Beside enjoying your stories I admit that I´m jealous, too. Hopefully you are always aware of the privilege of this freedom and wounderful landscapes! Make the best out of it, life is short. B.t.w.: Please stop excusing, as you explain why you do or do not travel we have to accept your decision. Its YOUR life.
Like your build and the rationale for the things you've done. Not to be a critic, rather just curious --- seems like you could have built something similar that fit around the seat so that it could remain in the truck and be usable in times of need, perhaps with the seat base up? Idk, really. I'm guessing what you've crafted will be plenty robust, and will sit lower than anything that you might have been able to do with the seat in place. One suggestion would be a cover, kind of like the privacy covers in the back of many hatchbacks -- with valuables in sight you are a target for those who see a goldmine just need to break a window or punch out a lock. It can happen fast when you're least prepared for or expecting it. Cheers!...from North Vancouver
No worries, fair question.👍 Even if I built something removable around the seat, I know from experience of my own laziness that I would never ever hassle with removing it in order to make use of the back seat. 😆 The seat itself is really a huge amount of volume, and having that much bulk gone greatly increases the usability of the space in terms of having everything accessible. 99% of my time in the truck, I am by myself. The 1% I've got anyone with me, it might occasionally be my (adult) daughter on a quick errand around town, but that is increasingly rare. Any time I travel anywhere with both of my (adult) kids (also quite rare but happens maybe once or twice a year) I borrow a fuel-efficient car from my parents. And on the off off chance something major changes in my life where I would once again regularly need more seating in my truck, I can always remove this build and re-install that seat. But it looks highly unlikely I would ever need to do that until whenever I eventually move to a different rig and sell this one. 🙂
I wonder if compression packing cubes would be a good option to "contain" the coats, making it easier to pull out as one if you needed to access the items behind them
That's a pretty good idea, although I suspect that in practice, I would end up skipping stuffing anything back into its cube while traveling, so then I'd have coats AND empty cubes crammed back in there. 😆
You've gotten pretty good at this improvisational construction stuff. I just happen to know a guy who needs to build a storage wall and outdoor kitchen for his Topo Topper. Wanna volunteer? 🤣
I did mine on my Tacoma! Kept the seats in the garage for a few months, do yourself a favor clutter favor, sell them, or give them away like I did, you will never regret or use them again 😂😂😂
HI DONALD 👋 THANK YOU ☺️ 🙏 PLENTY OF IDEAS 💡 TEACHING HOW TO REUSE & SAVE FUNDS FOR THE TRIP ! ❤ BE SAFE ☺️ 🙏HAVE FUN ☺️ 🙏ENJOYED ☺️ 🙏 GOD BLESS YOU ALWAYS ON YOUR ADVENTURES ☺️ 🙏THANK YOU ☺️ 🙏
I do have an extinguisher mounted in the camper just inside the door, but I think I'm going to use that odd notch in the lower shelf here to mount another one inside the cab.
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As a kingcab owner, the first mod I did to my truck was to get rid of those useless rear seats. My fridge lives on one side & dry food storage on the other. I put cargo nets where the seat backs were. My tools and laptop live there now.
It makes so much more sense that your doing all this to an older, simpler truck. These people that tear up 45-55k new trucks is just crazy. Your making wise choices my friend.
I have a 22 Ram 1500, wasn’t cheap, I thought of taking out the back seat a number of times, I’m not married, my children are grown say that I trip a lot by myself, but I just can’t get myself to take the seat out as much as I’d like to, so the short of it, I totally agree with you!!
It's perfect! I did my build the exact same way, picking up pieces of scrap lumber and seeing if it would fit. When you said "being a hoarder always pays off" I laughed out loud.
It’s build episodes like these and many others you’ve shared, that prove camping with a suitable vehicle can be affordable and accessible! Certainly more enjoyable watching you build out your truck, than watching an overland bought truck channel.
