Quad Cab - rear seat modification - protect your seat covers

[2005ViperRam]

I was trying to find any information concerning why my rear seats are jamming when you try to lift them to fold out metal cargo tray. I searched for a few days and finally stumbled on a YouTube that wasn’t much, but it did motivate me to remove my rear seat to see if I could fix mine by spraying the crap out of the hinges with PB Blaster. It really didn’t work. Here is that video, hopefully someone can give additional ideas:
Rear seats not lifting up:

While searching to see if I could find more info about the seats not folding up, it brought me to this YouTube about how to modify the rear seats so they fold down (not up). I thought it was really cool, and since I needed to remove the rear seats again to see if I can do something else to repair the rear seats not folding up I decided to try to figure out how to do the rear seat “folding down” mod.
Here is the folding down rear seat mod:
Rear seat folding down modification:

I went to the junk yard and found a 2005 QC Dodge Ram (non-SRT10), made sure the hinges work, and purchased both rear seats. It was cheaper to buy the entire rear seats rather than just the hinges. I practiced on the junk yard seats to see how to remove the hinges, got them out, and labeled them so I didn’t get confused on which was the original ram (non-SRT10), compared to my SRT10 hinges. What I found is only two minor differences. The QC junkyard Ram used two T47 screws holding the bottom seat to the seat frame, while the SRT10 used two 18mm bolts. The other difference was the bolts for the SRT10 was a larger diameter compared to the junkyard so the holes (no Wifey, the holes weren’t dirty or filthy -lol) and needed to be drilled out a little. The junkyard hinges worked perfectly!

Now for the folding down rear seat mod. On a SRT10 it’s a piece of cake! Unlike the above YouTube video where it shown the brackets being sawed, on a SRT10 you simply just remove both 8mm bracket bolts , cut some of the insulation, and flip the bracket. To operate, just lift the rear seat to the 45 degree position (which makes the rear seat travel to the highest point of travel), and fold the seat down. That’s it! It couldn’t be anymore simple.

Here are some pictures.

 

[Wifey]

Awesome! Intriguing DIY mod!

So glad the holes were clean and tidy!! Hahahaha

Which truck got this mod?

 

[VIPR PWR]

I was trying to find any information concerning why my rear seats are jamming when you try to lift them to fold out metal cargo tray. I searched for a few days and finally stumbled on a YouTube that wasn’t much, but it did motivate me to remove my rear seat to see if I could fix mine by spraying the crap out of the hinges with PB Blaster. It really didn’t work. Here is that video, hopefully someone can give additional ideas:
Rear seats not lifting up:

While searching to see if I could find more info about the seats not folding up, it brought me to this YouTube about how to modify the rear seats so they fold down (not up). I thought it was really cool, and since I needed to remove the rear seats again to see if I can do something else to repair the rear seats not folding up I decided to try to figure out how to do the rear seat “folding down” mod.
Here is the folding down rear seat mod:
Rear seat folding down modification:

I went to the junk yard and found a 2005 QC Dodge Ram (non-SRT10), made sure the hinges work, and purchased both rear seats. It was cheaper to buy the entire rear seats rather than just the hinges. I practiced on the junk yard seats to see how to remove the hinges, got them out, and labeled them so I didn’t get confused on which was the original ram (non-SRT10), compared to my SRT10 hinges. What I found is only two minor differences. The QC junkyard Ram used two T47 screws holding the bottom seat to the seat frame, while the SRT10 used two 18mm bolts. The other difference was the bolts for the SRT10 was a larger diameter compared to the junkyard so the holes (no Wifey, the holes weren’t dirty or filthy -lol) and needed to be drilled out a little. The junkyard hinges worked perfectly!

Now for the folding down rear seat mod. On a SRT10 it’s a piece of cake! Unlike the above YouTube video where it shown the brackets being sawed, on a SRT10 you simply just remove both 8mm bracket bolts , cut some of the insulation, and flip the bracket. To operate, just lift the rear seat to the 45 degree position (which makes the rear seat travel to the highest point of travel), and fold the seat down. That’s it! It couldn’t be anymore simple.

Here are some pictures.

Did that also fix the seat going up problem ?

