Custom Trail Boss Console Upgrade?

[AlohaDan]

1 hour ago, Railroad_Jim said:

Thanks for the update AlohaDan.

 

My key does not turn the lower console lock, but luckily it is unlocked.  There are some videos online about rekeying older consoles by taking it apart, but I didn't have time to try, and I don't plan to lock anything in there anyhow.

 

I did get the center seat / console installed last week.  I was going to try using an offset wrench on the rear bolts to avoid removing the seats, but I ended up just unbolting both seats (T50 socket) to have proper access to the center seat bolts.  It was easy with the driver and passenger seats slid to the side.  I made sure to put new blue thread locker on the seat bolts, and torqued them to the values that my factory service manual said for my old 2000 Silverado.

 

I used the https://www.gmupfitter.com/ website to find wiring diagrams to what I was dealing with.  As I expected, the wiring assembly to the floor under the passenger's seat was not present.  But, I did ohm out the two big pins on the jump seat's connector to the accessory outlet and figured out which is +12v and which is ground.  I didn't have enough time to make up a cable, but it should be simple enough to run wires from the passenger side fuse box, through the trough, and under the passenger's seat to connect to the cable.  It'll be a little ghetto with just two connectors attaching to the giant connector, but it should work.  It appears that there is a converter box in there to power the USB ports from the same +12V and ground, so I may be good to go.  I just need to find some time to work on it again....

 

Thanks for that update.    if there is anyway that you could do a little how to video when you do the wiring to your ports, that would be amazing.  I'm not super savvy the it comes to automotive electrical, but can follow if shown what to do.  Anyway... only if you have the time/ability.   Thanks!

Edited February 18, 2020 by AlohaDan

[Fred Cruise]

Completed my center backrest swap-out today in my 2020 Custom.  Glad to have at least some storage capability. 

 

For those with a 2020 Custom, the torx size for the passenger side is T45.  I had to stop in the middle of the job and run to the store to get one.

So for the complete job, you'll need a T45, T50 and T55 and a smaller Torx for the small screws.   The seat belt anchor bolt is 18mm. 

 

It really helped have a set of cheap set of trim tools (Amazon:   https://www.amazon.com/Tresalto-Auto-Trim-Removal-Tool/dp/B01L8GHB7O  

II was able to remove all the panels with no damage to the clips.   Just be patient. 

Edited February 23, 2020 by Fred Cruise

[Fred Cruise]

Does anyone know if there is a small drop in tray available for the consoles that I've just installed? All of the drop in organizer trays I've seen are for full consoles with bucket seats and will not fit the split bench seats console.  (I borrowed this photo from a previous post to show you the console I've just installed).   Would not mind having a small drop in tray for ink pens, other small items without digging through the console.   Thanks in advance.  

[Thorick]

I've been debating on ordering the jumpseat replacement or waiting to find an entire center console from salvage. My biggest gripe isn't so much that the current one doesn't open but really the lack of comfortable places to put stuff like my phone when connected to android auto/car play. In the meantime i've taken a stab at creating a floor console model as the ones recommended from amazon and others at autozone just don't fit the space all that well.

 

This was built out of foam originally to get the idea down, now i'm going to rebuild it out of wood and vacuum form plastic to create a more "finished" like product. The goal is to be able to replicate it relatively easily in the event that others that don't wish to spend $200-$300 on the jumpseat swap.

 

Be gentle, i'm no builder/engineer by trait and this is very much a work in progress.

 

[Railroad_Jim]

17 minutes ago, Thorick said:

I've been debating on ordering the jumpseat replacement or waiting to find an entire center console from salvage. My biggest gripe isn't so much that the current one doesn't open but really the lack of comfortable places to put stuff like my phone when connected to android auto/car play. In the meantime i've taken a stab at creating a floor console model as the ones recommended from amazon and others at autozone just don't fit the space all that well.

 

This was built out of foam originally to get the idea down, now i'm going to rebuild it out of wood and vacuum form plastic to create a more "finished" like product. The goal is to be able to replicate it relatively easily in the event that others that don't wish to spend $200-$300 on the jumpseat swap.

 

That's a pretty cool idea!  One word of advice, since I recently replaced my jump seat with a salvage piece, is that the bottom seat on my new seat has a bottom storage compartment on it, and you need to be able to access the front edge of the seat to open it up.  There's also a key hold down there for locking, which you might want to access.  It looks like your console design would block access to opening the bottom seat compartment.

 

I personally love the little console that I got from Amazon.  My phone fits nicely in the left slot when plugged in for Android Auto.  I did end up shaving off some of the nubs underneath, up front on it, so it would slide under the dash a little bit more.  I'll have to do some major surgery of it if I ever go ahead with my plans to install a CB radio under the dash there.

[Thorick]

4 minutes ago, Railroad_Jim said:

That's a pretty cool idea!  One word of advice, since I recently replaced my jump seat with a salvage piece, is that the bottom seat on my new seat has a bottom storage compartment on it, and you need to be able to access the front edge of the seat to open it up.  There's also a key hold down there for locking, which you might want to access.  It looks like your console design would block access to opening the bottom seat compartment.

 

I personally love the little console that I got from Amazon.  My phone fits nicely in the left slot when plugged in for Android Auto.  I did end up shaving off some of the nubs underneath, up front on it, so it would slide under the dash a little bit more.  I'll have to do some major surgery of it if I ever go ahead with my plans to install a CB radio under the dash there.

