From Newsgroup: rec.autos.tech

My F150 has a bug bucket seat in the cab, specs say its a 3 passenger
so I guess one person can be in the center, but I dont see a seat belt for
that position unless its buried under the seat somewhere?

I want to put a small child in the center, perhaps with a special seat their size
but no idea on where to get one or is there another solution?

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From Newsgroup: rec.autos.tech

On 4/20/2026 12:55 PM, UFO wrote:

My F150 has a bug bucket seat in the cab, specs say its a 3
passenger
so I guess one person can be in the center, but I dont see a
seat belt for
that position unless its buried under the seat somewhere?

I want to put a small child in the center, perhaps with a
special seat their size
but no idea on where to get one or is there another solution?

I don't know but these interior guys:

https://www.getnewseats.com/blogs/ford-f150-interior-upgrades/1997-2003-ford-f150-oem-interior-upgrade-guide

say:
"Ford never produced a center jumpseat for the 1997 - 2003
F150. Converting to a 60/40 Bench Seat is the only OEM
option for legally seating three in the front row. "
--
Andrew Muzi
am@yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971
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From Newsgroup: rec.autos.tech

Thanks, interesting.

I dug into the seat and found the seat belt strap for the center person
stowed away in the back and took it out.

So I guess there was the idea of a person in the center, but the belt looks smaller
sugguesting its for a child.

Specs on the truck say (3) passenger so in 1998 this must have been ok.

More research on the web says you can have people ride in the bed as long as its < 35mph
but hard to find something about whats the proper method for the front 3rd person. Maybe its
different state by state?


"AMuzi" <am@yellowjersey.org> wrote in message news:10s67h2$3vj50$3@dont-email.me...

On 4/20/2026 12:55 PM, UFO wrote:

My F150 has a bug bucket seat in the cab, specs say its a 3 passenger
so I guess one person can be in the center, but I dont see a seat belt
for
that position unless its buried under the seat somewhere?

I want to put a small child in the center, perhaps with a special seat
their size
but no idea on where to get one or is there another solution?

I don't know but these interior guys:

https://www.getnewseats.com/blogs/ford-f150-interior-upgrades/1997-2003-ford-f150-oem-interior-upgrade-guide

say:
"Ford never produced a center jumpseat for the 1997 - 2003 F150.
Converting to a 60/40 Bench Seat is the only OEM option for legally
seating three in the front row. "

--
Andrew Muzi
am@yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

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From Newsgroup: rec.autos.tech

UFO wrote:
My F150 has a bug bucket seat in the cab, specs say its a 3 passenger
so I guess one person can be in the center, but I dont see a seat belt for that position unless its buried under the seat somewhere?

I want to put a small child in the center, perhaps with a special seat their size
but no idea on where to get one or is there another solution?

I would not put a child there unless you find an actual factory seat belt for that center position.

The truck being listed as "3 passenger" usually means it was available with a bench or 40/20/40 type front seat where the middle position has its own belt. On an older truck, that center belt may be tucked down between the seat cushions, under the fold-down center section, or behind the seat. But if there is no belt there, then it is not a usable seating position, especially not for a child seat.

Do not try to rig something up with an aftermarket belt, cargo strap, or by attaching a child seat to the seat frame. A child seat has to be installed using a real vehicle belt or approved anchors in an approved seating position.

Also, "small child" matters. If the child is still in a harnessed car seat, some seats can be installed with only a lap belt, assuming the belt locks properly and the car seat manual allows it. But if you are talking about a booster seat, a lap belt alone is not enough. Boosters need a lap-and-shoulder belt. A lap-only belt across a child's stomach is dangerous.

Since this is a 1998 F-150, I would check the owner's manual and physically dig around the center seat area for the missing belt. If it really is gone, broken, or removed, I would go to a Ford dealer or a qualified seat-belt/child-seat tech and see if the OEM center belt can be replaced. I would not use that center spot until it has the proper belt.

One more big thing: if this is a regular cab truck with no rear seat, be very careful with the passenger airbag. Rear-facing child seats should not be placed in front of an active passenger airbag. If the truck has a passenger airbag shutoff switch, make sure you understand exactly how it works before putting a child seat up front.

So the answer is basically: find the factory center belt or have the correct OEM belt restored. If there is no proper belt, there is no safe center-seat solution. Do not improvise one.


This response appears in the discussion at: http://www.jlaforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=704103209#704103209
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