Seat Delete Folding Platform < $100

I will post a another comment with some detailed information.

 

you must be single LOL

 

looks nice!

 

No cutting or drilling of the truck, can put truck back to 100% factory easily & quickly..

Some background. We have a cabin that is about a 10 hour drive, we go there every other month.
I used to have a 2016 Tundra, with the long drives my wife was starting to have issues with her back so I designed a platform that sat on the rear seats. We used a bunk bed foam mattress and it worked well. Then I purchased a 2023 and while the platform fit, the rear cabin is smaller in height and from rear seat to font seat. It was tight, even though only a couple inches, it made a difference and it also blocked the rear AC vents. The seat had to go, but I wanted to have it easy put back to stock for passengers when at home.

First thing I did was remove the rear seats. This literally take 5 mins, it is 4 14mm bolts. Fold up the seat from the bottom, find the 4 black bolts to remove.
You will need a screw driver for the center seat belt, looks like this, just push the white button to disconnect.


Lift seat up and out, do this twice and seats are out.
Next, remove the seat belts from their brackets. 3 14mm bolts. I didn't remove them totally, just let them lay in the under seat storage.

Platform
I reused my 2016 platform, it is 30" x 58".
From left to right: seat all the way back, seat back with partial auto, where seat sits when I drive. I am 6'3".


I used 5/8" plywood and I cut the corners down so as to not have sharp corners originally, but they need to be cut down when the seat is out so it will seat properly.
I went back 4" on the inner corners.


I went back 3" on the outer corner, but I think I should have went back 4" so it would fold up better further.
It catches the door frame.


I purchased a roll of carpet and used a staple gun to cover the plywood.
Once that is done, I used tie straps to secure it in place. They worked as quasi hinges to make sure everything fit.


The hinges.
I used the factory seat belt bracket. The nut is welded on.
I learned in my research that all seat belts use the same thread 7/16 x 20(fine) so I was able to get these at the local hardware store.
I used 2.5" bolts and added a lock nut so I could control the hinge tension. There are washer on each side of the hinge.
The hinge itself is technically called a hinge strap, I used 8 inchers. They were at my local hardware, not Home Depot, or you can find them on Amazon, just make sure the hole is 7/16".


Then drill the holes in the plywood and use carriage bolts to secure.
I used zip ties to secure the seat belts because I don't want them dangling by the wires.


Because I reused the platform I had, a 2x4" was already attached to the bottom. When the platform is setting down I added an additional 2x4" for support.
But the distance from the bottom of the platform to to the drive train hump is exactly two 2x4's.



I ran out of time to properly carpet the second block, but I will do that and bolt it to the other 2x4" on the plat form.

I estimate it will take me 5 mins to remove the platform and 15 to put the seats back with seat belts.
To to remove seats and add the platform, 15 mins total.

Thank You.
Scott

 

What's to understand? My man here hath crafted himself a Tundra F*ck Truck.

 

100%, positively, absolutely, without question one of the best internet comments I have read.

 

Our dogs would probably prefer something like this over the doggie hammock that I'm using, but I'm not interested in removing the seat cushions and belts.

The redesigned rear seats, with storage compartments underneath, are one of my least favorite features on my 2023. I liked the Gen 2 design that provided a large relatively flat area for our dogs when the seats were folded up.

Matt

 

Check out this thread - I got inspiration here to build a platform for our dog. https://www.tundras.com/threads/2023-tundra-backseat-for-dogs.125171/page-2