=jon= Posted February 3, 2014 Share Posted February 3, 2014 Hi, I'm considering a set of forward facing rear seats to go in the back on my 90 - my lad's getting a bit big to sit in the middle seat for any period of time so these look like the ideal solution. I've seen references to Exmoor Trim's set (http://www.exmoortrim.co.uk/store/defender-products/load-area-seats/forward-facing-fold-up-left-hand-detail.html), but a few niggles in terms of quality and how sturdy they are. I've also seen reference to using the forward facing seats from a new model 90, which you can sometimes get second hand, with these being said to be much sturdier. Any comments or experience using either? Thanks! Jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snagger Posted February 3, 2014 Share Posted February 3, 2014 To use the genuine forward facing seats, you'd have to extensively modify the wheel arch boxes and add their steel structural braces. It'll be costly and fairly time consuming, but they are good seats from a safety and comfort perspective - my wife's 90 has them and the kids find them very comfy. They do intrude in the load area significantly when folded, though. I had a pair of the Exmoor seats in my 109. They're fine, though nowhere near as robust. Their main problems are with comfort - they are narrow and have little lateral support, so adults tend to slide a little in them on corners, and because they fit to the wheel boxes with simple hinges, they sit quite high, giving little head room and fold out clear of the wheel boxes and thus sit right next to each other with no space to get between them when in use, unlike the LR type which have a narrow passageway between then when deployed. I got around that by mounting them 5" outboard of their intended position, giving a 10" passageway, but at the cost of further decreased head room because the hinges had to be mounted on plinths so that the seat bade frame cleared the wheel box when folded down. They good for people up to about 5'6" and 9st, but are cramped for bigger people on long journeys. You have to be careful about setting up seat belts for these - I think the way Exmoor Trim did it in their promotional material and demonstrator 110 is dangerous and would likely break the occupants upper or mid spine in a big accident. I made sure the shoulder anchor was at the correct height by using a SIII font seat belt sill anchor inverted inside the roof guttering. As a result, the seats were very practical for my kids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve King Posted February 3, 2014 Share Posted February 3, 2014 Hi,I'm considering a set of forward facing rear seats to go in the back on my 90 - my lad's getting a bit big to sit in the middle seat for any period of time so these look like the ideal solution.I've seen references to Exmoor Trim's set (http://www.exmoortrim.co.uk/store/defender-products/load-area-seats/forward-facing-fold-up-left-hand-detail.html), but a few niggles in terms of quality and how sturdy they are. I've also seen reference to using the forward facing seats from a new model 90, which you can sometimes get second hand, with these being said to be much sturdier.Any comments or experience using either?Thanks!Jon Interesting stuff Snagger!! We are probably going to have our granddaughter live with us on a long term basis in the near future, and whilst the main mode of vehicle transport will be my Fiesta, I would like to make the back of my 110 H/T a bit more child friendly... Any chance of any pics?? Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anderzander Posted February 3, 2014 Share Posted February 3, 2014 I've been thinking of getting one of these - exmoor do two types don't they.... These: http://www.exmoortrim.co.uk/store/defender-products/load-area-seats/forward-facing-fold-up-left-hand-detail.html And these: http://www.exmoortrim.co.uk/store/defender-products/load-area-seats/lock-and-fold-left-hand-detail.html The 2nd ones being considerably more expensive - but child seat approved iirc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
=jon= Posted February 4, 2014 Author Share Posted February 4, 2014 Thanks for the feedback Snagger. It looks like the Exmoor ones may be OK, as long as we think about how they are fitted / belted up then (or look at the more expensive ones!). I'd probably only get one of them anyway... Anderzander: I didn't realise the expensive ones folded up onto the wheel wells - they only make that clear if you look at the detailed specs. £600/seat though hurts a bit, but what is safety worth I suppose!! It'd be almost cheaper to trade in for a 110! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landroversforever Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 Thanks for the feedback Snagger. It looks like the Exmoor ones may be OK, as long as we think about how they are fitted / belted up then (or look at the more expensive ones!). I'd probably only get one of them anyway... Anderzander: I didn't realise the expensive ones folded up onto the wheel wells - they only make that clear if you look at the detailed specs. £600/seat though hurts a bit, but what is safety worth I suppose!! It'd be almost cheaper to trade in for a 110! And loose the V6 song Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discomikey Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 when riding in the exmoor seats, and with the 90 pinned round a corner (this is very unlikely to happen) the seats can tilt with you on them. im sure there is a way to lock them down but it can be a fun experience. i have ridden in these seats for an hour or 2 solid and where they arent the most comfortable, neither is a normal land rover anyway. but i am young so i can hack it haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