 

[2005ViperRam]

The replacement (junkyard) hinges worked perfectly. For the life of me I can’t understand what could possibly go wrong with the old ones since there is only like four parts. I am thinking maybe a Coke was accidentally spilled causing it to gum up, but that truly doesn’t make sense since both sides are doing the same thing with the original hinges.

I think I’m going to drill out the rivets, then wire brush all the mechanical area to see if I can make it work again. I know many will say “why do that if you already got it working with the junkyard spares?”. The reason is being an engineer I can’t stand not knowing, with something simple, what could cause the problem. I will just replace the rivets with grade 8 bolts once with nylon inserts nuts.

I do want a clean and tidy hole. As many holes that I have “fingered” on this truck in the past year, I am worried what people will think. That coupled with many people tell me “That SRT10 has balls!” which worries me. Thank God that luckily they didn’t make these trucks in the color blue because then I’d have “blue balls”.

The only thing I’ve got in my favor at this point is I have a receiver on the back end, which nowadays could mean both a male or female truck. So that doesn’t mean anything anymore.

One thing for sure is i will never again tell you guys if my 48RE is having issues. Years ago I would have proudly said “I’m having trans issues which started when my friend Bob put too much fluid in”. Not anymore!

Ok, comedy show over…

 

[VIPR PWR]

Thinking about the seats going up according to the vid it says the seat back rises up .. Is that correct ? I sure dont recall the seat back lifting at all when raising the lower seats .. Ill have to take a look at mine and see! The lifting of the back may be the problem and the hooks out of adjustment , loose or bent ..causing the hinges to bind .

 

[Wifey]

The replacement (junkyard) hinges worked perfectly. For the life of me I can’t understand what could possibly go wrong with the old ones since there is only like four parts. I am thinking maybe a Coke was accidentally spilled causing it to gum up, but that truly doesn’t make sense since both sides are doing the same thing with the original hinges.

I think I’m going to drill out the rivets, then wire brush all the mechanical area to see if I can make it work again. I know many will say “why do that if you already got it working with the junkyard spares?”. The reason is being an engineer I can’t stand not knowing, with something simple, what could cause the problem. I will just replace the rivets with grade 8 bolts once with nylon inserts nuts.

I do want a clean and tidy hole. As many holes that I have “fingered” on this truck in the past year, I am worried what people will think. That coupled with many people tell me “That SRT10 has balls!” which worries me. Thank God that luckily they didn’t make these trucks in the color blue because then I’d have “blue balls”.

The only thing I’ve got in my favor at this point is I have a receiver on the back end, which nowadays could mean both a male or female truck. So that doesn’t mean anything anymore.

One thing for sure is i will never again tell you guys if my 48RE is having issues. Years ago I would have proudly said “I’m have trans issues which started when my friend Bob put too much fluid in”. Not anymore!

Ok, comedy show over…

OMG! that covered all scenarios hahahaha - and we know you like your holes clean and tidy! Still lmao

 

[2005ViperRam]

Thinking about the seats going up according to the vid it says the seat back rises up .. Is that correct ? I sure dont recall the seat back lifting at all when raising the lower seats .. Ill have to take a look at mine and see! The lifting of the back may be the problem and the hooks out of adjustment , loose or bent ..causing the hinges to bind .

Thinking about the seats going up according to the vid it says the seat back rises up .. Is that correct ? I sure dont recall the seat back lifting at all when raising the lower seats .. I’ll have to take a look at mine and see! The lifting of the back may be the problem and the hooks out of adjustment , loose or bent ..causing the hinges to bind .

The rear seats do go up about 1.5 inches when the seat back bottom is at a 45 degree angle. The back slides up. There is truly no adjustment on the bracket since it’s closed looped, unlike a horseshoe shape.
The only problem is to make the mod you must remove the seats because the hook is stuck onto the bracket because it’s un-modded at that time. Once it is modded it works like a charm. God knows why the engineers at Dodge didn’t figure that part out.
Luckily on the SRT10 Rams there is no cutting of metal. The only cutting is the minor insulation that must be trimmed because the bracket is flipped.
At least now I don’t have to worry about ruining my leather seats with groceries or other items I may put on them since now the seats fold all the way down.