I am getting closer to finishing the repairs on my 1998 (probably a few months out), and I’m starting to consider future use, I would like to go on a family road trip cross country next summer if I can, and was considering using the Blazer for it, the problem is that it would be 5 people, and 5 people in a stock Blazer would be a challenge, the back seat has buckles for 3 people but there is no way a third person would actually fit in that middle spot, and if they did the people in the back would be crammed in like sardines. I’d considered just putting a mattress from a cot or something in the back and just having someone take a nap back there (luggage would be in a car top carrier), but that isn’t exactly safe. The other option is to take another car, but that isn’t ideal either.

I did see recently that some early models of the Escalade had rear facing seats in the back, or at least I saw one that did, and an Escalade is basically just a rebadged Blazer, would it be possible to get the read seats out of an Escalade and make them fit? How about the rears from a Tahoe? How would I mount them? Maybe use the cargo tie downs? Is this even possible? Anyone ever do it?

 

The Escalade is not based on the Blazer, rather the Tahoe/Suburban depending on wheelbase. Those trucks had removable 3rd row seating, but had mounting points designed into the cargo floor along with appropriate structural design to keep those seats in place with occupants in the event of a crash given that the seatbelts were part of the seat.

There are kits on eBay that look like they might allow you to do a bolt in installation on whatever vehicle you would want. I wonder if these kits are strong enough, but you are assuming the liability on this modification, not the unknown company producing the parts.

 

So a third row seat was actually an option on 2nd gens..... to residents of Europe.

Saw one, a 96, guy imported... think he was stationed in the military across the pond.

3rd row seat was only for kids, pretty much... think it had a 60 lbs limit.

I've also thought about doing this, as there are a TON of stow and go seats that are similar in size to the blazer's hatch.

 

My bad, it was a 95.

Here's a pic, since I couldn't find anything on Google.

 

Other than putting a kid back there I would think head and leg room would be a problem as cargo floor sits around a foot higher than the floor for the seats

 

That's awesome lol

 

I had a 95 Tahoe and it had an aftermarket third seat but it faced backwards like an old station wagon. It was great for kids but any adult would have to cross their legs. I still have the seat but no mounting hardware.