2003 Highlander 3rd Row Help?

"csanders61" <csanders61.2p3iiy@no-mx.forums.yourdomain.com.au> wrote in
message news:csanders61.2p3iiy@no-mx.forums.yourdomain.com.au...
>
> Has anyone installed a 3rd row seat from an 04-07 Highlander in an 03
> Highlander? If so, can you please advise me on the difficulty and where
> you found the 3rd row seat at?
>
> 04 Highlanders were the 1st year with a 3rd row seat. We currently have
> an 03 and need a 3rd row seat (family growing), but are 10K upside down
> and cannot afford to trade. The 03 and 04 seem virtually the same. I am
> thinking I can lift the carpet in the rear, drop the gas tank and drill
> holes for a 3rd row seat and safety belts. from what I have found, it
> seems like $400-500 investment well worth saving my Highlander. Does
> anyone think this is a bad idea?
>
> Please let me know your thoughts? Thanks alot.
>
> Chris Sanders
> 2LT, US Army
>
>
> --
> csanders61

My guess is that it is not possible to install a 3rd row seat in your
Highlander. The seat bottom seat back, seat belt anchor points, and child
seat tether anchor points all need to be reinforced for crash-worthiness so
drilling holes may not be strong enough. The other problem is that the
parts probably do not come as an assembly, so you have to purchase the seat
frame, hinges, covers, latches, etc. separately so the cost can be upwards
of $1,000 if purchased piece-by-piece from a dealer. Do you have more than
3 children?

2003 and 2004 Highlanders are retailing in the $16,000 to $19,000 price
range in the Chicago area.
--

Ray O

On Sun, 15 Apr 2007 14:59:29 -0400, csanders61 wrote:

>
> Has anyone installed a 3rd row seat from an 04-07 Highlander in an 03
> Highlander? If so, can you please advise me on the difficulty and where
> you found the 3rd row seat at?
>
> 04 Highlanders were the 1st year with a 3rd row seat. We currently have an
> 03 and need a 3rd row seat (family growing), but are 10K upside down and
> cannot afford to trade. The 03 and 04 seem virtually the same. I am
> thinking I can lift the carpet in the rear, drop the gas tank and drill
> holes for a 3rd row seat and safety belts. from what I have found, it
> seems like $400-500 investment well worth saving my Highlander. Does
> anyone think this is a bad idea?
>
> Please let me know your thoughts? Thanks alot.
>
> Chris Sanders
> 2LT, US Army

Well, Chris, My thought is that there may already be the pieces in place
needed to make the conversion. You'll have to rip out the carpet and get a
good look at the structure of the van.

Toyota used to make ONE body for the different variations. For example, I
have an '85 Corolla GTE. It needed some bits, so I bought one from a
junkyard for $200 and stripped it. In the process, I notice the Corolla I
bought (an SR5) didn't have some of the pieces my GTS did, but the
mounting points were there. It also had a factory sunroof, and to install
it all I have to do is cut a hole and bolt it in. The wiring point is in
my GTS, just not used. Other things like bracing, etc in my GTS weren't in
the SR5, but the points were all there.

They may have changed. I noticed my 1995 Tercel, and Automatic, did not
have the hole in the firewall for the clutch mounting like all the other
Autos I have had did.

If you can find one with 3rd row seating, get a good look, take pics if
you can, and compare it to yours.

Good luck!