Call me crazy but has anyone considered doing this?

I'd like to get rid of the center console and go to a column shift. To me the center console and storage is a big waste of space. I just dump receipts and other garbage in there. I've seen a DC in this forum with column shift with no console sort of like what you'd find in a regular cab truck. I wanted to take it on a trip and take my electric cooler but I would have needed to put it on the rear seat or stuff it behind the passenger seat in the foot well in the back. It would have made it very cramped for my rear seat passenger. I didn't want to store the cooler in the bed since it would have been nearly impossible to reach while driving. The cooler would have fit nicely between the front seats where the console takes up so much needless space.

 

Changing to the column shift would be a PITA, I think. I don't know if it would work in a DC, but I know some CM owners have removed the small rear seat for a domestic or other gear. Have you considered doing that?

 

Your wish is my command: you’re crazy.

You are also welcome!

 

Nope, I need the rear seats for my daughter that usually comes with us on trips.

 

The whole seat? Or do DC rear seats not split?

 

Yeah they do split but I rather keep both seats. I need the seats more than the console.

 

I hear you. I am biased as I hate column shifts, but I also wouldn't want to tackle rerouting everything. I know somebody was trying to do this before. If I come across the thread I'll link it.

 

I'm actually biased to column shifts. That's what my first car had. I do like a console that doubles as a arm rest but the console lid in the tundra is rediculously big.

 

To each their own. I like that I can hide a murdered midget in there if I need to.

 

That's why I rather have a cooler. It'll keep longer without "spoiling".

 

Do a cooler mod inside the console.

 

I'll have to see what size cooler can fit or to make one fit.

 

For the same money just buy a big ass boob job for your woman and you'll never care again about a column shift or cooler.

 

I get excited every time my compadre gives me a ride in his CRV ! I wanna vehicle where the shifter comes out of the dash . . .

 

I still remember owning and driving a number of manual three on the tree cars and trucks back in my day.

 

I just bought an 06 CRV on a whim for $800. It's weird enough that I like it for some reason. The texturing on the shaft of the shifter doesn't adequately come through in that photo. That is another bit of strangeness.

I have to admit that I miss the front bench I had in my last truck. There are those occasions when seating 6 comes in handy too.

 

If you do this, I will have so many questions. I would love to convert mine as well. You’d need the jump seat and a steering column with shifter from a salvage yard, and what else?

 

There's a jump seat? Where does it go?

 

That's the middle seat up front that'd replace the console. You won't need it if you're putting a cooler there.

 

There is a folding center seat that comes in place of the console on column shift trucks.

2nd gens did not come with bench seats. They came with the fold down center/jump seat/ console combo.

This has been attempted before. I've found several threads where it has been started, but I've yet to see one finished.

 

I have considered doing this to my own dc for the 6th seat. The problem I've seen from my reading is that the steering columns are different as are the wiring harnesses. Even with a complete donor truck, there are issues with the key transponder coding that would require a tow to the dealer to get straightened out.

 

I guess I was thinking that your fridge or cooler would only go between the front seats on trips. People mostly want to go to a console shifter for the 6th seat. But if your fridge is going to live there permanently, you wouldn’t need the front middle seat at all.

FWIW, I really like having my fridge in the bed.

 

It will be far cheaper and easier to sell the truck and buy one that has the column shifter.

Or find a soft sided cooler that fits in the console.
Or lift up the driver side rear seat and put a big cooler there since the passenger side seat+center bench is plenty big enough for one person.
Or put it in the bed.

I'd just drink warm drinks before I'd start ripping up my console and dashboard trying to do this.

 

I resigned to sell my truck if I end up having a real need for a 6th seat. I'm surprised this swap isn't more doable, but it seems to be pretty involved.

 

Been wanting to figure out a console lid conversion that turns it into a lid that converts into a work surface/table, like on new F-150s.

 

I thought it would be a lot easier. I'm surprised the shifter isn't just a simple bolt on device. I saw someone here on the forum that had a column shift DC. I didn't think they existed before seeing one. I'm sure they're as rare as hens teeth.
As much as I like my Tundra, it's just too big to drive daily like I do. I have a Ford Excursion that I got mostly sorted out that I can use now for long trips. I inherited it after my dad passed on over 5 years ago. It's a 7.3 Powerstroke with only 106K miles. I thought about converting it to 4X4 but I couldn't find any wrecked ones for donor components. I would not otherwise own a Ford anymore. I bought the Tundra since I couldn't find any Tacoma 4 doors for what I paid for my DC. People wanted crazy money for them and still do.

 

I’ve seen a few that converted to a floor shift from column shift, but not the other way.

you would need to start with the wiring diagrams, because those will indicate the different wiring (and in turn the different components) needed. There is a section in the EWD document that shows the locations of the ECUs and connectors and the floor vs column shifter diagrams are separate.
If I recall correctly, the immobilizer controller is in a different spot, the shifter assembly, and a variety of other wiring.

good luck!

 

No, you're not crazy. I refuse to buy a car with a console shifter.