Rear Seating in an 88"

[RBBailey]

When I owned my 88" I never got around to figuring out how to do realistic seating and cargo. Now I am looking into possibly getting an 88" again, and since I have two kids and a wife, and tend to do trips of 2-3 days...

1. Bench seat/forward facing options?
2. How much cargo room do you have left?

Lots of pictures would be great.

 

[KevinNY]

A jeep CJ rear seat fits perfectly and the seatbelts attach to it's base. It does sit low so I am thinking of making some QD brackets that span the tub to mount it on.

 

[RBBailey]

That's good to know, could you show photos? I'm curious to see how much room it takes up, and how the kids will climb in.

It's important because I'm weighing the difference between a 109 and an 88. If I go for an 88 I could have one in the next year. If I go with a 109, I may have to go Roverless for some significant amount of time to save enough money.

 

[Gordo]

Ive got a jeep seat in my Series 3. I built a small bracket for it to raise it up so the kids can see. It holds two kid seats very well. As far as storage goes forget about it. I have room enough for a strap, a small floor jack, some tools but only around 10 inches between the seat and the door. The fender wells are open so I suppose you could store some stuff up there as well. I find it easiest to put the kids in through the side windows. Of course mine are only 2.5 and 4.5 but that is the easiest way for me. For larger kids they could crawl in from the front or back I guess. I like the idea that they are forward facing, straped down well and in the middle of the truck where they cant hit their heads though. Storage sucks in an 88 no matter how you look at it so consider a roof rack for those longer trips. Gordo

 

[RBBailey]

I've got a line on a truck that I would snap up in a second if I could really convince myself that I want to go back to driving a Series. Nothing wrong with the truck, except that it is an 88" -- I think I'm leaning towards saving up for a 109". My kids are 3 and 6, and I do light off-roading about once a month, and am getting more and more into long distance trips once or twice a year. I have to struggle past the temptation to go get this 88"!

 

[Blueboy]

I have to struggle past the temptation to go get this 88"!

my similiar situation was with a D90SW and 2 Labs.

it was great for light camping and day trips, yet, I finally ended up with a 109 because of the stuff we can take with us.

here is a quick pic of us loaded on a recent trip and a camp site.

Jaime

 

[RBBailey]

Ya, I've decided to hold out for a 109". It may take a few years, and I'm sure I won't even be able to drive it much for a few years more... but...

 

[Blueboy]

It may take a few years

of course you could buy the 88 now and sell it or keep it once you've found your 109!

Jaime

 

[Leslie]

You know....... FWIW......


I tend to think more like a backpacker, and just use the Rover instead of having to carry it on my back.... instead of my bigger Coleman dual burner camp stove, use my MSR Whisperlite; instead of a cabin tent, I use a Moss backpacking tent; instead of a cot, I use a thermorest sleeping pad; etc. etc. Tuck things everywhere. If I can pack a pack to be out for a few days, I should be able to fit that pack in the back of the 88, right?

 

[RBBailey]

Ya, but you have to remember, I've got two kids. Also, I've really been getting good at perfecting the art of camping directly from the car in unimproved areas. If I had a 109, took a few years to set it up correctly, I'd have a vehicle I could see myself keeping for 20 or 30 years. Also, am I wrong in saying that a 109 would be much more comfortable for the passengers?

 

[Leslie]

Ya, but you have to remember, I've got two kids. Also, I've really been getting good at perfecting the art of camping directly from the car in unimproved areas. If I had a 109, took a few years to set it up correctly, I'd have a vehicle I could see myself keeping for 20 or 30 years. Also, am I wrong in saying that a 109 would be much more comfortable for the passengers?

And I've got three.....


lol, you know Series Rovers well enough, is comfortable a good word in any case??



Seriously, though, I see your point, and completely understand, about wanting the extra room, and yes, a 109 would probably suit you better.

However..... I agree w/ Jaime, why not get an 88" for now, keep savin', then sell the 88" and get a 109" later?

 

[RBBailey]

Don't tempt me!

I can't do that, because I already had the 88" for a while, kept savin', then sold it to...

...you get the picture.


Ya, EVERYTHING regarding a Series Rover is relative, especially comfort.

 

[Yorker]

You could use a small trailer like a M416 (or Canadian M100) or Sankey with an 88" too. that makes for a versatile combination and easily doubles the volume you can transport.

 

[tripm]

Jeep seat in 88:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9961692@N07/2422221870/sizes/l/in/set-72157604593358456/

Get a 109 if you're going to use it to camp with kids. Or the trailer as someone suggested. It's great if you can pack light and get everything you only really need in there but for me, with kids, getting home from work on Friday night and packing everything is just a pain in the ass.

 

[discodaze]

that seat does look good in the back though. how much room did you leave behind the seat?

 

[tripm]

I think I measured 12 inches from the rear door, maybe 14, to the jeep seat base.

It's 5 (if I remember correctly) grade 8 bolts through the bed supports with huge washers.

I think a better way to do it would be to mount the seat as far back as you could and build/buy boxes for over the wheel wells for 'stuff'. I have a box for axle shafts etc. that I got after I mounted the seat and it works great. That space is kind of dead without a box on it as anything you put there can just fly around unless you strap it down.

I was thinking of either getting fold up forward facing seats or other not so wide seats and mounting them so I had an isle up the middle that my dog could sit in, but I think we're getting another dog and 2 dogs just won't fit with the seats and two kids in there.

 

[discodaze]

i am going the bench seat route in my project, but it does have its draw backs. At one time I thought about going old station wagon style and putting the rear seat facing backwards. Then I thought I might get nothing but sick passengers.

 

[lcater]

The jeep seat is designed to flip down and then forward, so if you replicate that you can get more room when no kids travelling. But if going with an 88" I would recommend a small trailer and a rooftop tent mounted on the trailer. Even a Home Depot trailer with a roof top tent will put you under $2k and the bonus being you still have a nice nimble 88" to offroad in while you leave the trailer at the base camp. That's what I am doing but already have a small 4x6 trailer to use.

 

[tripm]

The jeep seat is designed to flip down and then forward,

Some do flip, some don't. That picture is one that doesn't. I had another from a Renegade that did. I planned to use that one but I took it out of my shed and about a dozen mice ran out of it. F'n gross. I think it's back in my woods somewhere still.

Anyway, if you want a rear seat, it's a pretty good and cheap solution.

 

[discodaze]

this is currently my "other project"

An old higgins aluminum trailer with a roof top tent on it. The picture just shows stuff sitting on there. Hope to be sitting on around 33s.