Best options to fix up interior?

[Camhabib]

While I work on the mechanical side of things on my 98 Sahara, I thought I'd turn my attention to some cosmetic issues as well. The interior, while overall not too bad, could definitely use some TLC. Hoping someone can give me some suggestions:

- Steering wheels leather is peeling, torn, and very gross. I hate the slip on covers so I'm trying to find a different option. There are a few used ones in good shape on eBay, but they lack the cruise control buttons, wiring harness, etc. Can those all be moved over from the old wheel to the new one? Are there any companies that will take my wheel and replace the leather?
- Door panels are faded and cracked along the top. I've searched everywhere online for some and the one or two I've been able to find look even worse. Has anyone had luck restoring these? Perhaps repair the cracks with a bit of adhesive, sand, and repaint them? Any paints that would work well that comes in a matching color? Should I just wait around for some clean ones to pop up for sale around me? Center console and the steering column cover has also seen better days, but not nearly as bad as doors.
- Carpet needs replacing. I've read good things about BedTred on here, was wondering if there was something newer / better out or that's still the option to go with?
- Are the Bartact covers worth the money? They're quite expensive compared to the alternatives, but seem to be the most highly rated.

That's all I can think of for the moment, as always thanks for the help!

 

[RustyCage]

- Are the Bartact covers worth the money? They're quite expensive compared to the alternatives, but seem to be the most highly rated.

I like my Bartact seat covers a lot so far. Just got them for Christmas. Well made, snug precise fit. Appear that they will be durable, but this will be the first season so they haven't seen much wear yet. Plenty of molle sewn in and a few slim zippered pockets.

 

[Chris]

I believe it was @AndyG who posted a thread with a repair he made to his cracked door panel using silicone that matched the door panel. The end result looked so good, you wouldn't even know there was a crack there.

In addition, you can paint the door panels with vinyl paint (which holds up very well over time) and should be able to get your door panels looking brand new.

 

[JeepZilla380]

Plenty of steering wheel cover options, I went cheap Jeep one from Wally World but some folks like custom stitch on steering wheel covers. Amazon has a few options.

I have the Bartacts as well and installed them with some Amazon carbon fiber seat heaters, and absolutely love that combo.

Door panels can be painted and refurbished or TJ part outs on Craigslist are great things to keep an eye out for.

Great thread here on the site to swap out old interior lights with LEDs.

 

[Tray Burge]

I like my Bartact seat covers a lot so far. Just got them for Christmas. Well made, snug precise fit. Appear that they will be durable, but this will be the first season so they haven't seen much wear yet. Plenty of molle sewn in and a few slim zippered pockets.
View attachment 85968

Wow, those are nice fitting seat covers. I thought my Rugged Ridge were nice, but those blow mine away! What do those run a set?

 

[AndyG]

I believe it was @AndyG who posted a thread with a repair he made to his cracked door panel using silicone that matched the door panel. The end result looked so good, you wouldn't even know there was a crack there.

In addition, you can paint the door panels with vinyl paint (which holds up very well over time) and should be able to get your door panels looking brand new.

If you use RTV silicone which typically has no Sheen... And put blue tape on either side of the crack and apply the silicone and then gently tool it and pull the tape it's going to work pretty good.

the door is textured so you don't have to have a perfect finish on the silicone and you really don't want it perfect.

if someone took the door panel off and supported the panel on the back before they did this it's going to be more durable.

before you do anything clean it with denatured alcohol real good or at least something like fantastic a couple of times so you get any silicone off or armor All.

The strength of silicone is its adhesion quality...and on thin material like that you don't have a lot of surface area so you want the best adhesion you can get.

 

[AndyG]

Wow, those are nice fitting seat covers. I thought my Rugged ridge were nice, but those blow mine away! What do those run a set?View attachment 85978

Bartact seat covers are fantastic and they're one of the favorite things I've done for my Jeep ...even for the money.

 

[Tray Burge]

Bartact seat covers are fantastic and they're one of the favorite things I've done for my Jeep ...even for the money.

How much a set, if I may ask?

 

[AndyG]

How much a set, if I may ask?

