Ok, maybe an unusual question but here goes anyway.........

I have to transport a fairly long / bulky box once a month. I usually use a van hired for the day.

I figured I could save a bit of cash in hire charges AND fuel if I popped it in the panda ( 2014 4x4 ) but...........

I have measured it. It would fit in the panda IF the back of the front passenger seat was not there. It would slide in from the tailgate ( rear seats removed already, van style ) and sit on the base of the front passenger seat

My front passenger seat is the one that folds forward about 45 degrees rather than the one which folds flat to make a table. Would not help anyway as the table version looks too high for my box to clear the roof.

So, I was wondering if there is any quick easy way of TEMPORARILY removing the seat back from the front passenger seat ?

Or even better, is there a way of making the seat back recline FLAT - ie, bypass the stop that restricts it to only folding about 45 degrees to the rear ?

Hopefully one of you has worked on or repaired your front passenger seat and can help with a tip ?

Cheers.

How far back does the seat go? I haven't tried it in my Panda but I have transported long lengths of timber in other cars by folding the passenger seat back as far as possible so the back rests on the rear seat. Slide the front seat as far forward as possible.

I don't really have an answer, as I have the folding picnic table passenger seat, but I just wanted to say I love these sorts of questions, their solutions and workarounds.

I get 8-foot long baulks of timber from time to time - sliding the passenger seat back and fully reclining (backwards) it enables me to slide it in.

My front seat reclines about 45 degrees - also folds forward about 45 degrees.

The box is too high to go on top of reclined seat back. I need to fold the seat back flat to rear or flat to front ( or as near flat as possible )

I WISH I HAD TAKEN THE OPTION OF A TABLE TYPE FRONT SEAT - WOULD HAVE BEEN IDEAL !!!

I wonder what it costs to buy one ? Probably extortionate

Would roof bars do the job? They are useful for loads of varying sorts.

I had to remove the seat completely because the bar you lift to move the seat back and forward had come adrift. Removal of four bolts and disconnecting a couple of cables took a few minutes, you just need somewhere to store the seat then.

Jabe said:

What is the length x width x height of your box? I often carry pieces of timber, one end in the passenger footwell, other end on the rear backrest, front passenger seat fully reclined. Boards up to 8ft long will just fit in with the hatchback closed, but have to be on the diagonal, and less than about 12”wide.

Click to expand...

I carry bits of wood 8 feet long x 4 x 8 inches as described.