2019 EX-L Magic Slide Removal: I'm probably one of the few Odyssey owners who doesn't need any rear seats, so if you haul cargo, camp in it, or use it as a dogmobile like I do, you may be interested to see how I removed not only the middle seats, but also the magic slides they sit on, then attempted to make as flat a surface as possible using thick yoga mats I got on-sale on Prime day. It was easier than I thought it would be to remove the slides, with the right tools. I needed a size T50 security-torx bit (found at Lowes) and ratchet to remove the bolt that blocks the slide from coming off the track. I should have taken more pics for each step, esp. removing the door edge/step trim: I had to be careful not to lose any clips, that they went back in the correct holes.
First, I gently removed the outer step trim, it snaps on and off. Next, I carefully disconnected the plugs for the electrical wiring controlling the sliding door so I could remove the remaining step trim. Then I removed the security-torx bolt from inside the slide track, then the bolt on the outside edge of the track. The slide then came right off. I re-installed both bolts so I know where they are if I ever want to put the slides and seats back in. I reconnected the electrical wires, and carefully snapped the step trim back in place. I then tested the power sliding door to make sure it worked. I repeated same steps for the opposite door.
I was left with a small hump in the center that the center console attaches to. I cut out and pieced together with duct tape the 1" thick yoga matts (dark teal) to level it out around that hump, then covered everything over with an extra large, wide thinner exercise matt (pink) that I trimmed to fit the contours of the van, leaving a little extra to cover the step trim so my dogs don't slip on the plastic when getting out of the van. In the rear half of the van, I have the OEM folding floor matt that meets up with the matted area in the center, where I tucked a wool blanket underneath to level it out. I then added a cotton king quilt over everything to keep it clean from dog hair.
My very large dogs now enjoy a big flat area when we travel, and I can sleep back there if I ever need to, it's quite comfy. And if I ever do need to carry passengers, I can still easily pull up the third row seats. We just spent 10 days on a road trip with the dogs, and all of the matting stayed in place perfectly.
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First, I gently removed the outer step trim, it snaps on and off. Next, I carefully disconnected the plugs for the electrical wiring controlling the sliding door so I could remove the remaining step trim. Then I removed the security-torx bolt from inside the slide track, then the bolt on the outside edge of the track. The slide then came right off. I re-installed both bolts so I know where they are if I ever want to put the slides and seats back in. I reconnected the electrical wires, and carefully snapped the step trim back in place. I then tested the power sliding door to make sure it worked. I repeated same steps for the opposite door.
I was left with a small hump in the center that the center console attaches to. I cut out and pieced together with duct tape the 1" thick yoga matts (dark teal) to level it out around that hump, then covered everything over with an extra large, wide thinner exercise matt (pink) that I trimmed to fit the contours of the van, leaving a little extra to cover the step trim so my dogs don't slip on the plastic when getting out of the van. In the rear half of the van, I have the OEM folding floor matt that meets up with the matted area in the center, where I tucked a wool blanket underneath to level it out. I then added a cotton king quilt over everything to keep it clean from dog hair.
My very large dogs now enjoy a big flat area when we travel, and I can sleep back there if I ever need to, it's quite comfy. And if I ever do need to carry passengers, I can still easily pull up the third row seats. We just spent 10 days on a road trip with the dogs, and all of the matting stayed in place perfectly.
