How do I drop the driver-side rear seatback down?

[kenfaber62]

Has anyone been able to fold the rear seatback down? There is a fabric pull tether to get behind the passenger rear seatback to access the car jack, but can the driver-side rear seatback also fold down (like previous F150 models). It looks to me like Ford may have taken this feature away or made it much more difficult to release. I would like to hide some seldomly needed tools back there like my Harbor Freight Rambo knife. The videos on youtube do not seem to apply to my Lighning Pro.

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[GDN]

Raise the lower seat up and it will give you more room to see down in behind the upper seat. There is a latch with a nub sticking out to the side. I take a 3/4 in wrench and reach down in to hook the nub and pull up. It will release the seat.

I should say "did" open it like that, because there are 3rd party latch add ons to give you a similar strap to the other side. I installed this one.

https://www.amazon.com/BuiltRight-I...hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4584207592712408&psc=1

 

[RavenYZF-R6]

I also used builtright for the extended release lever. They have an easy to follow video for installation that shows how to lower it. Their antenna has been working well for me as well.

 

[kbuicker]

Yah, got mine down easily the first time. Not so much this last time, I gave up. Seems the latch is stuck. I don't feel like slicing open my hand, so I may try GDN's idea next.

 

[kenfaber62]

Ok, thanks. I'll have to file this under: Get a better flashlight! I was expecting there to be a nub with a head on it like a nailhead and I wasn't expecting it to be silver.

Things get a little easier once you understand. I've ordered the Builtright product as I expect to be accessing this compartment on a frequent basis.

 

[petemill]

My problem is I can never get it to latch closed again!

 

[GDN]

My problem is I can never get it to latch closed again!

It is very hard to close at times. The problem is - that is a "sliding" latch. It is in one position if the seat bottom is flat and another position if the seat bottom is raised. I just try to always make sure and not to do anything with the seat bottom while I've got that seat unlatched.

 

[kenfaber62]

My problem is I can never get it to latch closed again!

Ok, I'm still learning, but try this. The unmovable half of the latch that is mounted on the wall behind the seat has a bar that spans the bracket left and right. That bar can slide up and down and my research tells me that for it to click into place, it should be in the up position or close to it. I hope this helps.

 

[Firestop]

I agree with the @RavenYZF-R6 ’s post about the latch from Builtright…it took me less than 10 minutes to easily install this simple, but effective latch in my truck….I think you’ll be happy with your purchase.

Builtright’s video clearly and accurately explains how to release the OEM latch, and how their replacement latch eliminates problems with the latch bar moving after opening which prevents the OEM latch from catching when trying to return the seat back….

 

[21st Century Truck]

I just installed the "new, revised" BuiltRight rear seatback unlatching tether. It's the one with the black nylon end rather than their original red end.

Very nice little addition. Silly for Ford to not have installed something like this to begin with. Now that it's on, I do wish I would have bought the woven tether strap in a color other than black, so that it'd be intuitively visible to any user. BuiltRight offers several colors for this woven strap.

The advantage I see in this addition = now anyone, even the casual friend / cousin / nephew passenger other than the "trained owner / operator" can just open the seatback compartment at will and without fumbling.

The space back there is not very deep but it is ample for, say, a bag of quality snow chains... or an inch-thick, wide kneepad for wheel changing on the side of the road... i.e. a thin yet tall & wide item that doesn't need to be used, ever... until all of a sudden it can make all the difference.

 

[Mike G]

I moved my BuiltRight seat back latch from each of the last 4 F-150s I've owned, everytime I bought a new truck. So it's now on the Lightning, with my BuiltRight stubby antenna.

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