If the headrest was maybe one-half to one inch shorter on the back seats, I wouldn't have to remove it when I fold it up against the side. As it stands, if they are NOT removed, you end up with deep creases and eventual tears in the crest (if you cram the lower gate closed on it).

Frederick

My buddy had been taking his headrests off to raise the seats too. I asked him whay and he said the gate squashes them...But they don't. I've only removed my front headrests, to make my car a bed and I always have at least one seat up against the window.

Same thing with me. I keep the headrest on mine when I put it up. One day the door wouldn't shut with it on so I had to take it off. But that was one day out of the whole month. Weird. Maybe the headrest isn't all the way down, or maybe you put your seat too far back (or perhaps we don't put it back far enough?)

I've had my bike in my E for the last month, I think. I use it to get to work from the parking lot (thanks to the freakin bus strike) but now that its over, the bike will be coming out, and my seat can go down again. I'll check to see if it is getting squashed.

I can see when you initially lie the seat back, but all you gotta do is go open the tailgate and you have much more room. Like I said, it happened to me before, so I believe you.

I just checked the clearance between the head rests and the rear lift gate
with the seats up. There is 5/8 inch between the head rest and the lift gate. I noted that you joined this form in Feb. My E was manufactured in late June, maybe Honda has made a modification.

This has happened to me as well....but at least in my case it was due to the seat not being far enough back. It happened once and I fought with it like HE double hockey sticks until I was like DUH!

I do know if you leave the seats hung up on the sides for a long periord of time they do get some nasty creases.........I had our bikes in the back of the E most of the summer and I went about a month with out putting the driver's side back seat down and it was creased like crazy.

Upon further examination:

After I posted, I went down to my E to see if I had this problem. Lo and behold, there was a crease. I have had the seat up for maybe 3 weeks, the I put it down the last weekend to go camping, then just maybe the day before the post I put it up again.

Maybe there is a difference in how far back you put the seat or something.

Good suggestion though, and I hope Honda takes note.

I've definitely found that it depends on how far you put the seat down. I put it down as far as it can go -- it's even a little beyond horizontal.

I don't usually have to worry about it though, since I keep the headrests off most of the time. That's 'cause I keep the seats down flat for my dog, and I like to be able to fit small stuff down between them and the tailgate. Especially plastic bags of groceries, because otherwise he would eat them...