Seating for 6...Can it be done?

[Commodore]

I pushed the F-150 Lightning as a family hauler because it is one of few that can fit 3 child car seats...

Now ...My daughter is pregnant with her 4th child.

Is there anyway to change-out or replace an F-150 Lightning console into a rear facing car seat ...for the new baby?

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[The Weatherman]

Where there is a will there is a way, but it’s going to take a really good fabricator and customizer. Oh yah, and a whole lot of money.

 

[RickLightning]

I pushed the F-150 Lightning as a family hauler because it is one of few that can fit 3 child car seats...

Now ...My daughter is pregnant with her 4th child.

Is there anyway to change-out or replace an F-150 Lightning console into a rear facing car seat ...for the new baby?

In short, no.

In the past, people would buy an F-150 with the shifter on the column, and swap out the console for a seat. This truck has the shifter in the console, so that would have to be moved. And, you'd need to ensure that the mounting for the middle seat is in fact there, and can be properly secured.

I think it's great that your daughter is having a child. Every vehicle we own is 5 seats. Whether my kids have more kids or not, I'm driving what I want. Take 2 cars when they come over if needed.

 

[Joneii]

There may be some safety issues with this idea. Crash tests and airbags and crumble zones are a system solution to accident injury. Changing the fundamentals of where occupants are located in the vehicle could be a major problem.

 

[Roy2001]

NO

 

[Pioneer74]

Anything can be done, with enough money. Check out the ICE forums to see if anybody has done the conversion. Normally guys go the opposite way and want the console.

The only thing that may be difficult is the steering column and the column shifter. Since all Lightning trucks have the console shifter, you don't have a reference if an ICE truck column shifter will work.

You also may have to either have a custom seat cover made for it, or change all of them because the Lightning has unique interiors compared to ICE.

 

[Revenge]

There is always the frunk. Obviously not for the baby but one of the older kids might have fun. Just use the tie downs.

 

[RickLightning]

There may be some safety issues with this idea. Crash tests and airbags and crumble zones are a system solution to accident injury. Changing the fundamentals of where occupants are located in the vehicle could be a major problem.

Absolutely.

In fact, rear facing baby seats should never be placed in the front of a vehicle. "Never place a rear-facing car seat in the front seat. Front passenger air bags can injure or kill young children in a crash." https://www.cdc.gov/injury/features...place a rear-facing,young children in a crash.

 

[Tony Burgh]

Bolt rear facing seats in the bed of the truck. Register truck as a limo.

 

[RickLightning]

Actually, I'm wondering if my initial read of this was wrong.

Did @Commodore recommend the Lightning to his daughter and her husband as the ideal vehicle, and then they decided to have another child, and now he's on the hook for not forseeing that possibility? If so, that's pretty funny.

 

[Grumpy2]

Trade the Lightning for a Rivian R1S, it seats 7. Trade the Rivian for the 3 row Ford when (IF) they produce one. That promise will be like a DOG MODE provided in the Lightning....?

 

[Zprime29]

Trade the Lightning for a Rivian R1S, it seats 7. Trade the Rivian for the 3 row Ford when (IF) they produce one. That promise will be like a DOG MODE provided in the Lightning....?

I fully expect the 3 row EV before Dog Mode.

To the OP: I'm going to throw my weight in the firm No category for similar reasons. It's just not safe, and this is coming from someone who used to ride the back of pickups.

Kia EV9 might be a good alternative as well and much cheaper that the R1S.

 

[Pioneer74]

To the OP: I'm going to throw my weight in the firm No category for similar reasons. It's just not safe, and this is coming from someone who used to ride the back of pickups.

What would be unsafe? Ford sells a 6 passenger ICE F-150 SuperCrew. The Lightning uses the same Floorplan as the ICE truck. The mounting points are the same and the ICE truck doesn't have any extra airbags for the middle front seat.

All he would be doing is swapping out the seat for the console.

Inexpensive and easy? Absolutely not.

Unsafe? Just as safe as any other F150.

 

[jefrank]

There is always the frunk. Obviously not for the baby but one of the older kids might have fun. Just use the tie downs.

Or maybe just go the way of the old Subaru Brat and install a couple of seats in the bed

 

[Lytning]

I pushed the F-150 Lightning as a family hauler because it is one of few that can fit 3 child car seats...

Now ...My daughter is pregnant with her 4th child.

Is there anyway to change-out or replace an F-150 Lightning console into a rear facing car seat ...for the new baby?

Stop and think about this for a minute. Do you really want to trust the safety and life of your grandchild to an improvised, non-Engineered, untested car seat installation? Your grandchildren are depending on you and their parents to make wise decisions for them until they are able to do it for themselves.

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