I finally finished my 2nd / 3rd row seat delete project.
I removed the 3rd row some time back and replaced them with the Victory 4x4 delete platform. This was a permanent modification, as I gave away the third row seats and trim pieces, and cut the seat belts out. I don't ever plan on going back.
For the second row delete, I wanted to keep that temporary; only used when on trips.
I removed the second row seats and slid two 2x4s under the front facing lip of the Victory 4x4 third row delete platform. I bolted these to existing seat bolts with angle iron and ran a piece of angle iron between the 2x4s for some extra support. I then laid a piece of 3/4 plywood cut to size on top, held down by gravity and held captive by two "dowels" set into the top of the 2x4s and which mate to holes drilled in the plywood. This is the "driving" position; both front seats can be fully back and even recline if needed, and it allows for pretty much the maximum amount of gear storage in the back as well as some storage under the plywood platform where the 2nd row footwells are.
I cut a 9" extension to allow more room to lie down and sleep in the back by sliding the front row seats forward. This is like a table leaf, you lift the existing platform top forward onto a second set of holes that mate to the dowels, and then drop the 9" plywood leaf in between the front plywood and rear Victory platforms. When I camp out of the back of the truck I generally move all the gear either to the front seats or to the roof, and use the entirety of the cargo area to stretch out in. With the leaf in and the seats forward this gives a whopping 80" of room front to back.
It's a basic setup. I ain't Johnny Woodworker or Johnny Fabricator, and in fact I had to borrow a jigsaw (from the library, LOL) to complete this project, but it works great and I have like $60 in it. I also plan on leaving the wood unfinished, it really is only going to be installed and used a few weeks out of the year and under those circumstances it isn't ever going to be exposed to the elements so I see no reason to paint it or bedline it.
I also bought two dongles from Brad's Hacks to compensate for the second row seats being removed, which triggers the airbag warning on the dash. The dongles install in the connector under the seats and turn the warning off.
Frame:
Standard platform (with front seats pulled all the way forward):
With leaf in place:
Brad's Hacks airbag / SRS dongles:
With ExPed MegaMat and seats all the way back: