Bench vs. Captains Seats

Help!

I'd like to go from bench to captains in my 2017 Limited and have read lots of posts but I can't find the definite answer. If I just remove the center bench seat, would it be the same as with the captains seats, except for the inboard armrests?

Some older posts make me think that there is a difference in the comfort (padding/shape)of the captains seats vs. the existing bench seats.

Are the captains seats really any different in terms of shape or padding compared to the existing passenger and driver side bench seats? Since I didn't want to add a center console, I did read that the Weathertech floor liner will cover up the holes left when the center seat is taken out.

I have a guy on standby with a pair of captains seats and before I commit I wanted to check my options. I think I can give up the armrests if the seats are basically identical.
Thanks for the help!

Same

Plug and silicone or at least gorilla tape them holes before tossing floor liner over it.

Just unbolt the middle seat, put the screws back in and cover the whole space with Husky second and third row matts and you're done. That's what I did. If your passengers don't need an armrest with the bench, then they don't need one with the captains chairs either. My kids don't seem to care.

This is exactly what I did. This gives you more space for luggage too. Works great.

My daughter really likes the rear 'captain's chairs'. And I admit that my wife has a point that it makes passenger egress to the third row much easier. But I'm not so sure overall.

Am I the only one that has concerns about securing cargo with the large hole between the seats? What happens if you have to stop fast, or worse, have an accident. Would be just my luck that would happen while on a family road trip with everything plus the kitchen sink in the back..

I’d just dislike not having the ability to seat 8, looks like it turned out well though

LRNAD90 said:

What happens if you have to stop fast, or worse, have an accident.

Click to expand...

Ford did not design a good method to secure the cargo. So the lack of a middle 2nd row seat is not likely to make a big difference difference if the event is severe enough as stuff will fly over the gap from the seat backs to the roof.

Packing might help some of this by placing items longer / taller than the gap across the gap so that they act as a brace for the rearward stuff.

MuddySpokes said:

Ford did not design a good method to secure the cargo. So the lack of a middle 2nd row seat is not likely to make a big difference difference if the event is severe enough as stuff will fly over the gap from the seat backs to the roof.

Packing might help some of this by placing items longer / taller than the gap across the gap so that they act as a brace for the rearward stuff.

Click to expand...

I guess we will have to agree to disagree on this one, I think the middle seat being in place is a HUGE improvement on cargo security vs no seat at all, or packing longer items across the gap..

And it seems to me that a full row rear seat is about the industry standard for cargo security in SUVs. I can't really think of an SUV manufacturer that has a better solution from the factory. I'm sure there are probably aftermarket cargo barriers that would provide much better security/protection, but I don't think you will see that very commonly...

Thank you all for your replies. I think I'm going to just skip buying the specific captains seats and just take out the middle row for now. This way I can always replace the center seat if I don't like the setup of want to carry that extra passenger. If I purchased the captains, then I would either end up storing 3 bench seats somewhere, or selling them and then being stuck with the captains!
Decisions, Decisions!

I had a hard time finding my '17 platinum with a bench seat. I like having a place for my umbrella and windshield visor and anything else I throw back there and it not end up in the floor.