How to Install a Seat Belt in a Ford Jump Seat

Earlier model Ford pickups can easily be adapted to use a jump seat seat belt.

Jump seats in extended cab pickup trucks, as opposed to the bench seats supplied with crew cab trucks, allow one additional person to sit behind either the driver or passenger. While this is convenient, it does not protect the passenger in the event of a rollover or side impact crash. While many new trucks are addressing this concern, early Ford extended cab trucks fitted with a jump seat are not so equipped. Installing an aftermarket lap seat belt with a kit is a great way to protect your jump seat passengers in the event of an accident.

Things You'll Need

• Electric drill and drill bits
• Philips screwdriver
• 3/8 drive socket set and ratchet
• Automotive seam sealer
• Hammer
• Nail, scratch awl, or nail set tool
• Self-etching primer

Instructions

Remove Trim Panels Behind the Jump Seat

1. Slide the passenger front seat all the way to its forward position, and tilt it forward out of the way.

2. Remove all fasteners holding the trim in place to the back of the passenger door, then gently pull the trim free and lay it aside in a safe place. Remove the lower trim surrounding the jump seat to access the carpet edges.

3. Peel back the carpet underneath the jump seat to expose the reinforced beams in the floor of the cab.

Drill the Mounting Holes

1. Choose a spot in the center of both reinforced beams on the floor to the left and right of the jump seat, Approximately 2 inches inboard from the seam weld which connects the floor of the truck to the side inner panel. Use a hammer and a nail or a nail set tool to create a small dimple in the steel to prevent the drill bit from walking.

2. Drill through the steel using a drill bit which is the same size as the mounting bolts included with the seat belt kit. This holes will pass through the bottom of the truck.

3. Spray the holes from the bottom and top with self-etching primer and allow to dry.

Install the Seat Belt

1. Coat the bottom of the head of each bolt with automotive seam sealer and install into the hole through the bottom of the truck. The seam sealer will allow the bolt to stick to the undercarriage until you put the seat belt and nut in place.

2. Install the seat belt, then use the nuts supplied with the seat belt kit to tighten down the installation.

3. Cut a slit in the carpet to allow access for the new seat belt, lay the carpet back into place, then replace all the interior trim.

Tips & Warnings

• Use automotive seam sealer not only to make installation more efficient, but also to avoid water leaks and rust in the holes drilled into the floorboard of the truck.

References

• Wesco Performance: 2 Point Retractable Seatbelt Instructions