Removing rear bench

[martycultural]

Does anybody know if there is an easy way to slide the rear bench off the rails to remove it temporarily (without removing any nuts or bolts)? Thanks!

[Adrock]

doesnt get much easier than 6 bolts. impact driver is your friend

[Mystery Machine]

/\ /\ /\ What he said /\ /\ /\

There is no way to separate the seat from the runner/subframe without drilling/grinding/causing damage, but it takes all of 1 minute to undo the bolts.

Be warned though - the seat is a little on the heavy side, so be prepared for some muscle flexing (or get someone to help you lift it out...)

[TardisDeli]

As they said, remove rear bench with 6 bolts (skinned knuckles if you do it with manual socket wrench), but the weight is way-y-y HEAVIER than one would expect (all the metal folding frame inside), get a friend to help (no brewskis till after removed as it is a tight fit, and don't want to scratch your plastic wall panels. Push the seat belts out of the seat before starting so don't get in the way when doing the weightlifting part.

I had fond ideas of frequently putting seat in or out, depending on whether skiing /camping/ commuting etc , but sadly that dream dissolved amidst the curses and grunts. Cheers, Christine.

[patty]

why would you neeed to remove it to put skies in? just fold em back or slide the skis undernieth

[Schwa]

I removed all my rear seats when I helped my friend move, it kept them from getting messed up and left plenty of room.

[martycultural]

Late reply but none the less, I took my ride down to Cali for a bike camp in Feb.for a bike camp. Four of us and 4 bikes and all of our gear fit nicely behind the two passenger seats once the bench was out.

Thanks for the helpful suggestions.
Marty

[jwfchase]

When things get slippery and you have the rear bench removed, when you are in 2wd you realize just how much weight you've removed from the rear axle-- the bench is that heavy.

[konadog]

First thing I did was take the rear bench outta Hazel. Makes a good couch in the spare room now. Heavy, yep, but I managed to get it out of the bus and into the house on my own with no hernia or holes in walls

[Mystery Machine]

I managed to get it out of the bus and into the house on my own with no hernia or holes in walls

Same for me (too many times to mention now with all these L300's!!) but it would sure make the job easier if you have a 'bench buddy' to assist with the hauling?

[josh]

Hey Josh you skinny ol' bastard you (Brit ridicule - meant in the kindest way )

That bench weighs about the same as me... and some how i still manage to get them out of the vans. Thank goodness I only own two of them now (I got one up on you bruce, I CAN sell a vehicle after I own it!)

Josh.

[torchard]

Weight issue aside, it would be convenient to replace the bolts with some kind of quick release type fasteners. Dunno if there is anything that would be sufficient to safely retain the seat yet allow quick, non-tool, removal ...

[konadog]

it would be convenient to replace the bolts with some kind of quick release type fasteners. Dunno if there is anything that would be sufficient to safely retain the seat yet allow quick, non-tool, removal ...

Hide a 14mm socket on a ratchet in with the jack in the little cubby hole on the left at the very back and you'll always have one right there when removing or bolting in the bench. When the bench is out store the bolts in their holes. Couldn't get much easier...

[JMK]

I noticed the mention of the impact wrench, didn't think to use it when I removed my bench, can you get it in there without a wobble head adapter?

I didn't plan it that way, but I recently picked up a decent electric impact wrench that was on sale. As I had earlier installed a 1750 Watt inverter and 2 deep cycle spiral cells, it made it nice to be able to use the impact wrench when a power outlet is not nearby. Don't think I'll carry it around with me all the time though just to make it easier to change a tire, etc., on the road....

[Mystery Machine]

The easiest way of removing the bolts is with a 14mm ratchet spanner (wrench).



It slots in nice & easy and does most of the hard work for you. I always carry a 10mm, 12mm, 14mm and 17mm ratchet spanner (wrench) in the motor. Takes up less room than socket sets and they are dead handy for a LOT of jobs! I've got the pivot head ones which make accessing hard to reach bolts/nuts even easier. Ratchet one end and open ended the other....

Removing the rear bench is literally 2 mins unbolting then some weight lifting.