=jon= Posted February 4, 2014 Author Share Posted February 4, 2014 And loose the V6 song Yeah - the 90 really is very solid, in decent nick (bar the paint job!) and is a bit 'different' - and it'd be pretty likely that a bottom end 110 would need quite a bit doing to it... when riding in the exmoor seats, and with the 90 pinned round a corner (this is very unlikely to happen) the seats can tilt with you on them. im sure there is a way to lock them down but it can be a fun experience. i have ridden in these seats for an hour or 2 solid and where they arent the most comfortable, neither is a normal land rover anyway. but i am young so i can hack it haha I'd be interested to know if the locking ones are worth the extra - the safety certification suggests they are more robust, and they lock down so shouldn't tip up... The plan is that we are going camping towards the end of this summer at a big family reunion type thing close to the south of France, so they would need to be comfy enough to sit in for 7-8 hours pootling across France... I think there would be enough space in the back for the camping gear, and as it's got a towbar I can fit the bikes on the back easily enough.. The alternative is that I get a towbar (for the bike rack) put on the back of the Subaru, and travel down in air conditioned comfort!! (and probably recoup the cost of the towbar in petrol savings!!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris113 Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 Jon there is someone making the newer type of wheel boxes to be retrofitted into earlier vehicles so that you can fit the new Puma seats into older vehicles. I'm not sure what the company is called but there are a few people fitting them on the Defender2 forum. Could you not take the Toyota to France if all else fails? - plenty of room for duty free in the back! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snagger Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 They use child safety as a marketing tool (doesn't everyone these days? ). I had no problem securing child seats to the two cheaper type ET seats by pulling the seat beltls very tight on the child seats and then giving them a sharp tug to engage their inertia reel locks with the belts still under tension. The child seats sat in the car semi-permanently without any instances of moving on the seats, or of any damage to the seats or belts. Booster seats were later used with equal security and success, and the kids had no trouble once they were big enough to use the seat plain. The only reason I sold them (to Meccano on here)is because I used a pair of Defender front seats in the second row when I rebuilt the car, for better support of adults, and the ET seats ultimately became redundant. The ET seats can be seen here on my blog while they were fitted as a third row, before being replaced by storage lockers: http://www.nickslandrover.co.uk/430/ and http://www.nickslandrover.co.uk/430/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
=jon= Posted February 4, 2014 Author Share Posted February 4, 2014 Jon there is someone making the newer type of wheel boxes to be retrofitted into earlier vehicles so that you can fit the new Puma seats into older vehicles. I'm not sure what the company is called but there are a few people fitting them on the Defender2 forum. Could you not take the Toyota to France if all else fails? - plenty of room for duty free in the back! CSK Landrovers - the kits £250 quid plus fitting (although it may be possible to DIY), then the Puma seats on top... The Toyota didn't live up to the legendary Japanese build quality - the gearbox started making unusual clicking noises in neutral / drive, which sounded ominous... Then the suspension on the back started getting bouncy - it was either the airbags or the electrically adjustable dampers - both of which would be a fortune to replace. Needless to say I got rid of it!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
=jon= Posted February 4, 2014 Author Share Posted February 4, 2014 They use child safety as a marketing tool (doesn't everyone these days? ). I had no problem securing child seats to the two cheaper type ET seats by pulling the seat beltls very tight on the child seats and then giving them a sharp tug to engage their inertia reel locks with the belts still under tension. The child seats sat in the car semi-permanently without any instances of moving on the seats, or of any damage to the seats or belts. Booster seats were later used with equal security and success, and the kids had no trouble once they were big enough to use the seat plain. The only reason I sold them (to Meccano on here)is because I used a pair of Defender front seats in the second row when I rebuilt the car, for better support of adults, and the ET seats ultimately became redundant. The ET seats can be seen here on my blog while they were fitted as a third row, before being replaced by storage lockers: http://www.nickslandrover.co.uk/430/ and http://www.nickslandrover.co.uk/430/ Cool - thanks. The boy's 11 now, so way past the child seat stage, but ultimately I want something that's safe and secure! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snagger Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 Gremlin used minibus seats with integral belts mounted to the tub floor with quick release fittings to clear the load bay whenever needed - it's a brilliant solution and could be made pretty by getting your local car trim specialist to recover the seats in cloth matching the front seats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
=jon= Posted February 5, 2014 Author Share Posted February 5, 2014 Does anyone have any idea what these seats are: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LR-DEFENDER-COMPLETES-SEATS-REAR-LH-RH-FORWARD-FACING-BLACK-VINYL-PART-NO-BA2080-/251426998899?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3a8a378a73 They are listed as brand 'Trakker', and Bearmach part BA2080 - are these the exmoor trim trakkers - the fold up ones as mentioned earlier? I've found a set elsewhere much cheaper, but the details are rubbish, no pictures and the seller hasn't answered my questions yet... Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anderzander Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 Trakkers is the retail arm of Exmoor Trim I think. I think those seats are a pair of the cheaper ones in the links I posted earlier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
=jon= Posted February 5, 2014 Author Share Posted February 5, 2014 I'm hoping so - although the seller hasn't answered and seems to have pulled the auction now... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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