Do you actually need to remove them, if you push them forward fully they will then be flat with the boot/trunk space.

 

I'd like to shed that weight and place "built-ins" in that space since I won't be hauling passengers back there. Just wondering if anyone had done or seen any custom work in the rear seat/cargo area. Would have bought a van or HHR Panel but couldn't get the engine/transmission/economy the Pat has.

 

I'd like to shed that weight and place "built-ins" in that space since I won't be hauling passengers back there. J

So when your wingman asks "Dude, can you give the twins college coeds a lift back to the campus?" you will be hating the decision to replace the seats...

The seats do fold flat, and removing them won't reduce the vehicle weight any appreciable amount. Whatever you replace the seats with will look homemade and may cause rattles and other unwanted noises. Plus, you will have to purchase whatever you are going to replace them with as well. Be smart, common sense says to leave the seats in the Patriot. Leaving the seats cost, nothing...

Stepping off my soapbox...

 

Ordered my Pat today and will be removing the entire rear seat and anything else back there not needed. Has anyone done or seen this and installed anything practical in its place? Will be making the rear liveable and sleep-able.

I removed the seat, which is mostly foam and practically weightless, to make room for my boat in a bag: http://www.folbot.com/cooper.html You need a large torx driver to remove the screws. I have not yet removed the seat backs but will do so eventually. I don't like the fixed headrests which prevent placing things on the floor when the seats are folded. I have the '07 Ltd. Earl

 

I'd second these remarks! Leave the seat in, 'cause when you go to sell the Patriot in the future, you'll forgotten where you stored them. I took the rear child seats out of my ext. cab Chev S10 and now it's on the market, I found the seats, but had one hell of a time putting them back in. Sure enjoyed the extra storage space that was 'out of visual range', tho.

 

MiniCooperS (Gawd I miss my Mini), I figure your "built-ins" are important enough to you that you want to remove the back seat. Unless you have access so some lightweight plastic for your built-ins, the weight exchange may actually be heavier than the original seating arrangement.
That said, if you're hell-bent on removing the seats, go for it, if it gives you the room you need for whatever you're going to be adding in. Otherwise, I would echo the others sediments on leaving it flat. A custom-cut piece of masonite would be a wonderful floor for whatever you might want to throw in there and it would really protect the original investment to boot!

Good luck on whatever you choose!

Cheers

p.s. What do you think of the new Clubman that's coming out this year??

 

Randoo . . .
As far as the Clubman, my '03 MCS is large enough so I'd find hard to get excited about an even larger MINI. I was lucky enough to get a build date on mine just before they made the ride "softer" so I'll stick with it. And I like blowers which they also did away with and the functional hood scoop.
Anyway, I took the rear seats out of my MINI and shed 120+ lbs and replaced them with a leatherette upholstered custom aluminum deck with under storage and will probably do the same to the Pat. Guess I watch too much "Trick My Truck". I came real close to purchasing the HHR Panel which has the rear interior setup I need but the roofline was too confined like the Compass and Caliber, plus the HP/Weight ratio was too low.
Still looking for those retrofit ideas though. How about that Airstream Basecamp??? Aluminum and rubber, my kind of low maintenance vehicle! Towing a $28K trailer with a $13K Pat!
http://www.airstream.com/products/2008-fleet/travel-trailers/basecamp/

 

Well, I'm with you coop. I like the Mini "as-is" (both the coop and the S) but haven't been thrilled with either the convertable OR the new Clubman. The only problem here is da boss (thats spelled W I F E) likes the new look so we'll be a house divided for a while.:doh:

It sounds like you have your storage plans down to a science and if you were able to do that with the Mini, I don't see why you couldn't duplicate that same scenario with the Patriot.

BTW, I LOVE that Airstream Basecamp! WOWW!!

Randy

 

I saw a picture of a suv once on a road trip forum, with an inflatable bed, rolled up and attached to the upper part of the fold flat seats, they dropped the seats down, hooked up the pump, and they had a twin sized bed in the back, they also had a small table that flips up just big enough for a laptop, and it was on a swing arm so it could go anywhere.

Just something to think about, for a simple, cheap, fast, effective way to make things 'sleepable' and livable, while not surrendering the back seats. I would love to see pics if you do end up ripping them out.