@@The4x4WindowCleaner funny how you guys call a utility a “truck” … that’s nothing like a truck here in Australia
😂 I have family in Australia, and they’re always telling me it’s a Ute not a truck!
@@The4x4WindowCleaner 🤣🤣👍 there are some individuals here that call these frontiers and Toyota Hilux’s etc “trucks”, this is fine … I just chose to not speak to them 🤣🤣🤣
@@4WheelingInNSW 😄 I mean, there are countless examples of terminology differences between the US and England or Australia. Hood vs Bonnet. Trunk vs Boot. Chips vs Crisps (and Fries vs Chips haha). As long as we all understand each other.🙂
@@softroadingthewest oh 100% mate 🤜🤛
I love the “not very overlandy” comment! Thanks for setting the example that it doesn’t have to cost a fortune!
That notch in the shelf, would make a good place for a fire extinguisher
Ohhhh yessss, that's brilliant. I have a standard extinguisher mounted just inside the camper, but I also have a specialized extinguisher designed for vehicle fires which I have not been able to figure out a good spot for - so it has just been sitting uselessly in my garage. I just went to check and it will indeed fit that spot. Thank you!
Space is a premium in mid-sized trucks. I also did the seat delete for the last 2 years for gear. Good option
“Always pays to be a hoarder” my favorite line! Practical and functional. Love it
Thanks Jared! Hope you're all doing well!
Thanks for validating my keeping of every scrap of material, just in case! 😊 Also, TJ’s peanut butter pretzel nuggets - yes!
Hoarders unite! 👊
I didn’t want to take the seats out of my 2002 Dodge Dakota, and I didn’t want to spend a lot of money. I bought a short wire mesh shelf unit from Target for $50 and use a ratchet strap to keep it in place. It’s 36 inches wide and 18 inches deep. My fridge, EcoFlow battery, and gear totes fit perfectly.
I love solutions like this.
Don't worry about how it looks, it does exactly what you need it to do and the best part is the cost! Thanks for sharing.
Nice work. That notch looks like a good place for a fire extinguisher. As my truck ages this idea gets more interesting.
Ha! We took out the larger seat in back and built a platform years ago and a few weeks back we took out the smaller seat. We do need to build a platform for that area still. But it’s really amazing how much room you get when those seats are gone. Function over form will get you outside faster along with no worries about it getting banged and scratched with this lifestyle.
Always love your builds Donald. They are extremely practical.
I wish I had a friend or neighbor like you to share the fun of diy builds like this and go adventuring with.
Great timing. I did the 40% delete a while ago for my fridge. Now I'm getting ready to delete the other side. I'm going to build a platform for a dog bed, but if he's not with me it will open up extra storage space.
Can't say I blame you about the heat of the bugs. Looking forward to your videos getting out and about.
Good practice to reinstall all hardware for future, saves having to remember or finding them.
Love it, well done. Really appreciate you being realistic. A lot of channels are like the meme about using $100k of tools in a $40k building to build some free shelving out of pallets.
I bought a Land Cruiser Prado not long ago, one of the first mods was pulling out the third row seats. Contemplating pulling out the second row too.
Your Construction Skills are Significantly Better than your Perception of them
I like how you said it doesn't look 'overlandy' enough. It's a shelf. (:
Thanks for sharing your design. It feels perfect for your needs. I like how you have your camera gear right at hand. I usually have a passenger so I may have to copy your idea, but in the back seat. Not to cast shade on the overland crowd, but I also take the practical route when rigging out my truck. It's all about function. I did a video on my channel about a bunk with a "drop side" that folds down makes for more storage as I travel, or up for a nice big bed. Nothing fancy, just practical. I really love camping out of the back of my truck. As always, thanks for the video!
A functional upgrade that can be altered if needed that meets your needs. Looking forward to seeing how it all works out. My Jeep JK has had the rear seat folded down with a furniture protecting blanket covering the floor and the back of the cargo area works for me for years now.
