Easy DIY Double Cab rear seat delete

So, I finally got around to doing this whilst doing some audio upgrades (amp and subwoofer). I have been frustrated by the lack of storage space in the rear of my DC and we never put people back there anyway. Plus, I didn't want one of those invasive commercial offerings, so this. The end result is more storage space for luggage, golf clubs, whatever... and more space in the bins below since these lids sit a little higher than the seat.

This is totally non-destructive and totally reversible. The rear seats come out by removing 4 bolts. The new storage space platforms/bin lids go in with 2 of those same bolts, one on either end. The whole thing can be removed and reverted to stock in 10 minutes.

For materials, you need a 54" long section of 1/8" thick 1 1/2" angle. I used aluminum. Some hinges, I used 3" heavy duty stainless steel piano hinges, 24" long, and painted them black. A couple pieces of 1/2" or maybe 3/4" plywood, covered in black carpet or any material of your choice, cut to the size you want and some feet to attach to the fronts of those plywood panels to rest on the factory bin perimeter.

Drill holes in the ends of the angle to line up with the seat mount bolt holes. Fit up the hinges and lids. Then lower the lids and mark where you want to install the feet. Make some feet out of wood or 3D print some like I did.

I also found some websites that sell HDPE plastic panels for reasonable $ so if my plywood ones aren't durable enough I may swap them out for the HDPE at some point. Also, if the carpet covering proves to be too hard to keep clean, I may do some other sort of covering, like vinyl or rubber. But these will work for now.

I guess this would also work for Crew Cabs but most of you CC folks put people back there. Unlike most of us DC guys.

 

@Mattedfred

 

just curious why didn't you cover both sides of the board ?

 

I did not apply the carpet, I took it to an upholstery shop. I am handy mechanically and somewhat with very basic woodworking, but not at all with that crafty sort of stuff like cutting and gluing carpet. There was a bit of a language barrier at the shop. I may just paint that bare wood black when I get a chance.

 

You could do it. There really isn't a lot of "making" going on here anyway. Just a few cuts on the plywood with a circular saw (I don't have room here for a table saw which would make it easier), one cut of the metal angle (comes in 72" length, only need 54") that can be done with a hacksaw, or better yet an angle grinder with a cut-off wheel (that's what I used), and then line up the angle on the seat mounting holes, mark them and drill them. Hinges and screws are off the shelf from Amazon. Now the carpet part I'd just do like I did and take it to a shop. Installing it after that isn't super hard. I used self-drilling metal screws to hold the hinges to the angle but still made small pilot holes. I did not drill pilot holes for the short wood screws into the plywood, just drove them with my drill/driver.

 

Hey all, I am looking to do the rear seat delete, and was confused if you leave these items in, or take them out. (if taking out, how ??) lol

edit: after looking at the pics, I think I leave them in place, and the angle iron mount clears them...

 

With my seat delete method you leave those in. The lids have plenty of headroom to fit over them. You can see them clearly in the pictures in my original post above. Some other methods that want the lids to fit flush to the bins would interfere. The aluminum angle raises the hinge end of the lids and the feet on the front of the lids makes them sit level.

 

I rarely use the back seats in my 2022 DC, except for groceries or a dog crate. I took out the headrests that block my view out the rear window and stored them down below. I like the fact that your seat delete method is reversible and will keep the option in mind if needed in the future. Nice work!

 

Those head rests can be especially annoying if you have the regular auto-dimming mirror. I had that on my old Tacoma and the headrests blocked the view... which I corrected by removing them and the rear jump seats. I got the rear camera mirror on my SR5 Tundra via a premium package so the headrests were never an issue. But taking out the seat gives you so much more useable storage space. No brainer. Also makes a nice place for the dog to ride. We don't use a crate, just a blanket and one of those seatbelt leashes.