Has anyone reupholstered their factory TJ seats?

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I still want my seats reupholstered, because I don't like not having the tumble or other features. I went with a set of Corbeau seats and never used the passenger seat, because it won't tumble.

I made a bracket to fit the Corbeau seats on the OEM brackets, but you end up sitting too high, so I broke down and bought a Corbeau seat adapter with no tumble. That's been fine on the driver's side and I actually kind of like it because it's more open and I stuck my ARB air compressor under the seat and I've got easy access to plugging in the air hose.

I still use a seat cover, because I'm hard on seats and I figure the dog is hard on them too, always trying to drive.

I'm going to eventually modify the OEM passenger seat bracket and install the Corbeau seat over there, but the Jeep seat isn't near as bad as the metal sticking out originally on the driver's side and with a broken back or not, my back screams in pain worse than running an old tractor 12+ hrs a day in just an hour or 2.

I would like to eventually just reupholster the OEM seats as I really like them, but I'm getting almost committed to these seats. I was thinking of reupholstering and including a Molle type configuration on the back, but now I like having the covers.

Another mod I've been thinking about is a quicker release setup to remove the passenger seat, but that's not something that's very useful, so maybe when I get really bored and can't think of anything else productive I'll look into modifying it a way that will even increase the strength, but come out quick for added storage or more dogs or something.
 
Also looking for replacement covers for the Apex seats. Haven't been able to find them anywhere
It would be a rare find if you did. Your best bet would be to stalk ebay, craigslist, and facebook marketplace for some take outs from an Apex TJ.

That of course, if you want to keep the Apex fake leather seats. If you do some research, you can find a quality upholster local/semi-local and have your factory seats redone in real leather, but beware, it is pricey. Like arm and a leg pricey for something nice.
 
When I bought my TJ, my wife said she'd get the purple and pink factory seats re-covered in leather for me for Christmas. Then I showed her the prices for the kits for me to do it...she pretty much said "Fuck that!"
I found some BMW leather seats at the pick and pull for 120 bucks/ pair. Took a little work, sit about an inch higher, but the price was right...and they look and feel much nicer, the bolsters are awesome. I am keeping the stock seats just in case I want to change back someday, or I'm just a hoarder.

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When I bought my TJ, my wife said she'd get the purple and pink factory seats re-covered in leather for me for Christmas. Then I showed her the prices for the kits for me to do it...she pretty much said "Fuck that!"
I found some BMW leather seats at the pick and pull for 120 bucks/ pair. Took a little work, sit about an inch higher, but the price was right...and they look and feel much nicer, the bolsters are awesome. I am keeping the stock seats just in case I want to change back someday, or I'm just a hoarder.

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what did you do to fit those in there? Any welding or building brackets?
 
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.
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Do you have a pattern...or...??? I have been looking everywhere for a sewing pattern, and I’ve been kind of worried I was going to have to just tear one apart. Like any tips or advice would be appreciated.
 
Do you have a pattern...or...??? I have been looking everywhere for a sewing pattern, and I’ve been kind of worried I was going to have to just tear one apart. Like any tips or advice would be appreciated.
If you’re referring to the stock TJ seats, I don’t think anyone can replicate the pattern of the OEM patterns. But professional upholsterers can do some amazing work, which might even come out better than factory.
 
I'm thinking about ordering from leatherseats.com . Do the seat fold forward plastic pieces just pull out of the stock tj seats?
 
Do you have a pattern...or...??? I have been looking everywhere for a sewing pattern, and I’ve been kind of worried I was going to have to just tear one apart. Like any tips or advice would be appreciated.
I do auto upholstery we use the factory seat covers as our pattern when we make new covers. Make line up marks that you can understand on the cover along each seam. Carefully cut the the cover apart at the seams by cutting the thread and use as a pattern.
 
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I'm thinking about ordering from leatherseats.com . Do the seat fold forward plastic pieces just pull out of the stock tj seats?
Yes the just pull off. My shop installs leatherseats.com covers they are good quality. We haven't installed any of there TJ covers.
 
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I do auto upholstery we use the factory seat covers as our pattern when we make new covers. Make line up marks that you can understand on the cover along each seam. Carefully cut the the cover apart at the seams by cutting the thread and use as a pattern.
Thank you! I was worried it would be more difficult to take apart.
 
Thank you! I was worried it would be more difficult to take apart.
Sewing is the hardest part to teach if you know how to do that you should be ok. I think you will need a hog ring pliers and some hog rings to put the cover back on. You cut the old hog rings to remove the seat cover from the foam.
 
Sewing is the hardest part to teach if you know how to do that you should be ok. I think you will need a hog ring pliers and some hog rings to put the cover back on. You cut the old hog rings to remove the seat cover from the foam.
Okay I’ll see if my fiancé has some of those Bc I do not 😂😂

I can sew though which is the only reason I considered this. I just redyed his floor carpets to be midnight black. He’s been wanting new seat covers but he can’t find exactly what he’s pictured. So I offered to try it. Our kids race four wheelers and I see their custom nerf bar nets. Which is not this hard, but if I don’t try I can’t say I that I did.
 
I do auto upholstery we use the factory seat covers as our pattern when we make new covers. Make line up marks that you can understand on the cover along each seam. Carefully cut the the cover apart at the seams by cutting the thread and use as a pattern.
Wait so if I’m reading this right, you can replicate the original seat patterns?