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Trailmax II Fold and Tumble

Nobody

Bronco Guru
Joined
Feb 15, 2005
Messages
1,215
Loc.
Stanwood
I've been wanting a new rear seat that I could squeeze my three kids into. I hadn't really found anything I liked, so I kept putting it off. Out of curiosity I looked up some pictures of the Icon Bronco, and liked what I saw for a back seat. Further investigation revealed that it was likely the Bestop TrailMax II fold and tumble. It appears a few folks here already discovered that.

The models for the 97-06 wrangler are an absolute perfect fit! Not quite a bolt in, but close enough.

I decided on the black denim. I was a little concerned about the actual color since I had read that some folks reported the black was more of a grey. I found that it was pretty much a perfect match to my black denim soft top.

This is the seat I bought, $275 and free shipping from amazon!
http://amzn.to/29S7pMO

Great fit, just rubs the rear wheel wells.
trailmax-fold-tumble.jpg


I tried to find a happy balance of leg room and maximized rear space when folded forward. Lined up with the rear wheel well worked well.

trailmax-fold-tumble-2.jpg


Has a zippered map pocked, adjustable head rests.
trailmax-fold-tumble-3.jpg


folded. sorry about blurry pic
trailmax-fold-tumble-4.jpg


tumbled. I have about 36" of cargo space. Hopefully my spare still fits! Used factory seatbelt holes.
trailmax-fold-tumble-5.jpg


trailmax-fold-tumble-6.jpg


head rests do not rest on floor.
trailmax-fold-tumble-7.jpg


Of course one of the holes landed on top of a body cross-member. I made some captive nut plates. Had to open the floor up to install the one above the cross-member.
captive-nut.jpg


No problemo
captive-nut-3.jpg
 
Last edited:

HoosierDaddy

Contributor
Bronco Guru
Joined
May 29, 2006
Messages
2,775
Nice install , looks like a great fit! Now that makes another decision I'll have to make for reassembly.

Did you take any "step by step" pics of the captive nut plates? Just curious as to how you went about it. Simple enough concept though.

That tumble feature looks mighty tempting. The rear seat that is/was in mine had a storage box built beneath it , which is pretty handy also.

I'll have to give that some thought as to which I'd prefer in the end.

Some pics for the curious.
 

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OP
OP
Nobody

Nobody

Bronco Guru
Joined
Feb 15, 2005
Messages
1,215
Loc.
Stanwood
Since I don't have a pickup, my bronco gets to pull double duty. It was annoying to have to pull the stock seat every time I wanted to haul something. I'll still have to pull the fold and tumble sometimes too though.

Your underseat toolbox is a nice option. Knowing me I'd need what's in it every time I had the seat pulled.

On the captive nut plates, they are just 1/8 steel with a nut tacked on. Then I driledl additional holes on either side of the nut and plug welded them to the floor and ground flat. Where I opened the floor, I just cut the three sides, installed the plate and closed her up with a series of short welds.

One other pic
captive-nut-2.jpg
 

HoosierDaddy

Contributor
Bronco Guru
Joined
May 29, 2006
Messages
2,775
Nice , I would have never thought of drilling a hole for the weld. Great idea , use the bolt to "clamp" the piece in place and weld/fill the hole. I love it.

Just out of curiosity , mig or stick ? I stick at work all the time , very rarely mig , never tig'd.
 
OP
OP
Nobody

Nobody

Bronco Guru
Joined
Feb 15, 2005
Messages
1,215
Loc.
Stanwood
Nice , I would have never thought of drilling a hole for the weld. Great idea , use the bolt to "clamp" the piece in place and weld/fill the hole. I love it.

Just out of curiosity , mig or stick ? I stick at work all the time , very rarely mig , never tig'd.

Mig with .023 wire
 

xcntrk

Bronco Guru
Joined
Jan 12, 2012
Messages
2,473
Loc.
NOVA
Looks great!

I use the same seat as well. I had a problem with the flimsy plastic bushings that are used at the pivot point breaking and falling apart, so I upgraded the mounting and pivot with brass bushings and sleeves instead. Works great!
 
OP
OP
Nobody

Nobody

Bronco Guru
Joined
Feb 15, 2005
Messages
1,215
Loc.
Stanwood
Looks great!

I use the same seat as well. I had a problem with the flimsy plastic bushings that are used at the pivot point breaking and falling apart, so I upgraded the mounting and pivot with brass bushings and sleeves instead. Works great!

Thanks for the heads up, I'll keep an eye on them. Since those plastic bushings locked into a groove on the shaft, it looked like they were more of a "clip" to keep the seat from walking side to side. Did you have to drill out the bracket hole to fit a real bushing in there, or did you find one that fits as is?
 

Prizefighter

Bronco Guru
Joined
Feb 24, 2010
Messages
1,192
Tom's sells this seat for $259 plus shipping and it comes with the brackets to make install a cinch. The Trailmax back seat looks like the way to go though.
 

broncoitis

Bronco Guru
Joined
Jul 23, 2010
Messages
4,449
Nice job on the install. Looks really good. Might have to get one as well!
;D
 

BanditBronco

Sr. Member
Joined
Jul 2, 2008
Messages
690
Is it pretty rigid when tumbled or is it kinda floppy? Would it withstand cruising through the dunes with it tumbled or a rough trail ride without making a ton of noise or coming loose?
 
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