Do Ford Transits Have Seats That Fold Flat? Can You Remove Them?

The Ford Transit is a great vehicle if you have lots of passengers to drive around or if you want lots of cargo space. There are several different Ford Transit vans available on the market today but in this article, we will be looking closely at their passenger vans.

With the 2022 Ford Transit Van having the capacity for a whopping 15 seats, there is plenty of room for all the family and their luggage too.

The 15-seat Ford Transit may have plenty of space for people, but what if you just need space for more cargo? In this article, we discuss whether the seats in a Ford Transit fold flat and if you can remove seats to create even more cargo space.

The seats in a Ford Transit van do not fold flat but Ford Transit vans are perfect for large families and recent models have space for up to 15 seats.

Your Transit van can be customized in terms of size and seating to meet your specific needs; whether you prioritize cargo space or room for passengers, you can create the perfect van for you.

However, to achieve more cargo space in a 15 seat Ford Transit, you will need to remove the seats as they do not fold down flat. If you want a Ford Transit van with foldable seats, you will need to purchase a Ford Transit Connect.

Do Ford Transit Seats Fold Down?

Folding down the seats in a vehicle is a quick way to create more space for cargo. Whether it is work equipment or several suitcases, you will always be able to fit more into a vehicle when the seats are folded down flat.

You may be wondering, can you fold the seats down in a Ford Transit passenger van? Unfortunately, the answer is no. If you have a standard transit van, no matter how many seats it has, you will not be able to fold them down.

However, do not despair, if you need more space in your Transit Van you can remove the seats to free up some room (more on this later).

The smaller Ford Transit – the Ford Transit connect – comes either hollowed out or with up to seven seats that can be folded down flat. This Transit is more car-like than the larger standard van and it is a quick and easy process to fold the seats flat.

How To Fold Seats Flat In Ford Transit Connect 

Freeing up space for extra cargo is possible in the Ford Transit Connect and you don’t have to remove a single seat! Unlike the larger standard version, this Transit Van uses several levers to enable the seats to be folded down completely flat.

The Transit Connect can be configured to fit up to seven passengers and it is possible to fold down the second and third rows of seating. If you want to fold the seats flat in your Ford Transit Connect, here is an easy-to-follow step-by-step guide:

• Step 1 – First, push down the head restraints on the seats in the second row. Just apply pressure to the top and push down until the head restraint is flush against the back of the seat.
• Step 2 – Locate the strap on the side of the seat, on the back (nearest the door).
• Step 3 – Pull on the strap and the seat should now fold down. When you see the red section of the strap, this means the latch is now fully disengaged and you do not need to pull it anymore to fold the seat.
• Step 4 – Now that the seat is folded flat, you will see two more straps on the back of the seat. One strap will be longer than the other. Pull the longer strap and push the folded seat forward, it will now fold down further and create even more space.
• Step 5 – Once you have folded all of the second-row seats down, you can move on to the seats in the rear. To fold down the third-row seats, locate the strap in the seat bite (the gap between the base cushion and back of the seat).
• Step 6 – Pull the strap to flip the seat so the bottom is facing up.
• Step 7 – Locate a small red strap, found on the side of the seat. Pull it and the seat can now be folded forward.
• Step 8 – To fold the second-row seats down from the third row, pull on the shorter strap found on the back of the second-row seats. The seat will now fold forward.
• Step 9 – Finally, pull on the longer strap to unlock the seat. You will now be able to push it all the way down to create a flatter surface and create more space.
• Step 10 – To make storing cargo even easier, you can pull out the floor support panels and rest them over the top of the folded-down seats.

Do you prefer a visual guide? Watch these videos for easy-to-follow tutorials on how to fold down the seats in a Ford Transit Connect.

Are Ford Transit Seats Removable?

If you have a standard Ford Transit van you can create more space for cargo by removing the seats. This may seem like a lot more work than just folding the seats down but the process is easier than you may think.

The Ford Transit van can have up to five rows of seating, removing the rear seats can create lots of extra space. If you think you will be switching between several passengers and vast amounts of cargo fairly regularly, the Ford Transit is a van that can offer you the best of both worlds.

The seats in a Ford Transit are removable and once you have done it once, the process is fairly straightforward. If you have never removed the seats from a Ford Transit before, keep on reading because we have an easy-to-follow step-by-step guide for you.

How To Remove Seats In Ford Transit Van – Step-By-Step Guide

The Ford Transit Van can fit up to 15 seats and you will need to start in the back of the vehicle and work your way forward to remove the seats successfully.

Before you begin, to make the process less complicated, give each seat a number. For example, the driver’s seat is 1, the front passenger seat is 2. Working from left to right – when stood at the rear – continue to give each seat a number.

This is a list of seat numbers:

Front – Driver seat 1 / passenger seat 2

Second row – seat 3 / 4 / 5 

Third row – seat 6 / 7 / 8

Fourth row – seat 9 / 10 / 11

Back row – seat 12 / 13 / 14 / 15

Now that you have allocated each seat a number, carefully follow this step-by-step guide to remove as many seats as you would like from your Ford Transit van.