Well done Donald, I love seeing home made mods. I’ve done plenty on my Nissan Navara ( Frontier’s in the US ) and put a few videos up on my channel too, hoping to inspire others to have a crack at it.
Who cares whether it’s pretty or not, practicality is what makes it good or bad and yours is great. And the best thing too, you did it on a budget. You’re not going into debt to make some over zealous ridiculous storage unit just to be the envy of others … you’ve built something you can use and that suits YOUR requirements, not other’s expectations so 🧢🧢’s off to you mate. ✊🤜🤛. Well done bud.
If I can make a suggestion, and this is what I would do in mine, is maybe just a front wall or even just a couple of bungee / elastic cords or similar across the front section so if you’re driving forwards down anything steep, it stops your jackets from sliding off the shelf and down into the footwell covering your tripod etc. or rattling off on those rougher corrugated tracks. I hate things sliding around in my car and it would drive me crazy if that happened 🤣
But yeah, great stuff mate and keep up the great content. LOVE these build / modification clips too. 👍👍👌👌🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺
P.S - It’s just such a shame that here in Australia, we have quite strict rules regarding removing seats due to the change in payload. They can actually defect your vehicle here in Australia if we do what you have done and haven’t had it engineered and had a plate put under the bonnet/hood somewhere showing that it has been engineered. Quite hefty fines otherwise.
I have a 2016 Colorado extended cab. I had a platform on the rear seat for many years. I finally removed the rear seat and the small cubbies (never used). It definitely opened up the rear and I gained some storage. Still a work in progress. Took some scraps I had in the garage and made a flat platform utilizing the front metal rear seat support. Thinking about adding Milwaukee Pack Outs in the rear. I know they are pricey.
A rear seat delete is one of the best mods I've ever done. I did it in my JK which gave me tons of space and after she was totaled, may she rest in peace, I did it right away to my JT. If you have even basic skills, do it yourself. The pre-made solutions available for sale are ridiculously expensive. My entire delete for my JT cost less than $100. Thanks, Donald for a great video.
Don’t worry about not having overland videos. I enjoy all of your content. My son and I enjoyed meeting you at expo
Thanks for stopping to say Hi!
Very creative! As one who also keeps bits of wood and other material for 'just in case' purposes, being able to create something without having to purchase new materials is very satisfying. Years ago, we had our kitchen remodeled. There were about 30 cabinet doors left over that I kept and have been using for various projects ever since. I think I still have about 10 left. Now, if I could find a convenient pass through in my cab....
Great video! Gives ideas for anyone with a 4 door or crew cab. You have room now to build a slide out. Keep on camping.
That odd little cutout looks like it would be perfect for a fire extinguisher. Nice build out.
New storage looks good. You might think about packing cubes for your outerwear. They make it a little easier move items like clothing around a compact space.
Great decision! I did this to my Land Rover Discovery 5 and created a platform for items as well as containers for my chairs/etc. thinking of doing this for the Ranger Raptor build.
Always like your custom builds and that you use whatever is on hand !
Building your own makes it much simpler to rearrange as needed!
I did a complete rear seat delete on my 04 Tundra Extended cab back in February. (The Nissan King Cab is like the Extended cab) . Finding this amazing, flat platform area under it. Nobody had sat in that back seat for years. My 50qt fridge and Jackery. Able to strap them down now just in case while offroading.
Six bolts. As easy to put back in as it was easy to take out!
I looked into doing this in my Mitsubishi Challenger, but in Australia if you remove a seat from a vehicle then you need to have it inspected by and engineer and then re-register the vehicle as a different class. Of course, fees are involved. There's always fees.😅
Really? What´s the reason? Removing seats mean reduction of risc as less passengers can be hurt... In our very restricted germany nobody really care if seats are removed (as long air bags still working / warn light works). Its not expressly "allowed" but also not forbidden😉
@alteregoklause1694 I'd say it's "safety," but more likely, it's for government fees. I understand that when fitting the seats, make sure the factory bolts are torqued properly. It was a couple hundred bucks. And an engineer has to certify the vehicle. And not worth doing temporarily.
