Just like to throw this out there but...

I am thinking of a custom passenger seat modification. I am thinking of using some 1" square tubing mounted just under the sliding rails. the reason for this is so I could move the seat forward by two inches, thus allowing easier access to the back seat. I realize seat would be 1 " higher and also not be able to come back as far (2" less) but I have sat in the seat in the farthest position back - 2" and i think it will be ok. any thoughts on this?

 

I'd be afraid to modify any seat mounts. I believe that the engineer that designed the mount has put it where it belongs, and also the airbag and seat belt are designed to work with the factory seating position parameters.

It's your jeep, but the liability would all fall in your lap if an unfortunate accident occured and your passenger was injured.

 

I completely agree, Safety of your passenger > ease of back passengers getting in.

I have a 2dr and know how big of a PITA it can be for people to access the back, including yourself, but its just not worth the risk.

 

The 2011's brought back a slight tumble forward feature to the passenger seat that gives a couple more inches of room. You can try a mod sourced from that hardware?

 

That or maybe the factory sells the parts to people with a 2010 or older to do a safe conversion? Maybe a little more pricey but worth it in the end

 

I wonder if the aftermarket seats available work any better for getting in and out of the back?

 

Depends on how they are mounted and how thick the back of the seat is, if the slide action on the floor is longer or has extensions in the front, they'll work better and go forward better, also if the back of the seat isnt as thick as the factory ones (like mastercrafts) they will allow for a few more inches of clearance

 

I did this on my Old Tacoma.
I figured if I got in a crash and the mounts broke, there is an airbag and a seat belt holding me from going forward.
If they broke and I was pushed back, I had the back of the cab holding me from going backwards (which you don't have on the Jeep)

That said, I'd say go for it. Just be sure to use Grade 8 hardware and steel tube of greater strength than the factory stuff.

The only part I was worried about failing was the longer bolts going into the sheetmetal floor would have more leverage to tear out. Other than that you can upsize all of the connections and be good.

Of course you could be afraid of litigation and not change anything. This includes your suspension and tires to non-stock settings, after all wasn't the suspension designed to work with the vehicle as a whole and keep you safe

 

I appreciate all of you input, thank you.

This is the way I see it.

I'm not sure why, but the seat could have been made to move ahead by at least another 2", this would allow much easier access to the back seat. I know some of you are concerned that modifying the seat is a bad idea as it is a major safety component. However, It is obvious that on this very forum practically every jeep here has been modified. for one common example we all know when you increase tire diameter it not only changes the handling characteristics/center of gravity but increases the height of factory specified bumper height and factory specified headlamp configuration. That said, I am not as concerned about moving the seat up an inch and ahead 2 inches as some of you seem. These are my reasons...

a) The Drivers side seat can be raised or lowered buy an inch with an adjustment lever on the side of the seat

b) If I am sitting in the "unmodified" passenger seat I can push it ahead so far I could easily cut the circulation off in both my legs. therefore I push it back to a comfortable position (I am 6' tall and currently do not push the seat back all of the way when in the passenger side)

c) I am not concerned about the integrity any of the components I would use or modify (I am lucky enough to be a Licenced Machinist/CNC Machinst with access to an entire Metals processing Department at the college I teach at)

The only thing I am still not sure on are the 4 little sensors under the passenger seat. I think they are weight sensors. I don't plan on moving or changing anything about them anyway. I think they are used to determine the weight of the passenger and weather or not to deploy the airbag with a full force or not. I would appreciate a confirmation on this from one of you.

thank you, and I would appreciate any comments from any of you

 

Woodman506, if your genuinely interested in gaining those 2 inches, why not not just use the 2011 factory hardware? It moves the seat further than the 07-10's, and tumbles forward. If your just itching to fab it up then have at it, but the only advantage I see would be cost.