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landroverdiver

Member Since: 13 Jun 2009
Location: Renfrewshire
Posts: 193

Exmoor trim second row seats

Hi

I have a 2004 TD5 110 CSW and I am considering retrimming the seats. Current Techno Cloth is past it and I am sure a new set of foams would make a difference. I am thinking about XS Half Rack in Black.

Fronts seem fine, looks OK to re-trim. I dont do a huge mileage and with Mud Seat Rails and Momo Steering Wheel, its actually pretty comfortable, so not thinking about radical seat type change.

The second row seats are 60/40 split type. I would like to fit high back seats in the second row, but Exmoor trim website states that you must have three individual second row seats to do this. The alternative is to buy their Premium Range seats which will fit, however they are very expensive.

The rear seats are rarely used, but they are used from time to time so I would like to smarten them up without spending a fortune. I dont want seat covers, I dont want the work involved with buying Puma seats and the mods necesary to make them fit.

I wondered is there an easy fix that can be done to make the Exmoor Trim individual high back seats fit on my existing frames? Is the problem one of fixing misalignment, in which case some flat bar bridging the existing seat base may create a platform to bolt the new seats to?

I suppose another alternative would be to obtain the correct frames and fit them, but perhaps the latching system is different?

I no longer have any welding equipment, so the limit of my capability is angle grinder, drilling machine, and a realtively extensive kit of hand tools.

Suggestions?

Mike

19th Jan 2015 6:20am

Dieseljuice

Member Since: 19 Jan 2015
Location: Aberdeen
Posts: 7

2006 Defender 110 Td5 DCPU Aintree Green

I have the same issue, I have purchases some used frames on eBay, with the separate frames, but how do they fix in?

19th Jan 2015 9:21pm

JWL

Member Since: 26 Oct 2011
Location: Hereford
Posts: 3443

I bought some Exmoor seats from an autojumble some years ago and luckily they came with the frames but, they attach quite differently to the 2nd row seatbox than the 60/40 seats so I ended up making brackets to make them fit. They're not pretty but they work. What I do want to do this year is fit just two front seats in the back and that means I will need to fabricate a framework to mount them. When I do so, I intend to make the under seat area into storage lockers.

19th Jan 2015 9:34pm

landroverdiver

Member Since: 13 Jun 2009
Location: Renfrewshire
Posts: 193

I had a look at Multicat last night and the problem is the 60% seat would require something to bridge the existing frame. If I can find some individual seat frames then I will have to do some additional fixings, which is OK, but probably the frame fixing centres will also differ.

Thinking more about it, its a nice to have, but I will probably just re-trim what I have. After all, its the front seats that are more important to me!

19th Jan 2015 11:14pm

JWL

Member Since: 26 Oct 2011
Location: Hereford
Posts: 3443

I'm sure that if you spoke to a good upholstery trimmer that he could remake the existing seats with a more individual seat type of finish as opposed to it looking like a school bus bench for less than the cost of Exmoor trim seats.

19th Jan 2015 11:20pm

Dieseljuice

Member Since: 19 Jan 2015
Location: Aberdeen
Posts: 7

I was also wondering is I remove the seat squabs and backs from my 60/40 seat and just leave the frame, could I get the welder out and easily mount the highbacks on to the existing frames, with maybe some angle iron or box section? Its a double cab, so I dont the need the seats to recline etc

Phil

20th Jan 2015 9:02pm

Dieseljuice

Member Since: 19 Jan 2015
Location: Aberdeen
Posts: 7

Also found this thread

http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic21753.html?highlight=exmoor

Although it refers to 3 separate seats, not the 60/40. I am amazed exmoor dont do a conversion kit of some sort, it seems to be a big market?

20th Jan 2015 9:32pm

landroverdiver

Member Since: 13 Jun 2009
Location: Renfrewshire
Posts: 193

I did a bit more research last night and getting a hold of three of the individual folding seat frames and all the locking mechanisms seems to be how to do it. You can then simply replace what you have and fit the new high back seats. My first defender (1995 CSW) had the three seperate seats and I changed the interior for high back seats and it was dead easy.

I found a post on another forum where someone had retained the 60/40 split seat and fixed three individual replacement seats to it. It seems that 2 fitted OK on the 60% bit, however the third seat which was on the 40% bit was only able to pick up 1 fixing. Then there was problems as the guy did not have the necessary hardware to enable the seats to tilt and lock.

Everything is possible but I will only do a proper job. I will keep an eye out for a set of the three seat frames and if I get them cheap enough, just go this route.

21st Jan 2015 5:30am

Dieseljuice

Member Since: 19 Jan 2015
Location: Aberdeen
Posts: 7

I investigated further tonight, I have a set of 3 seats. As you see, they don't pick up easily on the existing 60/40 brackets, and these brackets tie through onto the chassis

Click image to enlarge

Click image to enlarge

Then if you look from below the seats are completely different.

Click image to enlarge

Click image to enlarge

Then I had the genius idea, of using the existing 60/40 bases and only the top half of exmoor high backs, which look to fit, however this means fabricating middle hinge bracket on the 60 side of the seat, and seems like a awful waste of expensive seating, ie throwing the bottoms away....

Still pondering the premium exmoor seats

22nd Jan 2015 8:20pm

Dieseljuice

Member Since: 19 Jan 2015
Location: Aberdeen
Posts: 7

Ended up going to exmoor premium seats, nice quality and fit. 1st one in

Click image to enlarge

About 2hrs per seat and quite fiddly, but relatively easy to do.

3rd Feb 2015 3:32pm

WarPig

Member Since: 04 Dec 2009
Location: Sheffield
Posts: 1748

1996 Defender 110 300 Tdi USW Bonatti Grey

I fitted Exmoor 2nd row seats to my 300tdi, have a read here...

http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic21753.html

11th Feb 2015 6:03pm

landroverdiver

Member Since: 13 Jun 2009
Location: Renfrewshire
Posts: 193

Thanks for the help. I think it will be difficult to obtain a set of three seat frames, certainly at a reasonable price, given I dont want the seats. I keep coming back to the premium high backs and think this is likely to be the answer.

Current thinking is to refoam and retrim the two existing fronts, and buy two premium high backs for the second row. I will put in a matching cubby box in the front, and leave a gap between the two second row seats. I dont need 5 seats, I have already dispensed with the rear benches, and if I only fit two in the middle row, then there will be a little more room for the occupants.

I did think about a second cubby box between the middle row seats, but I dont need it. I have no need for a fridge either, so I will just leave a gap that can be used for putting more easily damaged items in when I load up the rear with dive kit.

I am not back in the UK for another 2-3 months so plenty of time to change my mind again, so open to better options?

12th Feb 2015 3:08am

Dieseljuice

Member Since: 19 Jan 2015
Location: Aberdeen
Posts: 7

I can sell you the 3 frames above for £50, and reckon on about £40p&p if that helps

19th Feb 2015 9:29pm

landroverdiver

Member Since: 13 Jun 2009
Location: Renfrewshire
Posts: 193

Sounds perfect, are they complete?

Can you post a picture?

Not sure if you can pm me, if you have enough posts yet?

20th Feb 2015 11:13am

Northernremedy

Member Since: 18 Aug 2014
Location: Yorkshire
Posts: 122

Hi! What did you do in the end on this? Did you buy the premium high backs and just put them in, if so, do they go in without too much in the way of modifications on a 60/40 bench?

Thanks!

Anthony

6th Apr 2015 5:27pm

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