Front row third "jump seat" in a JT?

[Dan Grec]

Hi Everyone,

I'm wondering if anyone has ever seen the centre console replaced with a jump seat, or some kind of folding seat in the middle between the two front seats on a JT or JL ?

I know the handbrake will be an issue, and the gearshift maybe too.

I'm just wondering if anyone has ever done anything like that.

Thanks,
-Dan

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[Alpine Warthog]

Covered some already. There's simply not enough room

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...ench-seating-by-installing-a-jump-seat.71536/

 

[fourfa]

Is this possibly for an infant or child seat? Having followed Dan’s adventures on YouTube, I wonder if it’s that…

 

[smlobx]

Is this possibly for an infant or child seat? Having followed Dan’s adventures on YouTube, I wonder if it’s that…

It is.

I mentioned to Dan if there is a possibility of installing a bench seat but he didn’t think so. Has anyone else heard of that possibility?

 

[Dan Grec]

Covered some already. There's simply not enough room

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...ench-seating-by-installing-a-jump-seat.71536/

Is this possibly for an infant or child seat? Having followed Dan’s adventures on YouTube, I wonder if it’s that…

Yes, I'd like to try and get a child seat mounted there.

At first it would be rear facing, though down the road I expect we may spin it around and make it front facing.

It seems there are plenty of "generic" ISOFIX/LATCH mounting plates like this - https://www.amazon.ca/Universal-ISOFIX-Connector-Safety-Mounting/dp/B08LKBKVP6/

I might have to buy one, rip out the centre console and then see what I see.

I see it's possible to convert the JL/JT Handbrake to electronic.. https://range-industries.com/produc...t-for-the-18-24-dana-44-jeep-jl-and-gladiator).

So then I could remove all the handbrake hardware entirely.

The gear shifter is connected to CAN, so if I had to I could extend the wiring and move it to basically anywhere I wanted (though I'd rather not).
Hopefully the tcase selector is low and forward enough it isn't an issue.

hmm..

-Dan

 

[WILDHOBO]

Yes, I'd like to try and get a child seat mounted there.

At first it would be rear facing, though down the road I expect we may spin it around and make it front facing.

It seems there are plenty of "generic" ISOFIX/LATCH mounting plates like this - https://www.amazon.ca/Universal-ISOFIX-Connector-Safety-Mounting/dp/B08LKBKVP6/

I might have to buy one, rip out the centre console and then see what I see.

I see it's possible to convert the JL/JT Handbrake to electronic.. https://range-industries.com/produc...t-for-the-18-24-dana-44-jeep-jl-and-gladiator).

So then I could remove all the handbrake hardware entirely.

The gear shifter is connected to CAN, so if I had to I could extend the wiring and move it to basically anywhere I wanted (though I'd rather not).
Hopefully the tcase selector is low and forward enough it isn't an issue.

hmm..

-Dan

Isn’t that a risk to the kid with air bags? In a cab this narrow, I think either driver or passenger air bags would be a serious issue.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Yes, I'd like to try and get a child seat mounted there.

At first it would be rear facing, though down the road I expect we may spin it around and make it front facing.

It seems there are plenty of "generic" ISOFIX/LATCH mounting plates like this - https://www.amazon.ca/Universal-ISOFIX-Connector-Safety-Mounting/dp/B08LKBKVP6/

I might have to buy one, rip out the centre console and then see what I see.

I see it's possible to convert the JL/JT Handbrake to electronic.. https://range-industries.com/produc...t-for-the-18-24-dana-44-jeep-jl-and-gladiator).

So then I could remove all the handbrake hardware entirely.

The gear shifter is connected to CAN, so if I had to I could extend the wiring and move it to basically anywhere I wanted (though I'd rather not).
Hopefully the tcase selector is low and forward enough it isn't an issue.

hmm..