• Step 1 – Starting in the very back row with the doors wide open, you will firstly need to remove seats 13 and 14, these are the two middle seats. There is a rectangular handle attached to the quick-release straps at the bottom of seats 13 and 14. Pull the handles up and out, they should now be pointing towards you at a 40-degree angle.
• Step 2 – When you pull the handles out, the silver and red quick-release levers at the bottom of the seat will unlatch.
• Step 3 – Next, you need to press your shoulder against the top section on the back of the seat. Keep pushing forward until the base of both the seats comes out of their mounting slots. The two seats are joined together and will move together, you will now have tipped both seats forward.
• Step 4 – Hold both sides of seats 13 and 14 and pull back until you hear the latches at the front also disengage.
• Step 5 – The two seats are now unattached and you can carefully lift them up and out of the back of the van doors. The seats are not light and we advise you to ask someone to help you to remove them from the van.
• Step 6 – Now that seats 13 and 14 are removed, you can move on to the next row of seats. You will need to remove seats 12 and 15 later, these seats are individually mounted.
• Step 7 – Next, remove seats 9 and 10 from the fourth row and 6 and 7 from the third row. Using the quick release levers at the back of the base of seats 9 and 10, you can remove them using the same steps you used to remove seats 13 and 14.
• Step 8 –  Using a coathanger can make the process easier. Hook the coathanger into the hole of the quick-release lever and use it to help you pull the seat up and out.  Repeat this same process for seats 6 and 7.
• Step 9 – Now move on to the second row. It is important to be aware that seats 3, 4, and 5 are all connected. You will need to use the same method to remove these seats as you have been using so far. Each seat has the quick release levers but they will need to be pulled at the same time, you will likely need to find someone to help you with this.
• Step 10 – Once seats 3, 4, and 5 are removed from their mount, the best way to get them out of the van is by sliding them out of the side door. Using the door at the side of the van will be easier than attempting to get the seats out of the backdoor.
• Step 11 – If you want to remove all of the seats in your van, you will need to remove the four free-standing seats using a ratchet. Seats 12, 15,11, and 8 are all individually bolted to the floor of the van and are a little more difficult to remove.
• Step 12 – Use a T-55 Torx-bit socket, to remove the bolts attaching the seats to the van. There is a bolt mounted on the wall, one at the top of the shoulder harness assembly and another mounted at the base of the seat. Once the bolts are removed, you can lift seats 12 and 15 out of the van.
• Step 13 – Now you can remove seat 11 by removing the bolt at the base of the seat and the one mounted on the wall (just above the wheel well). Some of the bolts have plastic covers that will need to be removed before you can successfully remove the bolt.
• Step 14 – Seat 8 has two bolts, one on each leg of the seat base. You will need to remove the small plastic panels to locate the bolts. To do this, squeeze the side tabs of each panel and you will then be able to swing the panel up to reveal the bolts below.
• Step 15 – Once you have removed the bolts from the seats, all you need to do is push the top of the seat forward with your shoulder, pulling the base of the seatback until the front latches disengage. You will now be able to lift the seats out and remove them from the van.

By following all these steps, you can successfully remove all the seats from a 15 seat passenger transit van. If you are feeling a little confused after reading this guide, don’t worry, here is a video tutorial showing you exactly what to do.

FAQs

Can you take the back seats out of a Ford Transit Connect?

Yes, as well as being able to fold the seats down in a Ford Transit Connect, you can also take the seats out. The procedure to remove the seats from a Transit Connect is fairly simple. You will need to find the bolts that attach the seats to the floor of the van.

Using a ratchet, remove the bolts and then carefully lift the seats out of the van. It is advisable to remove the seats via the rear doors, rather than the side door.

Do Ford Transit passenger seats recline?

If the passenger seats are joined together in a ‘bench’ they will not recline. However, certain Ford Transit models do have passenger seats that recline a small amount. Higher spec vans released in recent years offer better options when it comes to reclining the seats and creating a more comfortable environment.

Can you remove seats from the Ford Transit passenger van?

Yes, you can remove the seats from a Ford Transit passenger van. Transit vans can have up to 15 seats and you can remove all of the seats in the second, third, fourth, and fifth rows.

You will need to use the quick-release levers and a bit of physical strength to disengage the seat latch and remove the seats from their mounts. The seats will need to be removed starting at the back of the van and working forwards.

Certain seats are individually bolted to the floor of the van and tools will be required to move these seats successfully.

Do Transit Connect seats fold flat?

The seats in a Ford Transit connect fold flat. You will need to use the levers on the seats to fold them forward and then the long lever on the back of the seat will help you to push it down completely flat.

There are also floor panels in the Connect that can be used to create an even surface for storing cargo after you have folded the seats down flat.

How do you fold a transit seat?

The seats do not fold flat in a Ford Transit van. However, you can remove the seats if you want to create more space for cargo. The smaller transit van, the Connect, has seats that are both removable and will fold down flat.

Conclusion 

The Ford Transit passenger van is a versatile vehicle, suitable for larger families and professionals alike. Whether you are in charge of the school carpool or need to transport vast amounts of cargo around for work, there is plenty of space in a Ford Transit.

The largest Ford Transit can fit up to 15 seats inside! It may seem like an inconvenience that these seats can not be folded down, but they can be removed if you need more space.

Removing the seats from a Ford Transit van can be a little time-consuming, but the process is easy once you get the hang of it. To remove the seats from a Ford Transit van you will need to start at the back row and remember that certain seats are joined together and will need to be removed at the same time.

You don’t need tools to remove the joined-up seats, but a ratchet and sockets will be needed to remove the seats that are individually bolted to the floor.

If you are going to be switching between cargo and passenger regularly, the Ford Transit Connect might be your best option. You can not fit as many passengers into the Connect but the seats can quickly and easily be folded down.

The seats can be folded completely flat in a Ford Transit Connect and the seats can also be removed if you want to create even more cargo space. Whatever your needs, you can customize your Transit Van to fit in as many people or as much cargo as you wish.