I've been talking with a salesman and a parts guy and they both give conflicting stories. The parts guy says that the drivers/passenger seats are different part numbers with the heated and the heated/cooled options (DUH). He is wondering though if the brackets that come on the heated/cooled seats have the mounts for the center seat cushion.

The salesman doesn't even know what he's talking about so we won't go there. Thinks the center cushion moves with the passenger seat...

Well it is a salesman lol. In reality, the best way to know is going to be to take it apart. You would think that parts diagrams would show the differences (brackets, mounts, etc) that would exist depending on your setup. Chances are if they dont offer it from the factory that way then there is a reason. This does not mean that you cant modify your own assembly, but it will more than likely take more enginuity and will also void your warranty on those seat components if it doesnt work.

Living in North Dakota, having a cooling option just doesnt appeal to me. Having the heated seats though is almost as important as toilet paper

I took apart the seats from a dozen second gens back in the day - I bet he's right. If you were willing to fabricate your own brackets, and figure out where the seat belt should attach (typically the center belt would attach to the same bolts that the driver/pass latches bolt down to) it might be easy enough to swap out - assuming you're able to sort out the duct work and wiring, close up the hole in the carpet, etc etc etc.

Best bet would probably to find a totalled 4th gen bench seat truck (power, probably - though manual might be ok) and use the the seat from that as a donor to building yours. Either way, expect some fab work and wiring harness extensions. You've already got to move the floor shifter back to the column, and I bet that's going to be a handful of work. And close up the bottom of the dash..... Then get a local shop to re-cover the bench center with a close match leather or vinyl.

It'd be fun, but I dunno if I'd tackle it on a nearly new truck without a parts truck on hand. All the little bits and pieces will nickle and dime you to death.


Time might be better spent fighting hard for a price on a replacement truck, then fighting harder for a good trade-in price. Even though you'd lose the dual aircon (also bucket only) -and- the cooled seats.

mind you, I say this after already having spent some time considering how to retrofit the cooled seats into a cloth seat truck (not a leather fan, not in the south).

This can be done, to do so you will need to get a few things. New Radio bezel, the flip down cup holders to fill the empty space, a raised piece of metal sheeting to place under the carpet to protect the vents running to the seats, the bench seat, the column shifter, the new shifter cable, new shifter cable bracket, bench seat brackets, also if you have the air vents behind the console you will need to get vent caps to place on the back side of the jump seat to retain the vents or you can leave them open to blow to the back your choice really. Your best bet is to find someone like my self who is looking to do the same swap but for the center console from the jump seat that has the same color interior.

JM0587, I'm looking to go from from center console to 40/20/40 jump seat. I've got a 2012 RAM 2500 mega cab with the light pebble beige/bark brown leather interior. My shifter is on the column though. What color are you looking for?