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Vehicle shopping: Large SUV with removable rear seats?

Randy0781
Explorer
Explorer
Hi, everyone. I'm in the market for an older used full-size SUV (think Suburban, Tahoe, Yukon, Excursion class) that will work for both my everyday driving needs and for solo boondocking in remote public lands. My main question: Is there a model that has 2nd and 3rd row seats designed to be easily removed?

I know most SUVs have seats that fold flat, but that's not good enough. I always ride alone and these seats will never be used; they're just dead weight and taking up valuable cargo space. I want to pull the 2nd and 3rd row seats completely (hopefully, without major surgery involving sawing or torch cutting) and have a relatively flat floor left behind where I can put a single-wide mattress on one side and a locking cabinet for my gear on the other side.

I'm aware that there are vans which work this way, but I've rejected the idea of van ownership. Few vans, if any, are going to have the 4WD and ground clearance I need on the remote backcountry "roads" I explore, which are deeply rutted and high centered. Subarus can get around out there, but they're far too small inside.

Please keep in mind that I'm shopping for an older used vehicleโ€ฆunder $15K. Any year will do, but I'd prefer something modern enough to have anti-lock brakes, air bags, and an easy availability of repair parts.

So, is there a large SUV that has fully removable 2nd and 3rd row seats? If nothing has seats that are designed to be easily removed, then I guess I'll have get the vehicle I like best and cut the seats out the hard way.

Thanks for your help!

Randy
17 REPLIES 17

K_Charles
Explorer
Explorer
My excursion 2nd seat folds flat and the 3rd seat come out.

Lwiddis
Explorer II
Explorer II
Horet, I can't remove the third row seat in my 2015 Tahoe. Don't like it! In my 2001 and 2007 the third row seat was removable.
Winnebago 2101DS TT & 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTZ Z71, WindyNation 300 watt solar-Lossigy 200 AH Lithium battery. Prefer boondocking, USFS, COE, BLM, NPS, TVA, state camps. Bicyclist. 14 yr. Army -11B40 then 11A - (MOS 1542 & 1560) IOBC & IOAC grad

hornet28
Explorer
Explorer
I don't know about the newer Suburbans, the last one I had was a 95 and the third row seat came out while the second row folded flat. That made an area for a mattress