does the 3rd row bench seat fold into a bed if so how ?

 

It depends on if your Aerostar has the bed option. All 1988-1996 Eddie Bauer models had this option. All 1997 models came with the "Fold to Bed" seats as standard equipment. If you're looking for a bed set up while traveling, I made a unit for my 92 Aerostar that worked out great. Email me if you want indepth description on what I did.

 

I'm thinking about rigging a bed setup in my 96 Aeroatar. How did you do it?

 

Since there was only 4 of us in our family, I made a platform for the rear of the van. Now mind you, we had the extended version so there was a little more room in the rear.

I took the middle Captain seats out and moved the rear bench seat to the middle position. This gives to seating for 5 peaople to incluse seat belts for all 5 passengers.

I can't remember the lengths, I hope this all makes sense, but I did the following.

I got two 6 ft. 2x12's and one sheat of 3/4" plywood that was finished sanded on one side (This side up). I measures the length between the middle bench seat and the inside of the rear door. This is the length that I cut the plywood down to. Place the 2x12's along side each wheel well and place the plywood on top. Make the 2x12's flush with the plywood on the seat side. Then mark the 2x12's to cut if needed to access the jack and storage compartments. Then I glued and screwed the plywood to the 2x12's. I put 1 2x4 cross support in the front of the platform towards the seat end.

Routered the edges and put my favorite stain and finish on the platform. We then would put a full size air matress on the platform for sleeping. Our luggage and other stuff would fit under the platform all out of sight.

This worked great for us for years of traveling. I actually sold my platform about 5 years ago.

Oh yeah, for storage of the platform, I drilled 4 holes in the 2x12's (1 on each end) and would hang it upside down from my garage rafters by sliding 2 long steel rods thru the holes.

If you need additional info, let me know.

 

Hi, From what you said about moving the rear bench forward. The bench seat on the Eddie bauer should fit on my short sport edition behind the front seat. I can then easily convert the rear space to make a bed level with the front?
What you say? I phoned the dealer. They don't seem to be able to tell me if the eddie bauer benches are interchangeable.

Thank you,

don

 

All Aerostar middle and rear seats are inter-changeable. The floor mounted seat locks are all in the same position.