How-To: Swap Bench 2nd row to Captains Chairs with Console

[I Bleed Ford Blue]

I checked ford accessories and the 16-19 console with white stitching is no longer available. The have with red for 425 and black for 550

 

[BradLucky]

@bguild I have to thank you for your amazing write-up! You gave me the confidence to purchase a 2021 that just came off lease, even though it had captain's chairs when I needed a bench seat. To your point, I can confirm that swapping captain's chairs for the bench seat does work!

The downside - I just discovered - is that I got the bench from a 2020 XLT, which does not have the powered fold-down feature. In and of itself, I'm not too bothered by that, but, it lacks the wiring harness and control unit that provides power to the rear-folding seats. I did not realize this while I swapped all the seats, and now my 3rd row is stuck in the flat-down position.

So, I'm going to have to get the harnesses reconnected so I can put the 3rd row upright. And then, I need to decide how to proceed. I'll either remove the unit from my captain's chairs, or find what I need from a junkyard for a reasonable price. (I plan to put the captain's chairs back in someday when my kids have grown up enough that I don't need 7 seats.

I did manage to get the seats for only $213, so I can't complain about the cost. And the work only took me a few hours today.

 

[hbalek]

@bguild I have to thank you for your amazing write-up! You gave me the confidence to purchase a 2021 that just came off lease, even though it had captain's chairs when I needed a bench seat. To your point, I can confirm that swapping captain's chairs for the bench seat does work!

The downside - I just discovered - is that I got the bench from a 2020 XLT, which does not have the powered fold-down feature. In and of itself, I'm not too bothered by that, but, it lacks the wiring harness and control unit that provides power to the rear-folding seats. I did not realize this while I swapped all the seats, and now my 3rd row is stuck in the flat-down position.

So, I'm going to have to get the harnesses reconnected so I can put the 3rd row upright. And then, I need to decide how to proceed. I'll either remove the unit from my captain's chairs, or find what I need from a junkyard for a reasonable price. (I plan to put the captain's chairs back in someday when my kids have grown up enough that I don't need 7 seats.

I did manage to get the seats for only $213, so I can't complain about the cost. And the work only took me a few hours today.

Doesn't the XLT seat look different as far as the leather material and contrast stitching compared to the ST's?

 

[2020FordRaptor]

Doesn't the XLT seat look different as far as the leather material and contrast stitching compared to the ST's?

Yes. Very different.

 

[Chamorro85]

Nice write-up! Curious if the original bench had heated seats or not? Did you gain/lose this with the change over? Either way you did a hell of a job.

 

[2020FordRaptor]

Nice write-up! Curious if the original bench had heated seats or not? Did you gain/lose this with the change over? Either way you did a hell of a job.

XLT does not have heated seats. ST comes standard with them. You would lose it.

 

[bluesnake01]

XLT does not have heated seats. ST comes standard with them. You would lose it.

I think his question was to OP's original bench seat, which they do come heated if equipped properly. Only the side one's not the middle one.

 

[2020FordRaptor]

I think his question was to OP's original bench seat, which they do come heated if equipped properly. Only the side one's not the middle one.

Yes that is why I said STs come standard with them. He had them originally.

 

[bluesnake01]

Yes that is why I said STs come standard with them. He had them originally.

Yes and no, depends on the year, they were standard in 20 but became an option after for 21+

Not sure what year is OP's nor what options he had.

 

[Nabuei]

Question -- on 2022 Ford Explorer, can i purchase a used 2nd row center like this one u had (image attached) and squeeze it in between the 2 existing Captain chairs (with arm rests)?

I don't mind removing the arm rests -- just wanted to know if it's possible?

Thank you.

 

[2020FordRaptor]

Confused on what you are asking. Center console or center chair?

 

[cjhesse]

Any suggestions where to find a 763kohm resistor?

 

[chunley05]

So I have a bench seat and am looking to swap to Captains chairs. My question is, if I'm not looking to do a center console do I have to replace the PS seat or can I remove the 60 part of the 40/60 bench seat and just replace the LH side Captains chair?

 

[CCS86]

Nice writeup!

I was super annoyed that they finally upgraded the infotainment on the 2025's, but dropped the 2nd row bench as an option in ST's... and then even more annoyed to see it was still available in Canada!

Any Canadians have a 2025 ST w/ second row bench that want to trade for captain's chairs?