VS ute bench 2 seat to bench seat conversion.

[dazzavs00]

hey
Im looking at installing a bench seat in my ute but it seems that the hand brake would be in the way of the middle seat...
-does any one no where the hand brake can be relocated?
-and how is the bench seat mounted in?
Pictures of current bench seats much appreciated
ps, any idea where to pick up these bench seats? i live on the central coast NSW

Cheers Daz

[32pseye]

handbrake is moved to down beside drivers seat, also drivers door pocket and speaker pod would have to be removed

[jokerflingo]

I'm amazed anyone would want to put a bench seat in their ute, i searched heaven and earth to find a 2 seater because i couldn't stand a 3 seater. The handbrake is ridiculous

[cander24]

hey
Im looking at installing a bench seat in my ute but it seems that the hand brake would be in the way of the middle seat...
-does any one no where the hand brake can be relocated?
-and how is the bench seat mounted in?
Pictures of current bench seats much appreciated
ps, any idea where to pick up these bench seats? i live on the central coast NSW

Cheers Daz

Im in the process of doing the opposite at the moment, converting a mates bench seat to bucket seats. On the bench seat models the handbrake is relocated alongside the drivers seat and the cabling underneath is re-routed to suit. There is a metal box type bracket that it fixes to so I would recommend checking that you have this before you go making too many arrangements for the conversion. I could organise a pic of it if needed. For the bench seat setup the drivers seat remains the same, just the passenger seat is different as it has the dickie seat attached to its side which sits on the tailshaft tunnel where your centre console currently is located. They bolt down to the floor just the same as the current setup. All of the radio surround and shifter panel is different and for the drivers door the speaker pod is retained, just minus the extended map pocket. Is yours currently auto, manual or a column shift. Im located on the NSW South Coast and should be able to organise most of the parts required for the conversion if your interested.

[dazzavs00]

Im in the process of doing the opposite at the moment, converting a mates bench seat to bucket seats. On the bench seat models the handbrake is relocated alongside the drivers seat and the cabling underneath is re-routed to suit. There is a metal box type bracket that it fixes to so I would recommend checking that you have this before you go making too many arrangements for the conversion. I could organise a pic of it if needed. For the bench seat setup the drivers seat remains the same, just the passenger seat is different as it has the dickie seat attached to its side which sits on the tailshaft tunnel where your centre console currently is located. They bolt down to the floor just the same as the current setup. All of the radio surround and shifter panel is different and for the drivers door the speaker pod is retained, just minus the extended map pocket. Is yours currently auto, manual or a column shift. Im located on the NSW South Coast and should be able to organise most of the parts required for the conversion if your interested.

Mate that would be awesome, if you can get the parts could you let me know which ones you can get and give me the quotes, cheers

[cander24]

Mate that would be awesome, if you can get the parts could you let me know which ones you can get and give me the quotes, cheers

PM sent

[ozbay]

it's not hard i done my vs sedan.now 6 seater..only thing u need to do is cut the bottom half of ur handbrake housing to accomadate the front cable which goes to ur new handbrake assembly relocated near drivers door.if u not far from newcastle and wanna have a look before u start give us a yell..cheers


p.s if i doubt ring closest rta approved engineer...as they the ones that gunna have to pass it when u finished..

[VL-EXEC]

i own a 3 seater ute, id be confused why you would change a 3 seater into a 2 seater, just buy a 2 seater? its alot harder to find a 3 seater then a 2 seater...

but besides the point id say you would have to get it all aproved via an engineer as above...

[cander24]

This is the mounting bracket/box I was referring to in the PM that the handbrake assembly fixes to.

[Tom_1569]

i own a 3 seater ute, id be confused why you would change a 3 seater into a 2 seater, just buy a 2 seater? its alot harder to find a 3 seater then a 2 seater...

but besides the point id say you would have to get it all aproved via an engineer as above...

Exactly, I spent over a year looking for a Bench seat + manual ute, that wasnt completly shagged.

Bench seat is just awesome, you can have 2 passengers, the bench seat folds down and makes an excellent arm rest, and the handbrake is a much better spot. Oh And you can snuggle on a bench seat

[jokerflingo]

Exactly, I spent over a year looking for a Bench seat + manual ute, that wasnt completly shagged.