-Dan

Also child seats don’t fit well in the middle of the rear. They would alone, but not with seats or boosters on either side. I’ve really tried. So I’m guessing there wouldn’t be room between people.

 

[Dan Grec]

Isn’t that a risk to the kid with air bags? In a cab this narrow, I think either driver or passenger air bags would be a serious issue.

I think if the seat was rear facing it would be fine.

I'll see if I can dig up a photo of the airbags at full deploy to see how much "coverage" they have.

-Dan

 

[Dan Grec]

Here's a generic Jump Seat that is 8 inches across. (20 cm)
https://www.amazon.ca/Ride-USA-Extra-Narrow-Pick-up-Truck/dp/B09XWK1215

The gap between the two front seats on a JL/JT is around 10 inches (26cm)

hmmm.

-Dan

 

[WILDHOBO]

I think if the seat was rear facing it would be fine.

I'll see if I can dig up a photo of the airbags at full deploy to see how much "coverage" they have.

-Dan

Even rear facing car seats should never be in the front. Like ever.

 

[HorsesRear]

Covered some already. There's simply not enough room

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...ench-seating-by-installing-a-jump-seat.71536/

What does that mean?

 

[Stingray 5517]

I think if you're reason for doing all this is for a child then you should rethink it. In most states a child under 8 years old is required to be in the rear seat area and after that they will be too large to sit comfortably in the front of your gladiator anymore. Like other's have mentioned the airbags also would make it unsafe as well. Sounds like a lot of time and trouble for something you shouldn't be doing. At least for that reason. Just my two cents.

 

[Minty JL]

I think if the seat was rear facing it would be fine.

I'll see if I can dig up a photo of the airbags at full deploy to see how much "coverage" they have.

-Dan

Won't fit and not safe no matter how it's hacked together. My wife and I waited to get our jeeps for this sole reason.

Sometimes the grown up thing is changing to another vehicle. We have several Tahoe's and Yukons until the kids were out of car seats.

 

[MPMB]

I think if you're reason for doing all this is for a child then you should rethink it. In most states a child under 8 years old is required to be in the rear seat area and after that they will be too large to sit comfortably in the front of your gladiator anymore. Like other's have mentioned the airbags also would make it unsafe as well. Sounds like a lot of time and trouble for something you shouldn't be doing. At least for that reason. Just my two cents.

I believe in the US it's recommended (I don't know if its a law) 8yo or 70lbs (+/- 5lbs) before kids can be in the front seat in autos with airbags.

As far as airbag deployment, the front coverage of two bags deployed is over 80%, likely ~95%. SIL got a lovely 3rd-degree Toyota logo burn on her arm and a dislocated shoulder from a deployment in March.

A quick search show that most child "booster" car seats (toddler & up) are 16" wide or wider. That won't fit.

And here's something that the OP isn't thinking about:
About 25 years ago, my ex-BIL owned a fab shop/truck accessory shop. A customer got setup for a cross-country trip with their horse trailer. Camper on a big Dodge dually.

A couple weeks later I see the truck at a nearby body shop. The front end was smashed at an upward angle and the windshield shattered. Somewhere in Montana or North Dakota they got in a head-on collision. The front end bent up and smashed into the camper. No fatalities, luckily. And this was a full-size truck.

So the long answer is no, it's not a good idea logistically or safety-wise to have a carseat in the front of a JT.

 

[Dan Grec]

I think if you're reason for doing all this is for a child then you should rethink it. In most states a child under 8 years old is required to be in the rear seat area and after that they will be too large to sit comfortably in the front of your gladiator anymore. Like other's have mentioned the airbags also would make it unsafe as well. Sounds like a lot of time and trouble for something you shouldn't be doing. At least for that reason. Just my two cents.

I agree there are safety concerns, which is why I'm investigating and trying to learn what is possible.

As for children being required to sit in the back, that is only true if there is a back.
In vehicles that don't have a backseat that does not apply.

I'll also be in countries that have no such law.

-Dan

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