YOU ROCK at these Builds🎉😮😊😊😊
Looks functional, and free is always a good thing.
Awesome little build! I like that you recycled your old stuff. 👍😎👍 These videos are some of my favorite. ✌️😊
Your an amazing dad for getting your daughter an SH Forester. ;-p
I bet it was even a manual transmission!
Glad to hear she is enjoying her independence!
Haha! We'll have a car update out VERY soon actually! 🙂
I still have my Autowitz capacitive jump starters based on your original review. They've saved my bacon a few times, particularly before I added the "house battery" to my mobile ham radio setup. My wife recently used hers to jump start her car on a rainy day away from home. She has a new starter battery now. BTW, the notch in your shelf looks like a great home for a fire extinguisher. 😊Keep up the good work! -Scott
I'm glad to hear the jump starter has been working for you. I have yet to actually need mine. Fire extinguisher...yes. I wish I had thought of that when I was working on this. I have one mounted in the camper but also have a second extinguisher specialized for vehicle fires that I've wanted to mount in the cab but haven't had a good spot for it. Pretty sure I'm now going to integrate it in that spot. Thanks!
I just screwed most of the seat mounting bolts back into the truck. My old Toyota actually has this completely flat, raised platform about 4" tall. With two removeable panels giving access to internal compartment space. Where the stock jack and tire changing tools reside. So Happy with this upgrade!!!
You only have X amount of space to use.
Not such thing as an unskilled craftsman if what you build is sturdy and useful. Plus you used materials you had on hand.
I've watched your videos for quite some time and you have very capable skills.
Love the DIY seat delete you’ve done. One thing I saw I wanted to bring to your attention is to make sure you can access your recovery gear from its home if you’re not able to open the passenger rear door. Years ago I helped pull a guy out who had slid into a ditch preventing him from opening the back of his jeep. In the back in a drawer was his winch controller and shackles. Since he could not get his door open he was not able to self recover and had to wait for help. That stuck with me on keeping critical gear accessible from multiple angles.
That's a really good point. I need to check to see if I can reach the recovery gear pulling from the front. Another commenter was suggesting I close off the front part of that shelf, but you've just given me a very good reason not to.
Great build, lots of more storage space and the color matches the rest of the dust.😊
In my mini truck days a lot of guys would remove the glass in the back of the cab and the glass in the front of the shell,and they bought a boot that enclosed all that. It made a big pass through because everyone had a stereo system in the bed of the truck. It would be awesome if you did that so you could just reach in there and grab something out of your fridge or whatever while you're camping. I've been watching overland videos for years and I never seen anybody do it inside of their rig. Maybe they don't make the boot anymore. I guess it's something to think about.
I'm pretty sure boots like that still exist, I feel like I've seen some builds along those lines within the past couple of years. It's not worth the trouble for me - I cook outside and generally don't need fridge access from the camper - but I believe it would be possible. Thanks for watching!
The factory torque on seat belt bolts is enormous. I had to remove those rear passenger seat belts. Those bolt holes make great anchoring mounts.
Excellent modification. You have really made it easy to access your gear. I do worry about some of the things in the bins having the potential to 'launch' in the event of a sudden stop.
Well it's all pretty lightweight stuff that has been riding unsecured all this time already. The Jackery was my biggest projectile concern but it's tied down. The open bins could conceivably be replaced with something that has latching lids. I didn't have anything on hand but it would be cheap enough to swap them out...I'll at least keep my eyes open for something that could work. Thanks Bill!
Looks like a useful modification and practical. 😊
I really enjoy your build and gear videos (actually I enjoy all your content), you remind us that the destination is great but the journey makes it worth it!
-Are the Falken tires holding up and what ply did you go with?
