AD inside floor structure?

[BlueJeep]

I'm wondering about the vertical panel in an AD cab that's between the under seat tool box and the gas tank area. I've already removed the seat riser, and I'm wondering about this piece. It makes sense to me that it may be structural, to help keep the back of the cab from sagging and to help support the rear body mounts.

This is speculation on my part, does anyone know for sure? I'm trying to decide where to mount my seatbelt retractors, and if this wasn't there it'd be much easier - but I don't want to cut it out to later wish I hadn't.

[dwcsr]

post a picture

[BlueJeep]

Good idea!

Here's the pics:



And proximity to the original shackle mount (now a regular body mount):


The more I look at this, how it's attached and where, I really do think it could be structural.

[mbgmike]

I am not a structural engineer. Civil, but I think that it is a piece that is required for support as you have said. I would not take it out.

[dwcsr]

You do need it. It supports the floor where the cab mounts go under the cab. If you took it out then the floor would flex and eventually crack at the cab mount area.

[Thadious]

Alot of people decide to remove it when they swap to different types of seats. I went to a 40/20/40 split from a Dakota when I did mine. To make up for it, I opted for a 3"x1"x1/8" folded channel across the underside to replace the factory mounts and clear completely across the cab. This moved the brace to the underside and kept the floor clear for wherever I wanted to go with it...



Cheers,
Ted.

[Atomsplitter]

As said before, its structural! It's where I mounted my retractors too!