Car seats in a 2015-2017 Expy

Quick question for the group regarding car seats in the gen 3 Expedition EL.

I want to buy an Expedition for the great people-hauling ability, and expect to use the 3rd row for hauling friends and family.

With two car seats in the 2nd row, can you easily access the 3rd row seating? I imagine three car seats in the 2nd row make access pretty difficult, correct?

I'm also considering a 4th gen Expedition, just for the ability to tilt the 2nd row with car seats attached.


THANKS for the help!

TruckNuts said:

Quick question for the group regarding car seats in the gen 3 Expedition EL.

I want to buy an Expedition for the great people-hauling ability, and expect to use the 3rd row for hauling friends and family.

With two car seats in the 2nd row, can you easily access the 3rd row seating? I imagine three car seats in the 2nd row make access pretty difficult, correct?

I'm also considering a 4th gen Expedition, just for the ability to tilt the 2nd row with car seats attached.


THANKS for the help!

Click to expand...

I have a 2015 Expedition Limited 4x4, purchased new, with the second row bench seat (and power-fold third row seat).

With two car seats in the second row (both outboard), it is almost impossible to access the third row seat.

If you put two car seats in the second row (outboard and center position), the unused seat that folds will not fold as the car seat intrudes onto the unused seat area.

I used full-size car seats, which are secured with the LATCH system (not easily removable jumper seats).

If you put two car seats in the second row using the LATCH system anchors, it is very difficult to access the third row to connect or disconnect the lower LATCH anchors.

After buying the vehicle, I realized what a poor design the seats are for those that use full size car seats in the second row.

@99WhiteC5Coupe Super helpful info. I really want to make the gen 3 work, given how much cheaper it is than gen 4's, but lack of access to back seat really puts a wrench in the equation.

What about having the car seats in the 2nd row outboard positions, and removing the center 2nd row seat (is that possible?). Then at least adults can climb through the middle to access the 3rd row (again, if that's even possible).

TruckNuts said:

@99WhiteC5Coupe Super helpful info. I really want to make the gen 3 work, given how much cheaper it is than gen 4's, but lack of access to back seat really puts a wrench in the equation.

What about having the car seats in the 2nd row outboard positions, and removing the center 2nd row seat (is that possible?). Then at least adults can climb through the middle to access the 3rd row (again, if that's even possible).

Click to expand...

Yes, remove the center seat of the 2nd row bench seat. When I had my 2010 Limited EL, it had captains chairs in the 2nd row, allowing oldest child 3rd seat access. A little clumsy navigating between the 3 child seats, but very doable for a 8 year old.

TruckNuts said:

@99WhiteC5Coupe Super helpful info. I really want to make the gen 3 work, given how much cheaper it is than gen 4's, but lack of access to back seat really puts a wrench in the equation.

What about having the car seats in the 2nd row outboard positions, and removing the center 2nd row seat (is that possible?). Then at least adults can climb through the middle to access the 3rd row (again, if that's even possible).

Click to expand...

Yes - it is possible to remove the center, second row seat.

It folds forward, and also slides forward and rearward. It is held to the floor by four bolts.

FlyBry said:

Yes, remove the center seat of the 2nd row bench seat. When I had my 2010 Limited EL, it had captains chairs in the 2nd row, allowing oldest child 3rd seat access. A little clumsy navigating between the 3 child seats, but very doable for a 8 year old.

Click to expand...

Not 3rd gen related, but do your captains chairs in the 2020 tilt and slide forward? Major improvement over 3rd gen? And why did you choose captain's over a bench?

99WhiteC5Coupe said:

Yes - it is possible to remove the center, second row seat.

It folds forward, and also slides forward and rearward. It is held to the floor by four bolts.

Click to expand...

Sweet, so assuming I can get the Weatertech mats for the captains chair layout, the center seat bolts should be hidden and it will look factory.

Removing the center seat is the way to go from someone who has 6 people in the family and 2 still in seats. Works great and the only reasonable solution is to put them in the outboard seats for easy access. The center is fairly difficult to get to without getting up and into the vehicle.

We kept the center folded down for awhile but if people will regularly be stepping on it to get out you'll get a lot of wear on the back plus it reduces room to step so unless it's a younger crowd with more flexibility it could pose an issue to guests you have.

TruckNuts said:

Not 3rd gen related, but do your captains chairs in the 2020 tilt and slide forward? Major improvement over 3rd gen? And why did you choose captain's over a bench?


Sweet, so assuming I can get the Weatertech mats for the captains chair layout, the center seat bolts should be hidden and it will look factory.

Click to expand...

Hey Nuts
Yes, 2nd row Captains tilt & slide forward for rear access.
They also slide back & for about 8" without tilting, and the backs also tilt way back, handy for kids wanting a nap during long drives.
I dont like bench seats. Never had any need for one, never had more than 2 children in child seats at the same time. Youngest is now 13.
Sold (2) of the Sparco Child Seats to my Brother when he started having kids - https://www.fruugo.us/car-chair-spa...HzfL09HqZKBMPuJP-4dDVBK6a_GDdCCUaAoVvEALw_wcB

FYI, if you have high back boosters in the middle row it is a GIANT pain in the ass to get to the rear seats. (Ask me how I know).

I think the Ford mechanism is the worst I've seen for car seats. You have to flip the headrest Forward before you can unlock the tilt part. If you have a high back chair it's impossible to do. Both kids are in boosters now so it's not an issue, but man I hate their system.