Recline Flat Front Seat Modification

[Llia]

I know this thread is quite old, and this is my first post, but I came across this thread when searching for the best way to camp in the car. There are two stops to keep the seat from reclining flat (one near each seat back hinge). They are really thin right angle metal pieces that simply block the path of the hinge. It is all too easy to hammer them in until they fold over, then drill them with a 3/8" drill bit to break them off. I did all this yesterday in under a half-hour, and I removed the seat from the car to facilitate getting to the inboard hinge. Alternatively if you have a metal file you could file them down. Unfortunately the seat doesn't move forward quite enough to fold COMPLETELY flat unless you remove the rear seat cushion.

I also found that the most comfortable way to camp in the car was by moving the seat full forward, reclining full back, and lowering the height to full down. Then remove the headrest from the rear seat and the seat I'm going to lay in. Finally, lower the rear seat back down until it is resting on the front seat back. At this point, if you lay down with your feet towards the hatch and your back on the front seat bottom cushion, you will find a semi-comfy position to fall asleep in. If you are in the driver seat, the steering wheel will be close to your head, so better hope you don't jerk awake This method allows you to keep everything in the cargo area too!

Oddly enough they have an image of the Sonic interior with the front passenger seat folded all the way forward flat and they put in a long item that spans from the hatch to the dash.

Upon further research it turns out they photoshopped the interior of the Chevy Trax into the the Sonic. I hope the Chevy Trax seats can fold forward. If so maybe I can swap seats? Plug and play?
.
Image Here

.
.
.
.
.

 

[carsNskis]

The trax does indeed fold flat

[emoji593][emoji809][emoji472]

 

[ryan.a.o]

Chevy Trax Seat Plug and Play

Oddly enough they have an image of the Sonic interior with the front passenger seat folded all the way forward flat and they put in a long item that spans from the hatch to the dash.

Upon further research it turns out they photoshopped the interior of the Chevy Trax into the the Sonic. I hope the Chevy Trax seats can fold forward. If so maybe I can swap seats? Plug and play?
.
Image Here

.
.
.
.
.

So it appears based on this image from a parts diagram that the seat base has the same attachment method as the Sonic's front seat. It could quite possibly be plug and play. However, I have no idea if the seat power cable is compatible. Maybe if any Chevy Trax owners could chime in on this we will have more insight. Otherwise I'll swing by a dealer and take a look at a Trax if I can remember to haha.

 

[Natesriv]

I'd get non power, and I can't imagine that the airbags would be of any difference...

 

[Llia]

I found some but they are a cloth/leatherette mix.

 

[ryan.a.o]

I'd get non power, and I can't imagine that the airbags would be of any difference...

Who needs side airbags

 

[TurtleOverlord]

I saw someone that swapped sonic seats into a spark,

I think they said all the seats are the same at the front of the mounting but different at the back.

 

[Llia]

Who needs side airbags

It has airbags. But no power to the power seats that come in some trax

 

[Marcia]

Llia or anyone, What if the front seats were bench. and then they could lay back to flat for a bed. AND ALSO lift the seat to be a reverse-facing bench? Llia when you banged out the catch places, how were you able to adjust the back when you wanted? Or were those like the last catches but there are other catches?

And is there a way to move the steering wheel. (Quick- Release not good option)

 

[riversail]

Hey,
I know this may be a little odd, but I am hoping to do a road trip circling North America in my Sonic. I will be camping, and sometimes sleeping in the car. My question is has anyone ever tried to modify the front seats so they lie flat. I will be removing the rear seats so they won't be in the way of the front seats. I know cars like the Honda Fit can do this, but would it be possible to make the Sonic's front seats lie flat. I have thought about modifying the stops on the recliner, but haven't had a close look to see exactly how it all works. If I could make them lie flat it would be the perfect little bed. Any thoughts are welcome!

Thank you,
Robert

I'm 6 ft when I visited my kids I put the front passenger seat all the way forward. And slept with my head to the back. It wasn't really bad but I would have been better with the hatch open like a foot. Have a few ideas for it. And unless you like bed bugs stay away from cheap hotels. He'll ive found them in expensive ones to. Hope your trip was or is a blast.