For Jeep Wrangler enthusiasts, the call of the open road—or trail—is always present. When I picked up my Jeep TJ, the spirit of adventure was definitely there, but seating capacity was limited. It came with a rear seat, but the necessary brackets were missing, leaving it stranded in my garage. While some Jeep purists opt for extra cargo space by removing the rear seat, I missed the ability to share the Jeep experience with more than one passenger. So, installing those 2000 Jeep Wrangler Seats became a priority.
I had already sourced new brackets and screws, anticipating this project. However, a significant hurdle presented itself: Monstaliner. The previous owner had coated the Jeep’s tub with this thick, protective paint to combat rust. Unfortunately, this coating extended over the screw and bolt holes crucial for mounting the seat brackets. Before any installation could begin, this tough layer of Monstaliner had to be removed.
A friend with more specialized tools lent a hand, and we tackled the Monstaliner issue. For the side bracket screws, we carefully applied heat using a blow torch. This softened the Monstaliner just enough to allow us to use a small pick and clear the material from the Torx screw heads. This ensured a solid connection for the socket, and thankfully, those screws came out without issue. However, the floor holes presented a different challenge, as paint had dripped into them, further obstructing the mounting points.
Initially, we tried the torch and screw method on the floor holes, hoping to clear the blockage. This proved ineffective; the screws simply jammed. Ultimately, a tapping set became our solution. By re-grooving the holes, we were able to effectively remove the Monstaliner and properly seat the screws into the tub floor.
Rear seats installed in a 2000 Jeep Wrangler TJ, showing the completion of the seat installation process.
With the mounting points prepped, installing the brackets and then dropping the 2000 Jeep Wrangler seats into place was straightforward. The seat fit perfectly, just as it should. However, I then realized a small but essential part was missing: a C-clip (or similar fastener) for the front bar. This clip prevents the seat from sliding sideways when it’s folded up. Locating this missing clip is now on the to-do list before the rear seats are fully functional and safe for passengers.
The next step in this 2000 Jeep Wrangler seat upgrade is sourcing and installing a seat belt set. eBay is likely the destination for this part. Once the seat belts are in place, the Jeep will finally be more than a two-seater! I’m looking forward to taking the family out for drives, and maybe even some light off-roading, with the newly installed rear seats ready for adventure.
