Has anyone reupholstered their factory TJ seats?

dimension12

TJ Enthusiast
Supporting Member
Joined
Dec 13, 2017
Messages
245
Location
Prior Lake, MN, United States
Anybody have their original seats reupholstered? All the aftermarket seats I have been researching are too wide to fit between the console and roll bar and still be square with the dash like the oem seats.
I had to do major engineering to fit the seats I got out of a Compass. Passenger seat will not adjust back between the console and roll bar. Driver’s is off center to adjust back.
 
Anybody have their original seats reupholstered? All the aftermarket seats I have been researching are too wide to fit between the console and roll bar and still be square with the dash like the oem seats.
I had to do major engineering to fit the seats I got out of a Compass. Passenger seat will not adjust back between the console and roll bar. Driver’s is off center to adjust back.
Not sure why everyone goes aftermarket. The factory TJ seats are very nice IMO. Reupholstered they look and feel even better.

Here is a pic of some JKU (Not a TJ/LJ!!!) factory seats reupholstered. Proof you can make something factory look really impressive.
9510DA4C-014F-4D18-8EFC-6D7F28945B51.png
FEF35B5E-CC69-42C5-ABF2-90D43E6FE946.jpeg
1C13F83B-7BE0-44E6-B2DF-0D3FE106581C.png
 
Last edited:
My driver seat has a tore up cover and the foam is crumbling. I sit right on the springs. Had towels and duct tape holding it together. Other than that I find them compfy.
The reviews for aftermarket were for seats with a recline option. The brackets/pivot points and levers are what make them too wide.
 
  • Like
Reactions: glwood
Maybe look into Jerry’s seats as a option.

Seems as though nothing compares to the factory seats when it comes to the seatbelt fit and the way the tilt and slide back and fourth. They just work in the Jeep perfectly. Like the seats were specifically designed for the TJ....;)

Since you specifically mentioned that you didnt want to pursue aftermarket seats, you could look into grabbing some spares off ebay or a local scrap yard and have them reupholstered to your liking. Doing so, gives you the ability to continue driving your Jeep as your “new” seats get reupholstered.

I know several great shops and leather companies that specialize in aftermarket upholstery for automotive applications. Just send me a message anytime.
 
I liked my original seats and looked into having them recovered. I couldn't justify the cost though. There were some good seat cover kits but I'd seen good and bad installations. I think a lot comes down to the installer ... and I hate that kind of work. I opted for seats out of Tiburon. It was inexpensive and an easy job to do.
 
I liked my original seats and looked into having them recovered. I couldn't justify the cost though. There were some good seat cover kits but I'd seen good and bad installations. I think a lot comes down to the installer ... and I hate that kind of work. I opted for seats out of Tiburon. It was inexpensive and an easy job to do.
Do they fit between the console and roll bar?
 
One thing that was fubar on my jeep when I bought it was the smittybilt front seats. Asked where the originals were: "I threw them out"
The tilt and slide was more or less disabled w/o groping underneath to release the mechanism. Vinyl, no recline.

I was able to find some through a search of "car-parts" salvage yard listings and found a decent set of OEM correct color fabric seats $325 shipped to me for the pair. Tickled pink with them. Keeps it original. Tilt and slide now function correctly.

The smittybilts are going in the son's mud truck.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Fonz54 and KCsTJ
After looking around and checking prices, I took the fabric off my seat base and glued the foam back together. Glued dome reinforcement material to the bottom where it sits on the frame and built up the bolster with a rag under the cover. Just have to sew the rip up and put seat covers on.
Will post before and after pictures soon.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JMT and Chris
Prices seem steep for covers, you could get new seats.

You could, and I did, several different sets actually. Wasn’t happy with any of them, too high, too low, sat crooked, sliders sucked, no fold and tumble, ended up selling them all. If I would have went this route first I could have saved myself some money and agrivation. Very happy with my current choice now.