Conversion Van Mechanical Rear Seat How Do You Fold It ?

[Bob1942]

I bought a 1993 Chevy G-20 conversion van a Tiara conversion actually ... It was advertised as having a fold down rear seat that makes into a bed ... I wanted that feature for traveling and camping ...The van has what appears to be a MECHANICAl folding seat there is no electric motor under it and NO switch ... I was sure the folding instructions would be in the van manual ... Well there is a manual but it is the CHEVY VAN CHASSIS manual and there is nothing in it about the seat I guess there should be a Tiara conversion van manual there too but it is missing ... I have been unable to contact the guy who sold me the van I don't think he knows anything about the seat anyway ... Can someone tell me HOW this mechanical folding rear seat works ! I can't get it to do anything ...I looked for a lever to flip or push then I pushed and pulled on the seat back nothing seems to move ! Did they make rear seats that DO NOT FOLD ! my wife says "I bet that seat does not fold at all " I can see on the brackets on the sides of the seat where paint has worn off it looks like from FOLDING but it won't budge no matter what I do ... I called Tiara conversions they are OUT OF BUSINESS ! I sure would appreciate some help ...THANK YOU GUYS Baffled Bob in Michigan

[SgtRauksauff]

hmm.. our '92 G30 has a folding seat/bed in the back, there's a lever on the passenger side, under the bench part but in front of the rear bed part. It looks kind of like a clutch pedal. Push it all the way down/in, then pull the bed part towards the back.


good luck, hopefully it's the same style.

--sarge

[Hollowcreek]

Some of those had no catch or lever. You just lifted the seat up and at a point the back would release.

[Junkerman]

Greetings:
Please see my reply to an earlier post about removing seats.
In my G20, (1989) you have to sort of lift on the front lip of the seat, from the underside, of course, and at the same time, sort of pull as you lift, AND, push on the top of the seat back. This sounds much harder written down than it is to actually do. Once you SEE it, it's really pretty easy. The trick is to coordinate all those movments at the same time, in the right sequence.
Remember: "Lift/pull from the underside of the front of the seat, where your legs would hang over, and, while lifting/pulling," use other hand to push back and down on the seatback. (The part that would be nearest your head when sitting upright)
That's how mine works. You are probably right, about the paint rubbing off, meaning it has moved in the past at some point. It could also be needing a bit of WD-40 or some such, if it has been in one position for a long time. (I like to use a silicone spray, it won't harm the fabric nearly so bad as a petroleum based lube can)
If you see a lot of flat brackets that don't seem to be directly related to holding the bench seat in place, then you probably DO have a folding one. (In fact, the parts that actually hold the seat in place to the floor are tubular, not flat stock at all) The folding ones have a lot of 'extra' hardware that isn't really needed by a non-folding version. That's the tip off as to what kind you have.
Oh, lest I forget, once you have gotten the seat to BEGIN to fold... The best technique I have found for getting it to go the rest of the way down is the old fashioned "knee and lean". This is where you will use your knee on the seat portion, to both hold it down and also sort of push it back behind you, (Using friction from your jeans) [As you face the seat back] and at the same time, lean into the seat back to make it go the rest of the way down.
Like I said, it's harder to describe in writing than it is to actually do! By the way, I store a lot of stuff under the seat... It's my "trunk"... Might want to make sure to get that stuff out of the way first!
Good luck, I hope this helps.
Junkerman

[Bob1942]

I GOT IT YOU JUST PUSH IT IN FROM THE FRONT AND SLIDE IT DOWN ! THANK YOU EVERYONE ! BOB