# Is it safe to add a 3rd row back seat to an AWD Chevy Express 1500? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** chevrolet, seats, gmc, 1500, 2500\ **Created:** [October 30, 2009, 8:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-it-safe-to-add-a-3rd-row-back-seat-to-an-awd-chevy-express-1500/38823 "2009-10-30T20:21:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kww123](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e9a140/32.png) [@kww123](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kww123)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2009, 8:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-it-safe-to-add-a-3rd-row-back-seat-to-an-awd-chevy-express-1500/38823/1 "2009-10-30T20:21:51Z")
I am trying to find a large van to carry more than 8 people on icy/snow-packed roads. The Chevy Express (and GMC Savana) have an awd option but it only seats 8. I could have a back seat installed by someone, but would that be safe? The other option would be to buy a 12-passenger model and just use studded snow tires and put sand bags in the back. ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://community.cartalk.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2009, 8:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-it-safe-to-add-a-3rd-row-back-seat-to-an-awd-chevy-express-1500/38823/2 "2009-10-30T20:34:22Z")
Are you sure you can have a back seat installed? Usually the 12 passenger vans are longer than the 8-passenger, so it seems like in order to cram in an extra seat you’d have to scoot all of the seats forward. Also, IMHO, full-size vans are death traps in ice and snow even with AWD. If you have to do a lot of highway driving under winter conditions I would strongly suggest you consider an extended length full-size SUV (Suburban or Expedition) instead. If you do insist on a van, I would say you defintely need studded tires, even if you get AWD. ---
**Author:** ![americar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/americar/32/42_2.png) [@americar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/americar)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2009, 9:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-it-safe-to-add-a-3rd-row-back-seat-to-an-awd-chevy-express-1500/38823/3 "2009-10-30T21:52:24Z")
I think all full size four wheel drive vans are conversions. Its just some you can purchase through a new car dealer with a factory warranty. I found this [http://www.quadvan.com/](http://www.quadvan.com/) on the net ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://community.cartalk.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2009, 1:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-it-safe-to-add-a-3rd-row-back-seat-to-an-awd-chevy-express-1500/38823/4 "2009-10-31T01:50:44Z")
I think that you can just in the last few years get a 1/2 ton GM van with factory all-wheel drive. (Since I believe all the 12-passenger vans are 3/4 tons, this is probably why the OP can’t get one) I suppose doing a 4x4 conversion on a 12-passenger van is a possibility, but these make them even MORE top heavy and prone to rolling, and plus the 4x4 doesn’t really help all that much on the highway. ---
**Author:** ![kww123](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e9a140/32.png) [@kww123](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kww123)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2009, 6:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-it-safe-to-add-a-3rd-row-back-seat-to-an-awd-chevy-express-1500/38823/5 "2009-10-31T18:16:59Z")
Thanks. I will check out Suburbans/Expeditions. They seem more expensive. Do they come with an awd option? I have heard the awd is better for icy roads than fwd. But I guess that is debatable. ---
**Author:** ![oldschool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e19adc/32.png) [@oldschool](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldschool)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2009, 7:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-it-safe-to-add-a-3rd-row-back-seat-to-an-awd-chevy-express-1500/38823/6 "2009-10-31T19:44:08Z")
Think of being a passenger in a fully packed 12 person van on icy/snowy roads. Even if these vehicles are rated for 12 people road conditions can change the safe number of people you can carry. ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://community.cartalk.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2009, 7:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-it-safe-to-add-a-3rd-row-back-seat-to-an-awd-chevy-express-1500/38823/7 "2009-10-31T19:44:40Z")
All things being equal, AWD would be better than rear-wheel drive (all of these large vehicles are RWD based). But AWD doesn’t really do much to address the weight distribution and handling problems with the full-size vans, so they’re still pretty dangerous. The full-size SUV’s are lower to the ground and are wider which makes them a lot more stable, both in general and especially on snow and ice. They’re probably avaliable with either an automatic part-time 4wd or full-time 4wd (which is sort of the same thing as AWD). Another possibility would be a FWD or AWD minivan.