Might be a silly question but for those that have 2nd row captain chairs how is traveling with them and your pets? I'm shopping around for a 4th gen Expy Platinum and all of them seem to have 2nd row captain chairs instead of split bench seats like I have now in my 3rd gen. With my current Expy, the whole bench lays down and with a dog cover my 120lb Rottie has all the space he needs. I'm just curious how the split captain chairs will be for him in folded position? Anybody traveling currently with large pets with the captain chair set up?
2nd row captain chairs versus 2nd row split bench with dogs?
- Thread starter Fasttimes
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mwl001
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Sorry can't speak to that but I've gone with Ford for my last two SUVs specifically because they offer bench seats on higher trims. We have small dogs but still love the bench since 95% of the time (or more) we don't have adults in the 2nd row so the bench is way more convenient in almost every way.
Calidad
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Captains chairs in a suv is just dumb. Especially if your hauling kids on a regular basis. Bench seat all the way or buy a mini van. Small dog is in a crate, big dog is on a bed.
the higher the trim level, the harder it is to find bench seats.
captains makes sense with 2 kids. 3 kids or more, bench is preferred, as you can maximize the third row space for luggage/equipment, especially when travelling. Of course some would say you can put items in the center seat area with captains, but i much prefer all the kids in the second row most of the time (unless they need to be separated)
captains makes sense with 2 kids. 3 kids or more, bench is preferred, as you can maximize the third row space for luggage/equipment, especially when travelling. Of course some would say you can put items in the center seat area with captains, but i much prefer all the kids in the second row most of the time (unless they need to be separated)
5280tunage
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@Anerbe is correct. I spent nearly nine months looking for a plati (Std chassis) with a bench. But I'm very glad I have it. I often have a car seat and two boosters, and it would be a pain in the but to constant lift and lower one of the 3rd row seats for a booster, since I almost always have the 3rd row down for transporting things. But I have used the 3rd row a few times and its so nice to have that option.
Now with Dog(s), it would be nice to have the buckets possibly, if your dog(s) are like mine and hate the car. They could lay closer to us on the floor, rather than just in the trunk. Toss up for sure.
Now with Dog(s), it would be nice to have the buckets possibly, if your dog(s) are like mine and hate the car. They could lay closer to us on the floor, rather than just in the trunk. Toss up for sure.
mwl001
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What really stinks is that you can't easily find the vehicle you want. Want a red one? Want a MAX? No problem. Want HD tow or bench seat? You're going to have to dig into each and every listing to basically look at photos or the price sheet.
Highlightreel
Well-Known Member
I guess I'm in the minority but I have the captains chairs and love the flexibility. I am also just not a fan of bench seats (equals cheap to me).
We have 2 dogs and 2 kids (10 and 14) when we travel and one of the dogs is a 110 lb German Shepherd. I have 1 kid in 3rd row and 1 in 2nd row (opposite sides) for travel and the GS sits/lays down in the middle on the floor.
Our big dog would just slide or fall off the seat whenever turning or braking so walking (up and back for a change of scenery) or resting on the floor makes more sense for me too.
I also carpool kids to things and sometimes it's 3 or 4 other people in the back and the bench was a dumb option for me. The ease of use of the 2nd row sliding seats or just walking b/w the captains chairs is so simple.
We have 2 dogs and 2 kids (10 and 14) when we travel and one of the dogs is a 110 lb German Shepherd. I have 1 kid in 3rd row and 1 in 2nd row (opposite sides) for travel and the GS sits/lays down in the middle on the floor.
Our big dog would just slide or fall off the seat whenever turning or braking so walking (up and back for a change of scenery) or resting on the floor makes more sense for me too.
I also carpool kids to things and sometimes it's 3 or 4 other people in the back and the bench was a dumb option for me. The ease of use of the 2nd row sliding seats or just walking b/w the captains chairs is so simple.
Fasttimes
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Interesting, like hearing real world feedback. In my case my case 90% of the time I have all seats folded down to create one even layer of cargo area for dog and cargo to lay on. I have some fabric dog protector cover that covers the whole space from just after the front seats all the way back. Dog has whole space to move, usually his bed and just a tiny cooler. I'm imagining with the captain chairs I would have both of them in some sort of folded position and then this large gap in between. Not sure how I'll cover up everything but it's the not having a level rear area that is what I don't like. If I took rear passengers often then yeah, I could see how the captain chairs will be more comfortable, but as a practical level storage area it's not the ideal setup.
Deadman
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Me as well. If the rear buckets were a $5,000 add on over the bench, I'd pay it. I can't fathom a bench in a high end vehicle. Reminds me of dads ancient station wagons. I like my 2nd row passengers to be in a comfortable bucket seat and not a park bench!
But, again its my opinion only.....
Calidad
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As the who hauls kids bucket 2nd row is very limiting especially when a large number of kids these days are car sickness prone and will opt for three across the 2nd row every single time. It also enables road trip space options for 5 with gear which case Captains chairs fail.
Interestingly every single family I know have dumped their 2nd row captains chairs for a modern bench for all the reasons I’ve listed. Very poor use of space in a vehicle thats not as roomy as a full sized van.