Bench seat is just awesome, you can have 2 passengers, the bench seat folds down and makes an excellent arm rest, and the handbrake is a much better spot. Oh And you can snuggle on a bench seat

My god i spent ages looking for a Manual Ute that was a 2 seater as the 3 seater looked stupid and handbrake was the dumbest creation known to man.

I guess we are two very different people

[Tom_1569]

My god i spent ages looking for a Manual Ute that was a 2 seater as the 3 seater looked stupid and handbrake was the dumbest creation known to man.

I guess we are two very different people

lol, I could have pointed you in the direction of hundreds of 2 seaters :P

All the bench seats I found were column shift auto, not cool.

It may be caus Im left handed, but I find the handbrake is a better spot and alot easier for hill starts.

[alex338]

I'm convertingmy 3 seater to 2 seats ATM. As practicle as having he extra seat is,it looks very ugly and seeing as my ute was being recarprted, I thought **** I I'll go to the wreckers and buy. A centre console. The trimmer cut themisdle seat out so now it's just the 2 seated but I've just gotta find a hand brake assembly now to put I. In the right spot

[steelscore555]

i have a 3 seater vs i f**king hate it i onlt got it cause it was manual i want to convert it to a 2 seater just wondering if cander24 could get me a price on a center console for a manual... and do u need to get brakets made up for the consle to hold into place as there wont be any there now

[sirjolly18]

Yea have the same problem, 3 seats was a bad idea. the fact that you could not carry any drinks or even put your phone and wallet in the little tray which still manages to drop everything on the floor.

So trying to get some bucket seats and building my own center console housing a small sub and amp. cup holders etc. will try and tuck it up under the radio and other switches so wiring and bits can be easily accesed, work in progress.
And people who can't figure out the hand brake on the right side. just think for a min why it is the way it is. also removed the crappy rubber handle replacing with handle from repco, fits perfect after cutting a small square out the end. will post pics

[Bellicose]

I bought a 3 seater manual (floor shift) VR ute, ripped out the seats, put pair of Calais seats in and seacrhed for the console and all the other bits needed. Couldn't find any bits for a decent price so..............................

I bought this LOL
Bloody good runner.
ALL the bits i need plus i get to part out the rest of the car.

[Drawnnite]

bench seat utes are awesome, although i dunno how it would go with a person in the middle, it is a manual on the floor afterall =P
i reckon it looks better as im not really a fan of the centre console section in a vs. it just has that look about it.

as for not being able to put drinks inside, my ute must have had a 2 drink holder put in on the centre plastic area, and it works great.

[Tom_1569]

Fold the middle bit down in the centre, rest phone and wallet ever so slightly jammed under it on the seat, will hold.
Drinks, rest them leaning on the rear cab wall and leaning on either passenger or drivers seat. Do this every day and never have a problem or spilt drink, even with spirited driving.

Bench seat/floor shift is the greatest thing ever, if the new utes had a bench seat I would be more inclined to move on from my VS lol.

[Jo3_Blo]

Yeah I bought my VS ute about 3 weeks ago and I have no problems with it! Was obviously a 3 seater originally as it has the handbrake on the right and a column shift, although I bought it as a two seater. Works fine for me, I have no issues with the handbrake being on the right, it's neat and tucked away, plus I'm used to it as they're the same items used on the older HQ-WB holdens. I was originally planning to convert mine to a floorshift with a centre console, but don't think I'll bother, too much buggerising around and I enjoy the extra room anyway. As for cupholders, the glove box compartment has slots in them designed for the purpose, have never tried it myself but I assume it would work fine.

[turmoil117]

it's not hard i done my vs sedan.now 6 seater..only thing u need to do is cut the bottom half of ur handbrake housing to accomadate the front cable which goes to ur new handbrake assembly relocated near drivers door.if u not far from newcastle and wanna have a look before u start give us a yell..cheers


p.s if i doubt ring closest rta approved engineer...as they the ones that gunna have to pass it when u finished..

Do you have any pics? I was thinking about doing this in my vn just to be different and I was wondering how it would look

[Drawnnite]

dont just chuck out the old bench seat, turn it into a couch.
might have to go find a spare bench seat set up (weld together) and do this eventually...