Tummler

Thanks everyone for your responses. Looks like I can narrow my search down to a 1982 or later J model. Assuming it fits my proportions, that plane looks perfect for our mission.

Maybe you can answer the question I posed above. With respect to the rear seats in a pre-1982 J, is it possible to remove the back seat but difficult, or is it impossible?

I noticed the difference and thought the difference was a matter of options. How difficult is it to remove the back of the bench seat?

This is very promising. What is the difference with the back seats in J models before 1982, and 1982 and later model years?

Is there enough room for two decent sized dogs who are friendly with each other to comfortably ride in the back seats together?

I am looking into buying a plane for business to make a 400 nm round trip a couple times a week. I initially ruled out a Mooney because my two dogs will be flying with me on most the trips. The primary motivation for bringing the dogs is to avoid "get-there-itis" on the return trip. I have searched the board for threads discussing dogs traveling and Mooneys, and it seems like a number of people have no problem flying with their dogs. However, the one thing I have not seen discussed in detail is the mechanics involved with getting a bigger dog (i.e, 80 lbs) into a Mooney. We have a spry 9-year-old Giant Schnauzer that hasn't lost a step, but I could see him slowing down a bit over the next couple of years. Anyone with experience loading big dogs care to offer their opinion on the likelihood of an older, larger dog being able to get into a Mooney? EDIT: Sorry for butchering the topic title. My boss called and wanted to talk.