DIY my version Rear Seat Delete ~$60 Weight Reduction 27.5 lbs
 

Here is my version of a homemade rear seat delete for much cheaper than the vendors sell with parts from Homedepot, Pepboys. Total weight loss 27.5lbs


Parts needed:
Large Pieces of cardboard leftover from racing seat boxes - Free
Chloroplast Sheets homedepot 1 large, 2 small - $20
3m Spray Adhesive - $10
Large Black roll of carpet from Pepboys - $30
Larger/Longer press clips things Pepboys - $3
Sockets set - get your own or borrow from neighbor with beer


In usual fashion I start by weighing everything taken out since the purpose of this is weight reduction.


Everything out pic
http://i.imgur.com/uEreZWu.jpg


Seat back ~14.25 lbs
http://i.imgur.com/DB9RFpA.jpg


Seat bottoms 4.25lbs each for total of 8.5lbs
http://i.imgur.com/7svR7t0.jpg


Seatbelt equip/ brackets/ bolts 11.25lbs
http://i.imgur.com/BL82Vcc.jpg


Total weight removed 34lbs


Can't say I came up with this myself there was another forum member who made his out of cardboard. My version will be backed with a layer of chloroplast lightweight sheets from HD to get a more solid yet lightweight structure.


Cardboard Template
http://i.imgur.com/2cPMnri.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/e2BLodE.jpg
Mating up with trunk connection points
http://i.imgur.com/fuq7c8y.jpg


Adding the chloroplast sheets over the cardboard using the spray adheasive
http://i.imgur.com/A0qsWho.jpg


Covering everthing with the carpet
http://i.imgur.com/xc91GlN.jpg


All the pieces being weighted got 2 cheap pillows from Walmart to use as a cheap lightweight sound deadening for each seat bottom area. 6.5lbs going back in the car. Net weight loss 27.5 lbs
http://i.imgur.com/jj880TO.jpg


First install you can see the area where the carboard flexing got wrinkly this is unacceptable. Also the top shelf was not clipped down tight enough either
http://i.imgur.com/vjR1moP.jpg


Made a piece with remaining chloroplast to fill in that area
http://i.imgur.com/vsOrrxn.jpg


kit uses the stock mounting bolts too
http://i.imgur.com/QIBUfer.jpg


Final Shot
http://i.imgur.com/uh93Rrv.jpg

Also ordered some resistors and am going to take out the rear roof airbags since no one would be sitting back there. Should give me back some of the weight I added in with the kit.

The exposed fasteners is 100% what has kept me from doing this.

I imagine a velcro installed trim piece, or those interior fasteners that are fixed to the plate would dress up this otherwise awesome DIY really nicely.

Thanks for the writeup! Might try this

Thanks for the thanks!

I appreciate what you're trying to do here (I love doing DIY projects) but there's no way I'd be satisfied with that in my car. It looks like a nice prototype

Are you able to load stuff where the seats used? It seems like it would be pretty flimsy and just collapse in.

Does it lay down flat so you can load larger items into the car?

not trying to be negative, I've thought about doing something similar it just seems like you've made the interior less attractive and less functional (unless adding lightness is your top priority)

Weight reduction is the #1 priority in life so not worried about functionality. I thought that was clear by my obsession with weighing everything.
Actually with the chloroplast is stronger than you think I was accidentally leaning into it when bolting in roof covers the and it would bend but not break. It would bend right back into shape
A simple wood brace underneath and it could hold weight if that's what you want to hold a wheel or something without adding too much more weight. I have an old Cherokee to haul sh*t around.
Its way more attractive than just having the seats removed and bare metal showing and the interior sound levels are back to normal.

I really was surprised at how much extra noise taking everything out of the rear and the trunk added, but it is worth it. Bare metal is the best decoration for me.

There is no "rear roof airbag". It´s a one piece side curtain airbag front to back. You either take it out completely or not

Yeah I have the kit tucked under the rear decklid. The rear decklid snapped down is really whats holding the kit into place. BUT the rear decklid already has holes for fasteners, so the fasteners are really to cover the holes not to hold it in place. So yeah A trim piece could cover it, or recovering the decklid with carpet to cover over the holes. Its not bothering me as much as you but I will take a look next time I'm in the Depot.

Hardcore man! I drove a few days bare and you could hear rain splashing up and some noise but not as bad as people make it. Anyway this with pillows shoved underneath brings it back to stock quietness.

I think it really is the shape or something weird with this car. My Yaris when I removed everything behind the front seats was not really loud at all. It was quiet enough that I could occasionally hear the gas splashing around in the tank.

How often do you track your car, bro?
Seems like you're shaving 1/10s before hitting the gym.
What kind of tires do you run?

Have tracked the Vette but not this yet want it light as possible before going. Already down ~170lbs and that's good.
on stock size but a bit grippier hankook evos on lightweight 17x8 konig hypergrams

here is mine.. dont mind the missing push pin at the top. not the best looking but will do for the moment. Ill remove the seatbelts next, was too lazy to do it at the same time lol

https://imageshack.com/i/pm18oiLLj

picture not working for me bro I wanna see

strange... does this work ?
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/150...922/18oiLL.jpg

or this is the link https://imageshack.com/i/pm18oiLLj

I can see it fine, Tom. :iono:

yeah that works, looks good

@SuperTom or @Qc86

Sorry about the necro, but Im planning something like this and was wondering what thickness of coroplast was used and how it has held up? Im thinking of going straight coroplast (no cardboard) and maybe a bit thicker for a bit more structure to support some weight without extra bracing.

:thanks:

One thing that isn't mentioned but is a nice benefit is that removing all that crap lifts the car up just enough so that is doesn't scrape on anything but the worst rain gutters. I scraped on everything stock, even just going across some roads because the peaks are so high since it can rain like crazy. Taking all that stuff out made a huge difference to that for me.

Very nice

Don't remember exactly maybe it was 1/4" thick. You could glue together to double up or use a light wood bracing underneath. Certainly these kits can be as strong as you want them to be. Downside being more weight will be added back in unless you use exotic materials (carbon fiber ect.)

Edit here is the link to home depot looks closer to 1/8" thick
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Coroplas...896S/205351385

Yeah, I wound up doing a mock-up/test with some of that 4mm stuff from the hardware store and I think im going to need 10mm for my purposes, maybe with some 4mm for bracing if I need it. 10mm isn't cheap though...

Planning on forgoing carpet for paint or coating of some sort so that should keep weight down.

Building a skeleton underneath for support, similar to below, would add plenty of strength and can remain lightweight, based on material choices.

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/U6BLwuwQLAs/maxresdefault.jpg

My thoughts exactly. 4mm coroplast oriented with the flutes vertical should hold quite a bit of weight. Probably only need one rib in each direction if I also use the tunnel and rear armrests for support.

Debating between removable ribs in case I want to put something underneath, or arched ribs so there is some amount of space. I'll probably have to try them both out...

Finally got back to this just made a strip an added a TRD badge to jazz it up a bit.

https://i.imgur.com/QmAvMEe.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/DRnGB3G.jpg

Forgot that I remade this using only coroplast, aluminum rivets & carpet. Came out cleaner and only weights 3.5lbs total

https://i.imgur.com/Lo9QCPl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/r7HtxRB.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/iBb35gZ.jpg

Im loving that TRD stitched patch makes it look intentionally "LTW"

I was thinking of doing this but going with trash bags and filling them with expanding foam, light and rigid.