With the bolts going all the way through, spraying PB on the back multiple times for a couple days beforehand would help. An impact gun also has a better shot of breaking the bolt loose if it is corroded/rusty.
I have a king cab but i couldn't find a pro4x king cab in good enough shape or no rust so i settled for a sv. I really needed a rear locker so i just axle swapped to a m226 off of a pro4x. The best part about the axle swap was that i dont have it plugged to the ecu so i can use it in 2wd or 4hi and 4lo ive been very happy with it. I obviously put a better suspension setup on it to from ado i got the Bilstein 5100 kit with uca's and 33s and i gotta say its maybe one of the best riding trucks ive ever had on road and off road.
I love it, you essentially built your own Pro-4x, only better!
It is functional and that is all that maters. I build weird stuff too from time to time. Thanks for the video! George.
Well done bro. Fits your needs and that's all that matters
Deleted my frontier rear seats and replaced with floor storage, fridge/freezer spot pantry cabinet and top pantry storage space and I absolutely love it. Never putting my rear seats back in😂
your builds are pretty decent and down to earth. cheers to that!
Thanks for sharing! I took out the back seat of my sedan and built a platform that lifts up and accessible storage. Might need a redesign for shelves like that. Sure would make it easier.
It's cool seeing a Frontier being modded. I have a 2020 Pro-4X and it's still too new to do stuff like that for now. I bet in the future you'll end up deleting the front passenger seat too lol.
Years ago there was warning issued about removing any through-floor fasteners. If you were sitting idling there is a possibility of getting carbon monoxide into the cab through any open holes/fasteners. Make sure you re-insert the bolts is fill the hole with some RTV.
With that stock jack delete you might want to think about a Hummer/HumVee jack. Off shore replicas all over eBay, both surplus and new all over the place from various outfitters. Least expensive is a military online auction. You do need a bit of space but for a no gimmick, almost no limit jack that works almost can't be beat. Careful with the space it requires tho.
One thing to consider when ditching the factory scissor jack.... If you have a complete tire failure where the rim is on the ground a bottle jack may not be short enough to get under the axle or lower control arm which means a lot of jacking off the frame to lift high enough for the suspension to droop and then lift the tire. Having a second lower profile jack to assist in these situations may be work the space it takes up.
Totally agree, I'm not ditching it. It's now tucked into the storage compartment of my camper where I have other What If items. I've seen scissor jacks prove useful in many scenarios that don't necessarily involve changing a tire. :-)
First thing I did with my 2022 Tacoma was remove the bigger of the two back seats- useful space indeed ;)
I like your summer content quite a bit actually, it's a nice change of pace. You could take the upholstery off and store just that to use if you ever need to reupholster your driver's seat. It reduces the cost and headache of finding matching material substantially.
Also, you could use that little cutout in the shelf to store a fire extinguisher maybe? Anyways, I always daydream about what I would do with my rig if I could take the back seats out so it was great to see what you did with yours.
Yes, in fact I have a dedicated vehicle fire extinguisher that has been sitting in my garage because I couldn't figure out where to secure it in the cab of the truck (I do have a standard fire extinguisher in the camper) and I think this is going to be the spot for it!
My biggest concern was added cab noise. But I found a layer of factory insulation installed on the back cab wall. I watched several TH-cam seat delete vids for my same year truck before attempting it. 4 bolts instead of 6, zero insulation on the back cab panel. Trucks that previously had the rear seat deleted and reinstalled.
Good build with available resources. What ever works for you !
Thx.
Good video Donald, I like the outcome.
Bins & baskets. Go get them first and size the shelves to fit the bins.😁
The more space you have, the more "stuff" you hoard.😂
One of the best mods I did.
I eventually wanna do the same with my frontier, thats for the informative video Donald👍
2010 Subaru Forester guy here, been watching your vids since idk maybe 2019? You inspired me to do a lot. Lol I just made a video about my thought process in builds and its really similar. Its funny we are both making vids on kind of the same things. I just took everything out except the drivers seat, including the trim. I made a pull out couch bed. It has so much room its like a minivan now. Im still in the middle of the rest of the build but you can see the couch-bed and a decent idea of all the room now in the 2nd to last video I made if youre interested.
