Bench-to-(TRD) Bucket Swap in 2006 Tacoma -- Boom!

This thread has helped me out a lot! I bought a Tacoma reg cab with already swapped buckets. The issue was that the airbag light was on. I needed to reconnect all the bench wiring and find the driver/passenger recepticles from a salvage yard. In the end, the airbag light wouldn't turn off until I cleared the codes. Im not sure if a cheap obd2 tool will work, but was able to do it with an autel scanner. The airbag self check passes now.

On a side note, I was able to get cheap dummy buckles from Amazon. Just search for "pet safety belt". I only had to cut the leashes off.

 

Wow, I wish I knew about those pet safety belts before I caved and bought the Chimex ones—so much cheaper!

 

Do you think I can put a console for a 5 speed in a automatic?

 

Hmm, I'm not really sure. My guess is that the mounting points are pretty similar, if not the same. However the shift boot on the manual console might not line up perfectly with the automatic shifter, but perhaps you could make your own?

Your best bet might be to compare photos on the forum and/or find a Tacoma in a junkyard and get a closer look.

 

Wanting to do this to my 2012. Any advice on airbags?

 

Unfortunately, I'm not really sure about the airbag situation on the newer trucks. But, I think this guy, osubeav818, did the conversion to a 2013 — you might reach out to him (see post on p. 1 of this thread).

Also, if you're in need of a passenger seat, I still have one for sale that I collected in the process of sourcing parts. There's a post in the 2nd Gen marketplace

 

I want to switch my bench on my 2008 taco to TRD buckets, and so do I need buckets with airbags or without? What's the best way to get bucket seats because they seem pretty overpriced when I do a car-part search online?

 

If your bench seat does not contain airbags then I think either type of seat would be fine. Obviously, if your current setup does not have airbags and you bought seats with airbags, the seat-airbags won't work without the proper wiring and such, but that isn't any different than having a bench seat without air bags, right?

I found my bucket seats on eBay (from a parts dealer in Greensboro, NC) but I also found a single passenger seat (from a 2013 model) on my local craigslist. I still have that seat, it's in brand new condition — there's a ad with more details in the "2nd Gen Marketplace" threat on this forum. PM me if you want to make an offer.

Hope that helps!

 

Hi,
Question, Do you remove the air bag wire coming from the new seat and replace with the one from the old bench? I am not too mechanically inclined so if this is dumb question please excuse.

 

The seats I installed didn't have airbags inside. But I did transfer the weight sensor from the passenger side of the bench seat to the new passenger seat.

 

Oh. Thanks for the reply. I have a 2014 and the new buckets came from a 2014. The wire from the new looks the same as the one from the bench.

 

@LivinLoud

 

Has anyone ever tried getting the passenger floor wiring harness from the donor vehicle and putting it into the passenger side of the regular cab to get the sensor in the bucket seat to work? I'm pretty sure the driver's side is plug n play, but the passenger has the different connectors between the bench and bucket seat.

I was able to swap the buckets into my regular cab and get the airbags to pass the self test, but now i'm just trying to find another method to clean it all up and make it look a little more stock...

 

Nice swap!!! Will a console out of an 05-11 fit a 2013??? I’ve been trying to find out so I can do a bucket seat swap in my regular cab.

 

Im looking into doing the bench to bucket conversion on my 06 reg cab. Does anyone know which bucket seats fit? If i find buckets at a junkyard from an 05-11 Access or DBL cab would it be safe to assume they will bolt up? Thank you

 

I'm just in the beginning this process on my 08 Regular Cab, replaced the bench with by 08/09 (not sure of the year) buckets. No airbags on either seat but sensors for both that I do not have worked out yet.
The existing bench seat belts do work with the buckets, just leave them bolted in the same hole they are in, the seat mount uses a different hole just behind where the buckles bolt down. The child seat restraint belt/latch has to be removed from the bench buckles. I will have to modify the long plastic covers on the receptacles also. My seats did not come with any belt receptacles so I had no choice.

 

I know this thread is wayy old but here's my take-away:

In theory, you can slap any seat out of any vehicle in the Tacoma given:

- Overall dimensions work
- You swap the passenger's side airbag weight bladder/sensor and accompanying wiring harness over
- You deal with the seat belt issue
- You fabricate your own seat brackets

I might just give this a go. Finding Tacoma bucket seats, even in the greater Los Angeles area, has been less than fruitful.

 

No need to make brackets, all the correct peg holes and threaded holes on the floor are present on a bench seat truck, some are just unused until you swap to buckets.
You can use bench seat belts when you swap to buckets also though you will have to get rid of the center/child seat belts.
I swapped to buckets, used the bench belts and retained the bench console, it all works fine though the passenger seat fore/aft movement is limited by the bench console. I put in new carpet at the same time so there will be some unwanted slits in the center behind the console if you go with the OEM carpet.

 

resurrecting this thread to ask if the buckets reduce leg room for the driver? I have the bench seat at the rearmost position and don't want to lose much more room...any input is welcome

 

You should be fine. I think the seat-back seems thicker on the bucket, than the bench, it is a factory option and I can't imagine a design that would short one design on leg room.