What You Need to Know About Three-Row Jeep Wrangler Kits
It's possible to retro-fit your off-roader with a couple of extra seats.
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With four-wheel drive, available lockers, and meaty tires, the Jeep Wrangler can get you pretty much anywhere you want to go. However, the most it can seat is five. While Jeep built a three-row Wrangler concept for the 2021 SEMA Show, we don't know if such a model will become a production reality anytime soon. If you're in need of a seven-seat off-roader, the market offers a few options (more on that later), or you could install an aftermarket third row into the cargo hold of a four-door Wrangler. Here's what you need to know.
Jeep Wrangler Seating Kits
There are two ways to add a third row to your Wrangler: custom extension/fabrication or a ready-made kit. The former requires a fair bit of know-how, time, and money, whereas the latter allows you to fit two additional seats to a previous-generation Wrangler JK Unlimited with relative ease. The kit itself—which consists of two metal brackets and some nuts and bolts—should set you back about $200 to $300 before you add the cost of the seat, which can face forward or rearward.
Downsides to Adding a Third Row To Your Jeep Wrangler
To fit the new seat brackets in the cargo hold, you'll have to cut some of the Wrangler's carpeting and remove the factory subwoofer. You'll also want to give some thought to passenger safety, knowing that these brackets (and the attached seats) haven't been tested for crashworthiness. At the very least, you'll want to install a roll bar above the tail to provide some overhead protection, which will add several hundred dollars to the bill.
Keep in mind that what you gain in people-hauling ability, you lose in cargo capacity. The 2017 Wrangler Unlimited has 32 cu.-ft. of space behind the second row, and the added seats will take up all that real estate. So pack lightly, y'all. Moreover, while an adult could fit in the new third row, the area doesn't offer much legroom and is best left for kids.
Alternative Three-Row Vehicles
If you've yet to buy your Wrangler and want a three-row off-roader, you may wish to check out some terrain-capable vehicles with factory-provided three-row seating. Jeep's Grand Cherokee L, Wagoneer, and Grand Wagoneer have decent off-road capability, though they cost a fair bit more than the Wrangler and favor luxury over ruggedness. If you don't mind shopping at other showrooms, the Toyota 4Runner offers a third row for a reasonable price, and the Kia Telluride has a promising new X-Pro trim level that boasts an elevated ride height, all-terrain tires, and improved approach and departure angles.
