The difference in our experiences could be because mine are adhered to the foam under the OEM fabric, so it has to go through the OEM fabric and the Bartact covers to get to my butt dyno, but even after 5 minutes on high I could barely feel it. I ordered the Dorman kit today. I thought I saw a thread where someone said that bartacts had a pocket for the heaters, but mine didn't have that, just the pocket for the lumbar bladder.
Bartact Seat Cover Question
- Thread starter StimpsonJCatt
- Start date
The difference in our experiences could be because mine are adhered to the foam under the OEM fabric, so it has to go through the OEM fabric and the Bartact covers to get to my butt dyno, but even after 5 minutes on high I could barely feel it. I ordered the Dorman kit today. I thought I saw a thread where someone said that bartacts had a pocket for the heaters, but mine didn't have that, just the pocket for the lumbar bladder.
Far more scientific than I did it... I am just going by how hot my ass gets.
Man invented the micrometer for a reason. It's all about matching the tool to the task....and I'd submit that your "yardstick" is more than sufficient in this particular instance.
I have a benchmark in that we have a set of the Dorman in Kat's TJ. If something is warmer or cooler than those in our tests then I know whether to spend any time installing them.Far more scientific than I did it... I am just going by how hot my ass gets.
Oh lord... After 5 minutes?
Totally not my experience. Like I said, high for a few minutes or it's unbearable and the low for a while, but inevitable I turn them off. Only pocket I have is for the bladder, which I do use.
If I had to I could hit it with the IR thermometer, butt...Man invented the micrometer for a reason. It's all about matching the tool to the task....and I'd submit that your "yardstick" is more than sufficient in this particular instance.
I drove around with it on high for 15 minutes last night. Still could barely feel it.
The bladder is amazing. Probably interferes with the back heater, but totally worth it
That's crazy. Mine are taped to the back of the Bartact seat covers.
I'll probably end up doing that when I put them in the TJ. Right now it's out of commission and needs a new engine. I was gonna drop another 2.5L in it just to get it up and running again, but the end goal is a V8 swap, so I'm doing research to see if it makes more sense to go that route right now instead of putting it off. It spent the majority of its life in New England, so I already know broken bolts and rust are gonna be a bitch. The LJ I bought was has been in the southwest, mostly in New Mexico (I flew out there to get it) and the PO took pretty good care of it, so everything is pristine.
On an update: the Dorman seat heaters definitely warmed up faster and were warmer than the Bartact ones. Like, there was no competition. I tested both of them on top of the OEM covers, and the Dormans blew the Bartacts out of the water. My only gripe about the Dormans (and it's a very, VERY minor one that would not prevent me from buying them again in the future) is that they are slightly wider than the Bartact ones, so I would've had to fully remove the OEM covers to place them, and then redo the hog rings (they do include the hog rings and hog ring pliers in the kit) if I wanted to install them under the OEM covers. So for now they are on top of the OEM covers underneath the Bartact covers. Maybe @MikekiM bought his from Bartact before they switched to a cheaper kit, but the ones they sell now are damn near anemic. Even the Dormans on the low setting are warmer than the Bartacts on the high setting.
JABCAT
Member
I had Bartacts on two different JKUs for over 60k mi & sold them for what paid because they were still like brand new. Put the cheaper Bartacts (without the Molle) on the TJ along with their seat heating kit. I'll echo another poster previously that they get really warm really quick, so much that even on low they can be too warm.
For the poster who said they sucked, perhaps they got a bad set?
For the poster who said they sucked, perhaps they got a bad set?
What color are your Bartacts? When I went to the website the black looked all black logo and all, but yours looks more like a graphite color with contrast stiching and logo. Looking to order a set that look like yours, but maybe it's just the lighting int he pics.
Black on black. Just the way the sunlight is hitting the stitching.
Iput the front and rear seat Bartact covers on in 2020right after i pruchased our LJ Rubican.
Like the covers they workgreat.
What I do not like is their logo on the covers right at eye level when looking at the seats.
If you want me to advertise your product send me a check.
I do not put anything on with a Logo unless I am get paid for it.
Like the covers they workgreat.
What I do not like is their logo on the covers right at eye level when looking at the seats.
If you want me to advertise your product send me a check.
I do not put anything on with a Logo unless I am get paid for it.
Just about everything for a Jeep has a tacky logo now.
I have no proof, but I suspect that since there are now a zillion Chinesium ripoffs of everything made for a Jeep, the vendors of a quality product want to get their name seen.
There used to be a Chinese vendor on Amazon by the name of Mopor with the exact same font as Mopar.
Resurrecting this thread, since I have finally both the bucks and the opportunity to buy Bartact covers with the molle grids. Has anyone seen these on sale anywhere? I'm hoping for a Black Friday miracle!
Have seen no Bartact $ales. The Molle versions are $$$$ and it's a whole lotta molle! After thinking on it, there were other lower cost options to get me to, "Just enough Molle."
Installed my seat covers in Oct of 2022 and they still look perfect. However, for as much as I love the Bartact seat covers I regret getting the Tactical version with the MOLLE grid. Way overkill. Plus I am soft top full time and in the northeast if your shit isn't bolted down it's going to take a walk, so I don't use the MOLLE.
I installed a MOLLE panel on the inside of the Tuffy rear security enclosure.. plenty of organization there..
That wasn't was asked though. I haven't seen Bartact run any sales. Try calling them directly... ask if they have any kits on the shelf that were special order but were never delivered or returned. When I ordered mine, I wanted a custom build but didn't want to wait. The sales person said they had a set that was sitting on the shelf never having been shipped. No wait and they gave me a 5% off.
I'm Team Soft Top Full-time as well, so I'm definitely thinking about the theft issue. Might have to reconsider the tactical (Molle) version.
I appreciate you circling back to the actual question, though! I'll probably keep checking on resellers for sales, but will call Bartact as well. Thanks!
I love the MOLLE version and have everything from cable ties to sharpies and pressure gauges tucked into the webbing...along with pouches and bottle holders in perfect spots. Makes organizing easy and keeps frequently used items at hand.
I've driven all the way to Moab and Rubicon without a top and no theft issues...but I camp out along the way and don't park much in towns.
-Mac
I've driven all the way to Moab and Rubicon without a top and no theft issues...but I camp out along the way and don't park much in towns.
-Mac
This guy, carrying spare body panels on his excursions...I am not worthy of this level of preparedness.
I shall stay at the shallow end of the pool where I belong.
To stay on topic, I've got a set of the tactical Bartacts in the budget for Tess. My factory covers are fine, no reason they can't stay that way and, as @macleanflood noted, the Bartacts are nice for keeping frequently used items at hand. Not looking forward to what sounds like an inevitable wait once I order, if I'm honest, but figure the covers are worth it.
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Was headed north to wheel with @Wildman and friends and sold the hood so I decided to drop it off in Portland on the way up. Arguably a nicer hood than what's on my Jeep but nicer isn't worth the $400 I got for the hood and my under hood sticker collection is more important to me.
I bought my Bartacs on sale/clearance no choice of color...red and black were good enough for me...no wait for making them.
-Mac
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