Hello All!

I got my '06 Freestyle at the end of December. I got it mostly as I'm work in video/animation/sound and the like and sometimes need to either carry a good load of equipment or crew members.

I've been delaying joining up on the forum, but I have a question that pushed me to join today. I had my family's three dogs with me today, with the (quad/bucket) seats flat, for a quick ten minute run over the the next town and back for a chore.
The problem? One of the dogs managed in the last few minutes of the trip (as we were pulling into the driveway) got her leg trapped under the back-most chair as it flipped slightly and while she's a very good dog and barely moved, she did manage to get a nasty little cut on the inside of her leg in the process (probably when she panicked that the car was eating her leg).
I'm wondering what the best way to adapt my Freestyle for the dogs to ride in occasionally is. I was thinking a good flat square of wood with blankets and padding put over top of it for them. They can ride in the bucket seats, but as it's not a bench seat, they tend not to lie down and wiggle around too much with the acute turns of our local roads.

So, is there a better way to prevent the dogs from hitting those sweet spots in the chairs that cause them to partially flip?
Oh, and no worries, the dog's sore was bandaged up right when we got home. I still feel bad she slipped though.

Did she get caught on one of the 3rd row seats? We have 2 Mastiffs and they have not had a problem with the 3rd row. I do worry about the 2nd row buckets with the console (I do know the lid flips forward to lie flat) but they have not had a problem with that either.

A piece of plywood or fiberboard with a comforter or moving pad over it would be a good solution.

Yeah, she got caught in the 3rd row, between the two seat-back/flats. Mine seem to fold inward (like a greeting card) pretty easily. Ours are dobermans and I guess they're too heavy for the fold-spots in the 3rd row. They actually avoid the console in the 2nd row really easily.

OK, good to hear that. We have plenty of heavy bedding foam and dog blankets around, I'll have to just run to the store to get a good board to cover that.

There is a mat for the back with the seats folded down. Weathertech makes one. Less than $100.00.

Both of the third row seats in my '05 Freestyle lock in the folded flat position. There is a handle/latch for each seat that must be released in order to 'fold inward like a greeting card'. Does the '06 not have these? Or maybe I am not quite understanding where the dog got 'bit' by the folding seats.

I have a weathertech mat. Perfect fit and high quality.

Well, I've checked for a lock, but I've never found one, I know you have to pull on things to either get them back up or fold them back down, but they don't lock solid in the flattened position. If you put weight on the point midway up the flat, where the fold is, they tend to fold inward (the middle toward the floor, either end upward toward the roof). Could you tell me where this lock is? Maybe I've overlooked it.

Here is a picture. I have the split bench but the manual says the bench works the same. You must squeeze the handle to unlatch the seat.

Just checked our 07 SEL and it too has the locking handles as shown above in the pictures. No matter what pressure is applied to the folding deck seems to allow the folding seats to unlock unexpectantly, until you grasp the "pull up on latch" handle, [and trip the hidden release inside]. Possibly there is something restricting the lock[s] from not latching/locking correctly.

Icemutt

Had the 2 Mastiffs in the back of the Freestyle Friday for a trip to the vet. At 245 lbs and 228 lbs they are going on a diet

But that got me thinking about this again. The seats lock down flat. Does your handle look like the photo dmckmc posted? Can you feel the latch inside? Your seat must not be latching for some reason. Is it folding flat or is it "bent"?