Yeah so I just took a look at yours...it's astonishing how much more usable the space inside the Forester becomes with all those seats removed! Kinda makes me want to try it again with a Forester now that I no longer need to transport passengers! 😄
@@softroadingthewest Oh man, picture or videos do not do it justice at all. It is, imho, absolutely ridiculous the amount of wasted space in these vehicles! Now that I have taken the ceiling trim out, I keep looking at the moonroof and how cool it would be if you could enter a rooftop tent from there... Im not that crazy yet though haha. If you get another Forester Ill come help you tear it up!
You can leave that seat at Scott’s I stored the old ford seat there for months🤣
LOL that's perfect, I've got a bunch of stuff he can store for me
That odd cutout in the bottom shelf looks almost perfect for a fire extinguisher velcroed to the support leg...
Indeed...numerous viewers suggested that, and I agreed it was a great idea. I do already have an ABC extinguisher mounted just inside my camper door, but I had a second extinguisher - formulated specifically for engine fires - just sitting in the garage because I couldn't figure out a place to put it in my truck. It's now mounted in that notch and fits perfectly. Thanks for watching!
I love it! Thanks for sharing.
Good job at being practical!
Nice set up. That should work well for you. 👍
Love this, great inspiration
Nice no cost functional build Donald . I’ll bet you ran into some creepy spiders 🕷️ in your scrap wood pile 😂
Thank you for sharing .
Bob
I think your rear seat storage is a good place for heavy / dense items for better center of gravity. Maybe a water tank? Larger capacity battery? Tools, etc.
I think I passed you outside La Grande on labor day. If not it was a copycat down to the traction board mounts! Thanks for the build video, it stirs up my brain matter for future projects!
I generally avoid traveling on holiday weekends and was firmly planted at home working on truck projects. 😄
@@softroadingthewest well you definitely have a super fan then! I didn’t have time to look but it was the same color truck with the same camper. Must be a celebrity stalker!
You got a good laugh out of my wife when you said you were deleting your seats. She said "why do they call it a delete, it's just taking them out". :)
Haha! :-) Before I got the Forester back in 2017, I just drove cars, I didn't mod them or work on them. I was completely unfamiliar with using the term "delete" to indicate "remove" when referring to part of a vehicle. My sense is that it implies you're eliminating something that was a component of the original car design. Like, if I were to pull out the GMRS radio I installed in the truck, I don't think anyone would call that a delete...that would just be "removing" or "taking out." But pulling off my factory roof rack and plugging the bolt holes...that would be a delete. As I understand it anyway. :-)
@@softroadingthewest Yep I think that is about right. I asked her what she considered a delete and she said welding the bolt holes shut so it couldn't go back in.
thanks for the video. love the Nissan content.
Makes such a big difference, interesting with the double cab process, still quite easy. Removed the backseats from my Isuzu space cab (ugh in Germany you need to update your vehicle papers for that, but worth it), and even though space cab seats are tiny, the anchor points are just vital to mount anything securely. The best solution is a free solution that works for your needs, I love it. Are you planning on building it higher anytime soon?
Btw, drawers inside the cabin? Had that in the Forester, ooh the rattles.
Gift idea for Donald - ratchet wrenches
Amen! I can't justify the expense for the very little wrench turning I do, but man there sure are times they would be handy! 😆
great job.
Thank you for sharing!
Greetings from germany, like all your videos no matter if the content is really exciting😁 just because your voice and kind personality.
But I´m missing your meditative journeys to wonderful landscapes very much! Keep on moveing...
New journeys to new places coming very soon! That's definitely what I prefer to produce as well! :-)
@@softroadingthewest Yes, I certainly noticed your promising announcement in the video😁 I guess everybody feels your enthusiasm. Beside enjoying your stories I admit that I´m jealous, too. Hopefully you are always aware of the privilege of this freedom and wounderful landscapes!
