Build your own folding jump seats.
These folding seats would be suited to many different applications. Whether in the back of your Austin Gipsy, Land Rover, RV, Truck, Boat or what have you. They can be changed to have more depth and width. You just need to make the metal brackets proportionally longer and / or the plywood seats wider. I used 3/8″ marine grade plywood for my seats, if going wider I would recommend thicker plywood such as 1/2″. Something to note with this design is that the base needs to land on something that will support it. It wouldn’t be too difficult to add folding legs to this design if needed.







To make 1 hinged seat mechanism you will need 6′ of 1″ x 0.125″ thick mild steel flat bar to make the links as shown in the upper diagram and for the seat/back supports you will need 6′ of 1.250″ x 1.250″ x 0.125″ mild steel angle iron as shown in the lower diagram. Cut, shape and drill as shown, make 4 of each . For the plywood, 0.375″ marine grade measured at 15″ deep and 15.5″ wide for the seat and 10″ high by 15.5″ wide worked just right for my application.


Assemble the hinged brackets as shown in the photos. Assemble the hinge points using bolts and nylock nuts. Use 3 flat washers for each hinge, placing one under the bolt head, nut and one in between the flat bar link and the angle iron. You will be able to adjust the friction on these points which will make the seats stay in the stowed position. These are easy to adjust after installation as well.


For the plywood seat and backs cut the 3/8″ plywood 15″ x 15.250″ and 10″ x 15.5″, use .250″ threaded T nuts and set them along the edge of the plywood .5″ inboard, I placed mine 4″ in from the from each end of the plywood. T nuts work great and are available at hardware stores or online. Drill holes in the plywood and then hammer the T nuts into the plywood to lock in place. Leave a 3/16″ gap along the sides of the seat base and back to allow for vinyl and foam. Lay the plywood on the metal brackets and using a drill bit that fits inside the T nut hole mark the spots where you will drill the bolt holes.



Mounting will be different depending on your application, this is how I mounted them in my Gipsy. I used 5/16″ rivnut threaded inserts.


For the cushions I used 2″ medium density foam, I glued two layers together for the seat and used 2″ for the back rest. This gives a total thickness of 6.750″ (including the plywood) which fits nicely when the seat is in the folded position.



Lay the plywood on the back of your vinyl covering and layout as shown. Allow for the thickness of the foam plus 2″ for overlapping under the plywood. I don’t include the thickness of the plywood as when you fold and staple the vinyl you can compress the foam 3/8″ and that will help pull the vinyl tight. Leave 1/2″ for the corner seams as shown. Fold the corners, lining up the edges and sew along the seam line.



Once you have sewn the seams on the corners you can trim off the excess material along the seam. Next lay your foam and plywood into the vinyl cover, make sure the T nuts are situated with the flange inside otherwise they will pull out when you put in the fasteners. Make reference marks so you can find the mounting holes after folding and stapling the vinyl in place. I start by folding the front and back edges and stapling while kneeling on the wood to compress the foam a little. The I make a 45 degree fold on the sides and staple them. Then use a hole punch or razor to cut out the holes. Make a cover to finish the backs of the cushions and staple them as well.






You can now attach the seat cushions to the bracket assemblies using 1/4″ x 1/2″ fasteners.


Once assembled you can bolt the seats in place. I used a 1/4″ strip of rubber on the bottom of the seat bases to avoid metal to metal contact.


Now you have room for friends in the back of your Rig whatever it may be!
