Second Row Captains Chairs Don't Recline Enough....Is This A Bad Idea?! (3 Viewers)

[jonshonda]

Our kids loved road trips in the GX470 because it had headrest entertainment systems, and the bench seats reclined enough to easily sleep. I swear our 12yo son has carcolepsy! Even though we had the GX460 for a weekend before we purchased it, I overlooked the limitations of the second row captains chairs and the kids do struggle to sleep well as a result of limited recline angles.

I understand why they are limited, as with the seats slid all the way back the seat backs will come in contact with the wheel cargo area plastics/wheels wells if they are reclined any further then they are now. But if you slide them forward a few inches then you gain enough room to recline further.

I took the left cover off the drivers side seat, and see there is a pretty solid chunk of metal limiting travel. How dumb of an idea is it to get after that sob with a grinder?!?! My only thought is to leave some material there for a stop, as the concern would be in an accident that there is nothing there to stop the seat from going too far back.

 

[r2m]

With the third row either up or down, does that affect the range of motion? If being down limits the range, maybe consider and third row delete?
Just spit-wadding here...

 

[nakman]

that reminds me of the gear swap mod for the 80 series 2nd row... recliner hinge level2- gear swap - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/recliner-hinge-level2-gear-swap.34942/

maybe you could cut/bend that section you're thinking of cutting, just as a trial? So you could bend it back if it didn't work for some reason.

 

[jonshonda]

With the third row either up or down, does that affect the range of motion? If being down limits the range, maybe consider and third row delete?
Just spit-wadding here...

Nah like I said its the interior wheel well plastics where the buttons for raising and lowering the third row are located that limits travel. I use my third row, so no delete.

that reminds me of the gear swap mod for the 80 series 2nd row... recliner hinge level2- gear swap - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/recliner-hinge-level2-gear-swap.34942/

maybe you could cut/bend that section you're thinking of cutting, just as a trial? So you could bend it back if it didn't work for some reason.

It looks to be at least 1/4" steel, so bending it is not in the cards! haha

 

[r2m]

It looks to be at least 1/4" steel, so bending it is not in the cards! haha

If cutting it, just be aware of the heat next to fabric and padding a cutoff wheel generates.

 

[jonshonda]

If cutting it, just be aware of the heat next to fabric and padding a cutoff wheel generates.

Yeah I would pull the whole seat out of the GX and probably cut and form some light gauge sheet metal around the area to protect the seat. Also cover it in a welding blanket or something NOT flammable!

 

[jgalt]

Will this mod result in the spring shown being wound more? Probably won't make a difference if the additional degrees of rotation are small.

 

[jonshonda]

Will this mod result in the spring shown being wound more? Probably won't make a difference if the additional degrees of rotation are small.

Yeah it will be wound more, but not sure that will have any effect on function.