Make the best out of it, life is short.
B.t.w.: Please stop excusing, as you explain why you do or do not travel we have to accept your decision. Its YOUR life.
Love diy videos ❤
Like your build and the rationale for the things you've done.
Not to be a critic, rather just curious --- seems like you could have built something similar that fit around the seat so that it could remain in the truck and be usable in times of need, perhaps with the seat base up? Idk, really. I'm guessing what you've crafted will be plenty robust, and will sit lower than anything that you might have been able to do with the seat in place.
One suggestion would be a cover, kind of like the privacy covers in the back of many hatchbacks -- with valuables in sight you are a target for those who see a goldmine just need to break a window or punch out a lock. It can happen fast when you're least prepared for or expecting it.
Cheers!...from North Vancouver
No worries, fair question.👍 Even if I built something removable around the seat, I know from experience of my own laziness that I would never ever hassle with removing it in order to make use of the back seat. 😆 The seat itself is really a huge amount of volume, and having that much bulk gone greatly increases the usability of the space in terms of having everything accessible. 99% of my time in the truck, I am by myself. The 1% I've got anyone with me, it might occasionally be my (adult) daughter on a quick errand around town, but that is increasingly rare. Any time I travel anywhere with both of my (adult) kids (also quite rare but happens maybe once or twice a year) I borrow a fuel-efficient car from my parents. And on the off off chance something major changes in my life where I would once again regularly need more seating in my truck, I can always remove this build and re-install that seat. But it looks highly unlikely I would ever need to do that until whenever I eventually move to a different rig and sell this one. 🙂
I wonder if compression packing cubes would be a good option to "contain" the coats, making it easier to pull out as one if you needed to access the items behind them
Would also prevent them from getting ripped/snagged on the plywood, keeps them relatively clean as well :)
That's a pretty good idea, although I suspect that in practice, I would end up skipping stuffing anything back into its cube while traveling, so then I'd have coats AND empty cubes crammed back in there. 😆
One of my ex seat mounts is now my First Aid mount. Just open the doors. It's there.
Very thrifty Donald. 2 thumbs up
You've gotten pretty good at this improvisational construction stuff. I just happen to know a guy who needs to build a storage wall and outdoor kitchen for his Topo Topper. Wanna volunteer? 🤣
LOL I would never inflict my lack of craftsmanship on anyone else's rig. 😆
Never throw materials away- waste not, spend not!
Is that why I have 22 2x4’s in my shed
under 3 foot long
I did mine on my Tacoma! Kept the seats in the garage for a few months, do yourself a favor clutter favor, sell them, or give them away like I did, you will never regret or use them again 😂😂😂
Keep it.
When I'm hitting the road, I delete the rear and passenger seats. It makes sleeping in my 4runner so much easier.
You've mentioned your GMRS radio. Have you done a video on communications gear?
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
Kiss....Keep it simple and stupid easy, if it works for you then it is a a win.
HI DONALD 👋
THANK YOU ☺️ 🙏
PLENTY OF IDEAS 💡
TEACHING HOW TO REUSE & SAVE FUNDS FOR THE TRIP ! ❤
BE SAFE ☺️ 🙏HAVE FUN ☺️ 🙏ENJOYED ☺️ 🙏 GOD BLESS YOU ALWAYS ON YOUR ADVENTURES ☺️ 🙏THANK YOU ☺️ 🙏
Did i miss a fire extinguiser ?
Need to have one handy
I do have an extinguisher mounted in the camper just inside the door, but I think I'm going to use that odd notch in the lower shelf here to mount another one inside the cab.
Glad I read through the comments before I commented that notch would be perfect for a fire extinguisher!
@@Vengar_VR Still a good idea! In fact I've already done it, I just installed my other extinguisher in that spot yesterday afternoon! 🙂