got the seats in the bed (pics)

[reno]

This is why in my post on this I suggested that he consider building a roll cage that surrounds the seat, side impact and overhead, and do not weld or bolt to the bed, but cut a hole through the bed and extend the bars to the frame. I don't down fall him from this, tis better he is trying to make it safe than just having them ride back there on their butts with nothing.

 

[Jim Oaks]

People have referred to the Subaru Brat:

The Subaru BRAT (an acronym for Bi-drive Recreational All-terrain Transporter) was a pickup version of the Subaru Leone from the 1970s. The BRAT was developed directly from the company's four-wheel drive station wagon model and was first introduced as a 1978 model. Similar in concept to the Chevrolet El Camino and the Ford Ranchero, American versions also had carpeting and welded-in jumpseats in the cargo area that served to reduce import duties. Although the Brat could fairly be called a truck, the seats in the cargo bed allowed Subaru to designate the BRAT as a passenger car. Passenger cars imported into the US were charged only a 2.5% tariff, compared to 25% charged on trucks. The BRAT was restyled in 1981 and the jumpseats were discontinued after the 1985 model year. Production continued into 1993 but ceased to be imported to North America in 1987.

 

[88ranger2.95sp]

now that sounds like an idea!!!, was the ratchet strap held by using deck screws to the bed liner.... i mean drywall screws would just be unsafe.

i can't exactly remember what he did (i was very young.. around like eight. I'm eighteen now) but i think that he just ratchetted (?) it to the rails on the outside of the bed that you rope down cargo with!

 

[88ranger2.95sp]

i know it was dumb... and unsafe.. but i thought i'd add fuel to the fire.

ROb

 

[bobbywalter]

DOOOM DOOOOOOM


I LOVE ALL THE ACCIDENT EXPERTISE!!!!



probably would have simply used a rear aerostar bench myself. (too lazy to figure out and buy belts for this intended application like you did) the aerostar bench is already fitted with belts...just need to mod the pillars for the mounting.

its easy to do, what i did in my cargo van.

 

[pillen140]

This is why in my post on this I suggested that he consider building a roll cage that surrounds the seat, side impact and overhead, and do not weld or bolt to the bed, but cut a hole through the bed and extend the bars to the frame. I don't down fall him from this, tis better he is trying to make it safe than just having them ride back there on their butts with nothing.

i could see a lot of people cracking their heads off the rollbar, imagine on a side impact, their heads would explode on impact, maybe a roll bar further back would be okay, but i wouldnt think one right overhead would do more damage in a low impact accident.

 

[Jspafford]

I wouldn't want to imagine any impact, well, unless you don't like the people sitting on the seat.

 

[pillen140]

People have referred to the Subaru Brat:

the seats he made almost look safer! at least more comfortable. those look like someone had a couple extra of those elementary school desks with the attached chair, cut the desk off with a hack saw, then welded the seats in the back of their "ute".

 

[koda6966]

I would honestly trade my ranger for a good Subaru brat in the blink of an eye.
Love those little trucks. Small engine that doesn't eat gas, and they go almost anywhere.

Actually... Never mind. I love my ranger to death.

 

[Pro_Marinero]

This seems to boil down to a young guy vs. old guy. The young guys think it's cool, the old guys think it's dumb.

Young guys need to remember that most all of us old guys have been there. I've done some crazy stunts and mods on my vehicles, and it was only by the grace of Almighty God that I'm here today and the people riding with me are too. I think every old guy here can say that.

Twitch, the old guys just don't want to see you make a mistake that will haunt you for a long time. The back seat looks cool and, if I was in high school or college, I would think it was the cat's meow too. I could see myself sitting up there drinking beer checking out the chicks and having a great time.

Now that I own a house, have kids, etcetera, that thing scares the hell out of me. You make one wrong mistake with it and the dead kids' family will own you for the rest of your life. Not only will the guilt of what you did haunt you, but you won't have a leg to stand on in court. Every penny you make will go to paying the multi-million dollar judgment against you.

Of course, none of this may happen. People here have seen enough though to try to warn you off of this now, before someone does get hurt. Think about it. If you really want back seats, get something that has them from the factory. If you do decide to go through with this, well.... good luck I guess.

 

[koda6966]

Young guys need to remember that most all of us old guys have been there.

Young guys have been there too.




My best friend was in that truck. He's lucky to be alive.

 

[Pro_Marinero]

Young guys have been there too.




My best friend was in that truck. He's lucky to be alive.

Ugly. Glad he made it. After seeing that, would you take a ride in those seats beyond a putt-putt down the driveway?

 

[Loanranger]

Ok - here's some thoughts from a safety person. AKA 10 reasons why I think you'll kill someone with this because of your lack of even the most basic design considerations:

1. Your seat belts will fray because you didn’t think far enough ahead to put a grommet in the bed. Fraying will be the most likely way that a seat belt would fail. I’d also love to see your actual mounting for the seat belts to see how far out of the mounting guidelines you are..

Why does everyone keep thinking he just drilled holes in the bed and ran the belts through? Look closely and you will see it is a bed mat.

6. It’s nothing like the seat in a supercab, which has to go through laboratory testing and meet minimum requirements from consensus organizations like ANSI. Rear supercab seats also have a shoulder belt IIRC. This is what would make the biggest difference in a collision when you’re sitting in a real engineered seat. A lap belt is only marginally better than having no seat belt at all..

You're right about this, it IS nothing like a seat in a supercab, a supercab seat is held in with two bolts, has about as much structure to it as the center armrest in a 60/40 split bench, and only has lap belts.

9. The bed sheet metal is much worse than the cab sheet metal for things like mounting – it’s not built for it, and you’ve decreased the integrity of the bed just a little bit more. I wouldn’t be surprised in the least if the mounting points end up failing because the bed, not because the brackets themselves fail .

The bed floor sheetmetal is thicker and stronger than the floorboard in the cab, and with a piece of 1/4 inch steel welded to it with a bolt through both, it is far stronger than the seat mounting points in the cab.


Why do you guys feel the need to pick this guy's project apart, rather than giving him constructive critisism?

 

[Pro_Marinero]

Why do you guys feel the need to pick this guy's project apart, rather than giving him constructive critisism?

We don't want to see anyone hurt. While there's no guarantee that will happen, if there is an accident and there is an occupant there, the injury to them will be far greater than if they were in the cab, plain and simple. No amount of backyard engineering is going to make that setup remotely safe. Better to try to nip it in the bud than polish the proverbial turd. Sorry if that offends anybody.

 

[koda6966]

Ugly. Glad he made it. After seeing that, would you take a ride in those seats beyond a putt-putt down the driveway?

Not really. Haha, but the seats thing was a cool idea, just not as safe as people would like to make it.

If i was going to do it, i would install racing seats with 5 point harnesses along with a heavy duty roll bar.
And maybe some duct tape.