Hello, looking at a really nice 2001 express3500 with 2 captains chairs, 2 rows of bench seats making 8 seats total. Is it possible to add another row of 3 or 4 behind these? There’s a lot of room back there and it feels like the brackets are there under the carpet but it is not cut out. If so what kind of seats do I need to look for and is it as simple as cutting the raised areas of the carpet? Are there any other threads that show how to do this cleanly? Also I’m not very familiar with these so if there’s anything I should look for specifically on these vans I’d appreciate it. Very clean body and frame for 2001 and only 90k on the 8.1 engine. Thanks!

 

Try looking at this. Pull up the carpet and see if you have the rails. https://chevroletforum.com/forum/exp...ssenger-83721/

 

I can see/feel something that looks like it’s inline with the seats infront but I’m hesitant to go chopping into the carpet. Are all 3 person seats the same? The only difference I see is when you get to the 4 person they are split and have a wider rail.

 

They might have changed some stuff over the years especially a pre-2003 but both of my 3 seat are the same. I bet you could go to a wrecking yard and get a bench, the rails cut out of the floor, and the trim pieces or find someone doing a camper conversion on a passenger van.

 

Hello, say I find a newer or older van with seats available.. are there any model year seats that won’t work?

 

I'd think you would have issues with the shoulder belts that hook to the roof. You would have to get everything and figure out how to mount the shoulder belts.

 

Hello, I found some seats, my rails go back to the position needed for a 3rd bench row and I do not have a final row of rails for the last 4 person seat. The 3rd bench does not fit as the wheel well obstructs it from going down all the way.. The seats I have are from a newer van so they're potentially a bit shorter/have a different offset. I will be on the lookout for a pre 2001 bench.

 

I tried one of my benches that fits in spots 1 and 2 and it does not fit in the 3rd row. There's just not enough room to allow the bracket to go down into the rail the rear HVAC and wheel well block it. even with the carpet and plastic removed.