I find those who think Captains chairs are great are rarely doing much other than school curb delivery and pickup. As for the silly comment about cheap? Perhaps you should be driving a Porsche instead of a Ford? We get new neighbors like that every yr. It was really entertaining watching a young couple complaining that they should have moved to a more upscale area while sitting next to a multinational CEO, CFO and three very successful private company owners at a neighborhood BBQ..
Interestingly every single family I know have dumped their 2nd row captains chairs for a modern bench for all the reasons I’ve listed. Very poor use of space in a vehicle thats not as roomy as a full sized van.
I find those who think Captains chairs are great are rarely doing much other than school curb delivery and pickup. As for the silly comment about cheap? Perhaps you should be driving a Porsche instead of a Ford? We get new neighbors like that every yr. It was really entertaining watching a young couple complaining that they should have moved to a more upscale area while sitting next to a multinational CEO, CFO and three very successful private company owners at a neighborhood BBQ..
mwl001
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There's nothing wrong with either option, and I'm glad Ford has left captains chairs as a choice rather than a requirement to go upscale like everyone else. However it's really a choice between comfort and functionality for most people. You gain some comfort for those in the 2nd row; which if you'll never put three people back there isn't a compromise... however in most other cases you are giving something up to get that added luxury - additional passenger, flat load floor, flat seating area -- that is useful at other times.
Highlightreel
Well-Known Member
Yikes, so now I'm a snooty guy that belongs on Rich Housewives...? Don't be fooled by my sweet hair, jacket, and awesome mustache. I just liken it back to being a kid in 1970's and 80's vehicles that had bench seats all over. Now vehicles offer captains chairs. Why is that? And to me bench seats are less comfortable. I also am broad and hated sitting in the middle. So this is me taking that annoyance away from my kids. Who ever picked the middle seat?
I'm not telling you what to get or where to live so to each their own and best of luck to you. The OP asked for our thoughts. We've had an Explorer, "It's not a minivan, it's an Odyssey", Sienna, Pilot, Suburban, and now this. I happen to have 2 kids that are growing past booster seats and before adult size and the captains chairs or give them a little space so they don't have to 'create the middle of the car line". If I had 5 adults or all big people and needed the huge back for luggage/storage then boom, different needs and hey, they make both options.
5280tunage
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But I will say, and many sales reps actually concurred with me on this throughout my process, the captains chairs seem to become the default with the plati's. It's almost like Ford knows the plati buyer is willing to spend more so lets flood the market with the more expensive option and just see how many buy them without issue. Like I said, I spent 9 months looking for what I wanted (which also including a low mileage demo) platinum with HD tow and bench. I didn't have to give up on the colors and interior, I search for those things nationwide and couldn't find them for a long time.
As said before, to each his/her own. I don't have multiple dogs to haul around, that would have likely changed things. I love that when grandmas with us, she can sit in the middle, and I can easily and quickly pick up an extra kid for things without rearranging cargo and seats. But I like the look of the buckets for sure, it looks more expensive to a degree, but I'll say the obvious, there really is very little difference in "actual" comfort, other than more shoulder room. In general, the bolster is nearly the same, padding nearly the same, etc. Ford wouldn't go to the extreme and make a special material/seat for that, heck, they aren't even including engine covers now, lol.
As said before, to each his/her own. I don't have multiple dogs to haul around, that would have likely changed things. I love that when grandmas with us, she can sit in the middle, and I can easily and quickly pick up an extra kid for things without rearranging cargo and seats. But I like the look of the buckets for sure, it looks more expensive to a degree, but I'll say the obvious, there really is very little difference in "actual" comfort, other than more shoulder room. In general, the bolster is nearly the same, padding nearly the same, etc. Ford wouldn't go to the extreme and make a special material/seat for that, heck, they aren't even including engine covers now, lol.
Wayne Decker
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We had Rotties for 20 years- but that was 20 years ago. Now we have a Border Collie and a Pyrenean Shepherd. No kids. We travel for a couple of months each year pulling our Airstream and the dogs come along.
When we bought our Expy we wanted a bench 2nd row but ended up with captain's chairs. No regrets. With just the third row down there's plenty of room for your Rottie. And when we carry a couple of extra adults, they appreciate the captain's chairs.
Our herders are smaller than our Rotties were, but when we travel we have two dog crates (small and medium sized) and two bicycles plus other stuff with 2nd and 3rd rows down.
Your Rottie will be fine with the captain's chairs.
When we bought our Expy we wanted a bench 2nd row but ended up with captain's chairs. No regrets. With just the third row down there's plenty of room for your Rottie. And when we carry a couple of extra adults, they appreciate the captain's chairs.
Our herders are smaller than our Rotties were, but when we travel we have two dog crates (small and medium sized) and two bicycles plus other stuff with 2nd and 3rd rows down.
Your Rottie will be fine with the captain's chairs.
Fasttimes
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Do the captain chairs fold forward for more space? Or is that not even needed since he wouldn't be getting on top of them anyways?
Calidad
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You do realize the bench and the captains chairs have the same outside seats right?
Calidad
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I suspect most of you don’t actually own a current gen Expedition given the bench 2nd row has the same exact outside seats as the Captains chairs lol. Yep the bench seat is just he same with a flip down center section and missing arm rests, same seats. Its funny how stuck on perception people get regarding bucket seats..
5280tunage
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that's exactly what I was saying, the perception is it's nicer, and they are more expensive, but its basically the same.
Calidad
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Identical minus arm rests lol
