Access cab retro rear seat install

For those of you who have enjoyed both the Tacoma's early and later second generation access cabs you must have noticed some small differences. I was annoyed by the change in the rear seats. Gone was the flat surface to stack your luggage. Gone was the clear view in the rear window. And yes you can fold the headrest down, some of the way. The early years, 2005-11 are referred to as flip seats as they are flipped from the up position to the down position and the later, 2012 to 2015, are referred to as flop seats. I read several inquires about swapping out the latter with the early rear seat and began to investigate. Finding no definitive set of directions I endeavored to record the process and the pitfalls. Please read the entire post before ripping out your seats and spending hard earned cash to buy the seats.

I was able to locate a set of gray rear seats in a salvage operation and paid way to much for them, but I had to try the swap. They promised a full refund.

First I just positioned them to see if they would fit.



I selected a 3/8 drive ratchet, a 12 mm socket, an eight inch extension and a small ratchet rotor to remove the two bolts on the outside of the seat and one bolt on the inside of the seat. The bolts are hidden behind a tab in the carpet which is held shut with a Velcro tab. Outside refers to the two bolts nearest the exterior of the cab and inside refers to the center of the cab close to the console.


Next was the single inside bolt.



With the seat out of the cab I knew that the center console would need to be removed.


Changing to a 10mm socket, two bolts were removed from the lower console pocket. The bolts are revealed by removing the rubber cover on the bottom. Scrapping along the bottom with a fingernail caused the cover to buckle and lift.

Next was the upper pocket

Lifting the console up exposed a bracket

To remove the bracket, change to the 12 mm socket

The holes will be used to secure the inside pivot of the flip down seat. Use the bolts that were removed to secure the pivot. Do not tighten the bolt as the outside bolt needs to be placed in before tightening bolts.

Finding the outside pivot bolt hole took a lot longer as I removed the storage tray to see if the hole was still in the cab. The hole is still there and you do not need to remove the tray. To locate the hole, use a pick or awl to determine where the hole is. Simply push the point through the carpet and when it does not meet the resistance of the metal cab you have located the bolt hole


Mark the hole and carefully use a knife to open the hole up.


Now use one the bolts from the outside pivot to secure the flip seat pivot. They were the first bolts removed and required the 12 mm socket. Now tighten both the inside and outside bolts.

We have a problem. I was afraid this would happen. Hopefully you read the post before removing your seats. This is not a problem for me, but I will investigate to see if swapping out the back panel would solve this problem. Now moving ahead.

The flip seat is level and works like the rear seats in the 2008 Tacoma that preceded the current truck. The hole between the storage box lids is where the console was. Found some material in the shop to fabricate a cover. The lids have a recess in the ends of the lids that can be used to keep the spacer in place. The spacer is about 7.25 by 13 inches.


Same song on the passenger side.

Now the little dog will not fall off the seat when he falls asleep.

If you can gain access to the donor truck, get the entire setup. Seats, strikers, storage box and lids, back panel, bolts, fasteners and maybe even the seatbelts. When you do, please share your experience for the TW crew. Now someone is going to ask if the flop seats will fit in the earlier Access Cabs. Not sure as I did not have access to the donor truck.

 

This is pretty cool thanks for posting it

Keep us updated on the fix for the seat

 

I like the earlier style seats too.

 

get a piece of carpet to lay over the whole area. Will be more comfy for the pup and help keep him from sliding on the plastic

 

DixonCreekDrifter,
We’re yoh able to solve the problem by swapping out back panel. I have ‘07 and looking into purchasing ‘10 and don’t want the ‘10 unless able to swap for full funtional seats.

Thanks!
Michael

 

Would have answered sooner, but new job has me busy. Never tried to change the back panel as have not needed to use the seats. Good luck if you try.

 

I plan on trying this set up this weekend. I ordered a molle panel from the group buy to go with it. I haven’t located the storage box lids yet, but I don’t have to have them right away. I hope mine work as well as yours.

 

I sold the center console from my 2010, and swapped my lids with some 05-08 lids. I have the 09+ back panel and fold down seats that I will try to sell soon.

Nice writeup OP

 

FWIW, my Oct 2010 build 2011 model has the new style rear seat.

I like this mod a lot, going to investigate how much for the set up

 

Thanks for looking. Last grand kid is to big for the back seats and the pup enjoys the room to stretch out. One thing I miss from my 96 4Runner is the emergency brake on the console. Hate the peddle under the dash. Understand the new Tacoma has the brake in the console. Not enough reason to trade, but that means there is hardware and brackets available.

 

I have a the full rear seat assembly out of my 06 x-runner if anyone wants to trade or buy it. I deleted my rer seats with a big ass sub box.