Ski hatch?

solved the problem myself.

Cut the fabric behind the arm-rest up behind the back of the seat. Also cut two slots in the lining on the seat back in the boot. I then used self adhesive velcro on the metal seat back and stitched to the fabric and liner to ensure it could be tucked back into place. It works fine. Just need to find some thin rubber or plastic piping that I can run around the edge of the metal so it doesn't scratch the skis and it's sorted. Maybe not as elegant as a plastic hatch that can just be popped open, but good enough for occasional use.

feef said:

I've had the car a few days now and have been poking about it. I've found that there's already a hole cut in the steel seat back, behind the fabric panel where the arm-rest is folded down. It appears about the same shape and size for a ski-hatch. Is it possible to get the hatch itself to retrofit?

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I'm wondering the same thing

feef said:

Just need to find some thin rubber or plastic piping that I can run around the edge of the metal so it doesn't scratch the skis and it's sorted.

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Pop down to your local electrical wholesalers and buy some black profile strip. It's used in the trade to dress the edges of cut out in galvanised trunking or gland plates in commercial distribution boards. We buy it in big rolls but they may have smaller packs of it or might cut you off a piece if you ask them nicely. Reminds me, must get some at work to cover the bloody sharp metal edge that keeps cutting me in my boot!!
See here http://www.hellermanntyton.co.uk/productdetail?PRODUCTID=800-00004 for an example of what is available.

Regards,
Dave

your lucky,i wish i had a arm rest letalone a ski hatch. never noticed untill i had the car a week that it didnt have one.

Feef, I'll PM you too about this as I'm very interested to see what you did. I too have a gap in the seatback and would like to be able to put longer items in the car.

My first 2.5se didn't have folding seats, otherhalfs previous 2.1 did so never though about it untill trying to put kayak paddles in boot, have a estate now which is great.

robbie1003 said:

My first 2.5se didn't have folding seats, otherhalfs previous 2.1 did so never though about it untill trying to put kayak paddles in boot, have a estate now which is great.

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Lol, it's not something I'd considered either, until I realised I have skis, a snowboard and a mountain bike. Just got the car though so I'm not switching to an estate

I just used a Stanley knife and cut a slot in the arm rest liner , and cut a slot in the boot carpet back panel ( no metal to cut through ). I do a lot of sea fishing in the winter and when I got the jag home I realised the back seats didn't fold - nightmare ....

Small hatch in the middle of the back seat you open and put ski through so they are inside the car instead of on top increasing drag.