Just bought a 2000 crew cab... help me figure out the best/cheapest way to seat 6

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Reluctanse

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Hi guys, just got a 2000 crew cab today. I was shopping for a truck with the front bench already, but beggars can't be choosers. Found this truck after looking for a month, and it was the right price. So, now I would like to figure out a 3rd seat up front.

Here's what we are working with - you can see the interior is in pretty good shape overall
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So the way I see it, I have a couple options:
1. find a factory split front bench from 95-99 truck
2. swap in center console jump seat from OBS truck (as seen here: https://www.gmt400.com/threads/gmt-900-jumpseat-pix-install.43088/) but this is on early style seats, would this work? Is this as simple as it looks?
3. Full NBS front seat swap using OBS outpost bolt in brackets, or similar

Option 1 would be nice but not a great console option, plus I've done some looking and these seats seem HARD to find, unless anyone can recommend a source?
Option 2 seems easy and fairly cost effective, wondering if anyone else besides @jus10inbrla has done this. don't love the idea of hacking up the armrests either, but this seems my least expensive way to get this done
Option 3 would be nice probably, but REALLY expensive....

Thoughts? Anyone else have other suggestions?
 

someotherguy

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Option 1, but shop from 96-up not 95-up as some of the 95 interior colors may vary slightly.

Option 4, regular straight bench from front of a regular cab or rear of another crew cab just like yours; the latter being the most likely cheapest way (per your request) as they will be the most plentiful and likely least worn.

A little attention to the seatbelt mounting will be necessary as your front seat area probably doesn't provide for middle belt mount but the receivers probably double up on one side (bolt hole already extant) and you may need to drill one; be damn sure you reinforce it very well so that it doesn't just rip out in case of a crash.

To clarify my point, you may or may not have noticed but the rear bench in your crew cab is literally a re-purposed front bench. Typically on 95-up they are the simple straight-across full bench, sometimes I've seen them with the fold-down center armrest similar to the fold-down console, just no console.

Richard
 
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someotherguy

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Welllll, to be technical that's a front seat. You can tell by the driver side wear. :) (and that it has a lid button for the console instead of just a fold-down armrest.) Your truck probably already has the bolt holes in place for all 4 on the passenger side but may not have the 2 for the inner bracket on the driver side. If you end up drilling those out be sure you reinforce the area. At minimum, a short stack of the largest flat washers you can fit in there would be good. Also be aware if that seat came from an extended cab you may need to slightly modify that inner bracket to fit the floor shape. No biggie..

The reason I suggested the crew cab rear seat is it's common to find them as a straight across bench with just the 4 mounting bolts; easiest install and easiest to find in the boneyard still in good shape. Nobody wants 'em, usually.. because theirs is already still in good shape.

Richard
 

94K3500PROJECT

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So whatever you pick will work…..
For me I need the jump seat. Reason being is I have a 5sp and when we are fully loaded with kids the front middle will be a car seat or booster and I’ll still need to get to the shifter

The early gmt400 bench is split the “right” way but a different design
 

Cadillac Bob

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I’d say you bought the wrong 400. You should’ve bought a suburban 400 vs pick then you’d not have to spend time money on just trying to get everyone a spot to sit. But for that seat $300 bit much since it has good wearing on the drivers side and if you went with a backseat for the front you’d probably save money and it may be almost like new in some cases! But to each they own it may get old riding 3 to a seat!
 

GoToGuy

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That's the seat you would find in an extended cab. The single seat moves farther forward for access to rear seat.
A crew cab would have solid front bench as an option, not an xtend cab seat.
 

stutaeng

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I've got the same setup as OP also in a 00 CCLB SRW K3500. Not a big fan of the center console setup.

That 60/40 seat is also on my to-do list.

I did a jump seat swap on my 06 Suburban (center console is much worse on those, with the built-in amp and subwoofer integrated all in...:rolleyes:) and really like it. Much more spacious cab and can use the extra seat for the little ones when we needed.

The full console on the GMT 800 make the trucks feel so much like a car. (Thumbs down!) Probably the same as the GMT 400 full console? I've never driven a full console 400.
 
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Reluctanse

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I’d say you bought the wrong 400. You should’ve bought a suburban 400 vs pick then you’d not have to spend time money on just trying to get everyone a spot to sit. But for that seat $300 bit much since it has good wearing on the drivers side and if you went with a backseat for the front you’d probably save money and it may be almost like new in some cases! But to each they own it may get old riding 3 to a seat!
Already have a suburban. GMT800 though. Suburban's don't have truck beds.

I think what I really want is some '07-14 seat with the jump seat console, but this should do this trick for now. At least it matches what's in the truck.
 

Reluctanse

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Welllll, to be technical that's a front seat. You can tell by the driver side wear. :) (and that it has a lid button for the console instead of just a fold-down armrest.) Your truck probably already has the bolt holes in place for all 4 on the passenger side but may not have the 2 for the inner bracket on the driver side. If you end up drilling those out be sure you reinforce the area. At minimum, a short stack of the largest flat washers you can fit in there would be good. Also be aware if that seat came from an extended cab you may need to slightly modify that inner bracket to fit the floor shape. No biggie..

The reason I suggested the crew cab rear seat is it's common to find them as a straight across bench with just the 4 mounting bolts; easiest install and easiest to find in the boneyard still in good shape. Nobody wants 'em, usually.. because theirs is already still in good shape.

Richard
As crappy as it is I will take advantage of the center console, at least I can put my Van Halen CD collection in there..!
 
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