 

I'm always looking for fresh ideas, do you have a pic or link to the bed?
Size does matter, think small!
MINI

 

I'm always looking for fresh ideas, do you have a pic or link to the bed?
Size does matter, think small!
MINI

STOP SHOUTING

 

I switched my backseats and I know the top of the seats are held by nuts and hex screws a large size ,,,,,,,,,,, and the screw that hold the bottom are on the front under the seat bottom, these are large torque I do not know the sizes removal is easy just setting the right size ratchets and torque as far as space the spare tire is under the panel in the back as well you going to remove that as well?

 

125 Diamond Brite Deckplate Retrofit

Well on my way to getting the Patriot configured the way I want it. The most time consuming part is a design that utilizes all the factory anchor points and fasteners. This particular application requires no drilling or cutting of any existing factory components or sheet metal. As always, I'm open to suggestions as it appears with over 1000 hits on this thread I must not be the only person interested in doing this? Will probably leave the passenger seat out on a day-to-day basis so I can haul 10' items. If not for the spare tire the floor would have been flat. Luckily it is a thinner convenience spare.

 

It looks like you did a pretty good job on installing all that. My question in how much time and money did you spend on that install? Why not but a small truck instead of making so many changes on a vehicle that was never designed for hauling large loads? I saw in one of your earlier post where you wanted the fuel economy from the PAT, but with only being a haul such a small amount of weight does help you out that much? I’m not criticizing the work just asking why.

 

Feathers? packing peanuts? Pop corn balls? Potato chips? Diorama of the civil war?

 

Holy crap, i hope you plan to cover that diamond plate on sunny days! Otherwise you're gonna get a sunburn on the underside of your earlobes!

That's a great teaser shot, but we really need more pics.

Fabrication looks great, though! How much weight did you add? How stiff is the new floor? Can we expect a write-up in the next few days?

Specifically, how did you work out access to the rear-seat footwells (or did you)? I'm particularly interested in this, since those footwells are so deep.

 

Looks nice, I had a similar idea to replace the carpeting in the rear cargo area with diamond plating but havn't got around to it yet. Now your Patriot looks like the back of my Blazer.

 

Looks Good!

MiniCooper:

Your work looks very nice! I too, would like to see more pictures if you are willing to take them. I would like to see from the drivers seat facing back as well.

So, out of curiosity, I would also (as others have stated) like to hear more about your goals and reasons for wanting to have this particular modification. It again, looks very nicely done.

PipeTobacco

 

I jsut do not understand doing this to a new car. It is yours and your money and your car and your style and your all that.... BUT I read somehting somewhere about how you wanted to make the back sleepable. I do not understand why anyone would buy a brand new car and then basically strip the inside out? A used car sure but a brand spankin new car??

Please dont take offense I am just sitting here with a dropped jaw thinking about how many poople wish they could afford a brand new car and end up driivng junk. ALSO IF you can afford a new car, can you not afford motel rooms? I also wonder if this vehicle is financed if that makes a differnece to the bank

 

And I've never understood the idea that one must not modify a vehicle before it is ten years old. Where the hell is the point in that? First you sit ten years wishing that if only you could do this modification to your vehicle to make it suit your needs better, but no, it is too new? Seems pretty silly to limit oneself like that to me.

Your point on motel rooms seems pretty silly too. You do realize that there are places in this world where there are no motel rooms? And that with some activities like camping, not sleeping in a motel room is kind of the point?

 

UPDATE:
Pretty much got the Pat interior the way I want it now. Drop by my Albums page if you are interested. I'll be posting weight and cost stats for the project later. It took a little longer than expected to complete due to the fact I didn't modify any existing factory mounting points, used existing auto grade mounting hardware and didn't drill one hole in the chassis. Just have to finish up my custom hitch-mount bike rack and I'm off on my first trip with her to do the 5-mile Mackinac Bridge hike on Labor Day. Maybe I'll see you there!

 

Really nice job men! That looks really solid! Your jeep is really one-of-a-kind.

But there's still one point I was thinking about : what are you planning to put in there? Will the max loading weigth of the Pat be an issue for you? A few years ago, I needed a car that I could just throw anything in the back, a bit like you're doing with your Pat. I ended up with a GMC Safari. The gas mileage of the 6 cylinder 4.3l was horrible, and with 195hp, it wasn't the most powefull truck. But with almost 300lbs of torque, I was doing what I wanted. I even putted a complete 1500 lbs fireplace back there and it handled fine.

Don't get me wrong : I totally admire what you're doing :notworthy:. I'm just wondering if the unibody of the Pat and the 4 bangger 2.4l won't be a problem?

 

So what have you done to replace the surface now that the seat is removed ?