Yeah that makes sense... i haven't seen the bottom seat compartment yet (or haven't known to look) as most of what i've read is people replacing just the top part of the jump seat. Ideally with the tongue + groove type system would allow for easy in/out of the floor console. Right now with the foam build its a tad taller than I want it to be, aiming to have it atleast .5 inch-ish below the lip of the seat cushion. If you have time or don't mind, could you post a picture of the bottom compartment area/area to open it?

 

And again, thanks for the advice! Any and all is welcome, just dipping my toes in to a new hobby. ^_^

[Jeremy Wright]

I am so disappointed my 2020 Custom trail boss didn't have a flip down seat with a console that opens. My 2017 did, my 2018 work truck has one. But not a 2020 Trail Boss. GM says it will cost $2,000. to get all the parts which is total BS. GM should have never made a fold down seat with cup holders that didn't open for storage . What in the hell were they thinking? Hate that GM is getting this way. Always had a Chevy or GM truck but in 2021 might have to make a change. Their customer service sucks to after the sale.

[Little Rascal]

5 minutes ago, Jeremy Wright said:

I am so disappointed my 2020 Custom trail boss didn't have a flip down seat with a console that opens. My 2017 did, my 2018 work truck has one. But not a 2020 Trail Boss. GM says it will cost $2,000. to get all the parts which is total BS. GM should have never made a fold down seat with cup holders that didn't open for storage . What in the hell were they thinking? Hate that GM is getting this way. Always had a Chevy or GM truck but in 2021 might have to make a change. Their customer service sucks to after the sale.

Yep, we all are disappointed.  I clearly complained to the dealer that sold the truck to me.  If someone has an email or place to voice our dissatisfaction to GM, posting that here might be helpful in sending a message to GM.

[Railroad_Jim]

13 hours ago, Little Rascal said:

Yep, we all are disappointed.  I clearly complained to the dealer that sold the truck to me. 

 

I had test drove the vehicle by myself, an then went back and bought it with my wife.  After purchase, we get in to drive home and I told her to put something in the center console.  We couldn't figure out how to open it, because it didn't open.  She was like "How could you not have checked this out on the test drive!".  And I was like "I've had trucks since 2000 and every one of them, no matter how cheap, had a console that opened, so I didn't think I needed to check!"

 

Quote

If someone has an email or place to voice our dissatisfaction to GM, posting that here might be helpful in sending a message to GM.

I agree that it would be good to let our voices be heard somewhere.

 

I solved the problem by spending almost $400 (including shipping) for a replacement center seat from a salvage yard via car-ports.com but storage should have been there from the factory.

Edited February 28, 2020 by Railroad_Jim
added a detail

[HondaHawkGT]

23 hours ago, Jeremy Wright said:

I am so disappointed my 2020 Custom trail boss didn't have a flip down seat with a console that opens. My 2017 did, my 2018 work truck has one. But not a 2020 Trail Boss. GM says it will cost $2,000. to get all the parts which is total BS. GM should have never made a fold down seat with cup holders that didn't open for storage . What in the hell were they thinking? Hate that GM is getting this way. Always had a Chevy or GM truck but in 2021 might have to make a change. Their customer service sucks to after the sale.

Yeah it's a BS move they pulled just to try to nudge people into moving up to an LT Trail Boss. 

[Railroad_Jim]

On 2/25/2020 at 12:10 PM, Thorick said:

If you have time or don't mind, could you post a picture of the bottom compartment area/area to open it?

Here is a picture of the front of my "new" jump seat that features the lower locking compartment.  I have the aftermarket center console from amazon installed, and there's enough room to get to the latch, but not to the key hole.  But, the lock doesn't work with my key yet, so it doesn't really matter....   Searching online, it looks like it may be possible to re-key it myself, but I've only seen videos for them doing that for the pre-2019 trucks.  Either way, I probably wouldn't lock it often, and with my console installed, I can't access the keyhole.

 

[AlohaDan]

On 2/27/2020 at 4:43 PM, Jeremy Wright said:

I am so disappointed my 2020 Custom trail boss didn't have a flip down seat with a console that opens. My 2017 did, my 2018 work truck has one. But not a 2020 Trail Boss. GM says it will cost $2,000. to get all the parts which is total BS. GM should have never made a fold down seat with cup holders that didn't open for storage . What in the hell were they thinking? Hate that GM is getting this way. Always had a Chevy or GM truck but in 2021 might have to make a change. Their customer service sucks to after the sale.

Yeah it sucks... but I wasn't going to spring multiple thousands for the model that had the console and was perfectly happy with buying one from a salvage yard for $400 and putting it in myself.    Took a little over an hour to replace the entire center console.   I sold the one without storage to some dude on Craigslist for $25 just to get it out of my life.

[Rbenede1]

Has anyone attempted to convert the non storage armrest to the storage one by swapping the top part with the lid and the cupholder piece that fits with it? I went to order the whole assembly the other day but I couldn't justify spending almost $400 for a small amount of storage.

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[42 Rodger]

On 6/13/2019 at 2:00 PM, Brutus230 said:

Ok I just ordered it cant wait to have a normal truck.  Just got the fog light in and getting it flashed tomorrow so they work. Thanks for taking the time there not many helping.

Do you have fog light installation information, part sourcing etc.

[JLind19Custom]

Does anyone have a lead on a storage organizer of the top portion of the console?