Handling with 2nd & 3rd row removed?

[dlarkin_dc]

Has anyone pulled both rows and can give me an idea of what handling is like?

Ihave a trip with a large load coming up and I could use the extra space. I've often pulled one or both middle seats and could feel the marginal difference in weight, but also taking out the rears would feel moreso and possibly even affect handling negatively when returning empty.

Anyone?

 

[njaremka]

Need more space than just lowering all the seats flat? I can't imagine the handling with the seats out will be dangerous, might just feel a little light in the back. I would be more worried about handling with the back loaded with that much cargo...

 

[hleboklop]

Has anyone pulled both rows and can give me an idea of what handling is like?

Ihave a trip with a large load coming up and I could use the extra space. I've often pulled one or both middle seats and could feel the marginal difference in weight, but also taking out the rears would feel moreso and possibly even affect handling negatively when returning empty.

Anyone?

I removed 3rd row for good last summer, and this summer I did a long road trip without 2nd row and the plastic tools storage box in the back.
I did some test drives beforehand with exactly the same concern on my mind.
Can't say anything changed in handling as in cornering or stability, without only 3rd row or both 3rd and 2nd rows. Acceleration improved a little bit.

For the record: 3rd row weight is ~25kg (I measured).

 

[dlarkin_dc]

I removed 3rd row for good last summer, and this summer I did a long road trip without 2nd row and the plastic tools storage box in the back.
I did some test drives beforehand with exactly the same concern on my mind.
Can't say anything changed in handling as in cornering or stability, without only 3rd row or both 3rd and 2nd rows. Acceleration improved a little bit.

For the record: 3rd row weight is ~25kg (I measured).

Thanks! Great to hear its doable. What's a surpise is the weight - it only weighs as much as one of the middle row seats!

 

[dlarkin_dc]

Need more space than just lowering all the seats flat? I can't imagine the handling with the seats out will be dangerous, might just feel a little light in the back. I would be more worried about handling with the back loaded with that much cargo...

That's my top issue with this trip, the 1183 lb capacity limit. I've got a spreadsheet with the weight of each box, the two passengers, minus removed car seats. I'll make sure the center of gravity stays low and centered.

I'm hoping to avoid renting a full size suv for the trip, which'd be well over $500. Yeah, a full size suv is what I'd needed for more space and weight than the 5.

 

[pazuso]

I did before. Removed 2nd and 3rd. Drove empty from South Florida to Quebec. Packed it full of my belongings, but made sure weight was even left right, and more towards the middle/front.

My old rear shocks failed on the way back, somewhere upstate NY. Rear was bottoming out and car handling very sketchy. When I got back to FL, my rear tires were completely bald on the inner portion.

Make sure your rear shocks are still strong before loading the car; for perspective brand new non-oem ones on amazon are like $40 for the pair. They are very small like on regular compact cars