600 give or take ...and I really had a hard time convincing myself I hadn't lost my mind.

they are so nice and knowing that I'm preserving the stock interior and getting a good-looking durable seat cover that fits like factory covers is just really nice.

I was doubly glad when I did heated seats and I only had to remove the bartact covers in order to put the heating elements in.

Mine fit without a wrinkle and they just look fantastic... The key is they are foam lined so the foam compresses to give the material a tight fit without having to be stretchy.

The material is easy to move around on but not slippery.. it reminds me of what used to be in the earlier CJ Jeeps but a little better quality.

 

[JeepZilla380]

Roughly $300 for the fronts and $300 for the rear, without any customization. I dont recall paying that much, but I got mine 4 years ago, and they still look new. 4WD.com carries them so sometimes you can find a sale. https://www.bartact.com

 

[89grand]

I just recently painted my console, door panels and dash, added new interior and exterior door handles (those are a pain in the ass to install), bedrug carpet, and floor mats. It looking pretty decent now.

 

[Camhabib]

If you use RTV silicone which typically has no Sheen... And put blue tape on either side of the crack and apply the silicone and then gently tool it and pull the tape it's going to work pretty good.

Did you use a paintable or specific RTV or just the regular stuff that comes in a tube from Hone Depot?

I just recently painted my console, door panels and dash, added new interior and exterior door handles (those are a pain in the ass to install), bedrug carpet, and floor mats. It looking pretty decent now.

I kind of wish my doors and console were black anyways so this doesn’t sound like the worst idea. Any advice on a good brand of vinyl paint to use?

 

[DuncLJ]

You can't go wrong with Bartact seat covers and some properly prepped vinyl/plastic paint on the dash and door panels.

 

[PCO6]

Here are a few quick and easy upgrades that were pretty inexpensive.

Junk yard seats from a Hyundai Tiburon. I picked up another pair recently for $35 CDN ea. and installed Dorman seat heaters in them for about $120. They'll be going in soon.

GPS mount using a small block of HDPE and an old speaker mount. About $20 total.

DIY paracord door straps for about $2.

 

[AndyG]

Did you use a paintable or specific RTV or just the regular stuff that comes in a tube from Hone Depot?



I kind of wish my doors and console were black anyways so this doesn’t sound like the worst idea. Any advice on a good brand of vinyl paint to use?

Mar-hyde brand vinyl paint is the premier Paint or at least it used to be.

I used the black RTV from O'Reilly's.

Ideally you don't want to disturb the door panel for 24 hours.

 

[Head Lice]

Bartact seat covers are fantastic and they're one of the favorite things I've done for my Jeep ...even for the money.

Ordered Bartact Baseline covers also . . .
Waiting for the package . . . .

 

[Airjunky]

Hand stitched steering wheel cover

Seat covers from https://www.caltrend.com

Lots of stereo suggestions in this group. And cheap. Just got the Kicker amp and sub & will have it installed soon.

 

[skrelnik]

While I work on the mechanical side of things on my 98 Sahara, I thought I'd turn my attention to some cosmetic issues as well. The interior, while overall not too bad, could definitely use some TLC. Hoping someone can give me some suggestions:

- Steering wheels leather is peeling, torn, and very gross. I hate the slip on covers so I'm trying to find a different option. There are a few used ones in good shape on eBay, but they lack the cruise control buttons, wiring harness, etc. Can those all be moved over from the old wheel to the new one? Are there any companies that will take my wheel and replace the leather?
- Door panels are faded and cracked along the top. I've searched everywhere online for some and the one or two I've been able to find look even worse. Has anyone had luck restoring these? Perhaps repair the cracks with a bit of adhesive, sand, and repaint them? Any paints that would work well that comes in a matching color? Should I just wait around for some clean ones to pop up for sale around me? Center console and the steering column cover has also seen better days, but not nearly as bad as doors.
- Carpet needs replacing. I've read good things about BedTred on here, was wondering if there was something newer / better out or that's still the option to go with?
- Are the Bartact covers worth the money? They're quite expensive compared to the alternatives, but seem to be the most highly rated.

That's all I can think of for the moment, as always thanks for the help!

Since you are looking to replace/repair both your steering wheel cover and seat covers, you could check out an auto, or marine. upholstery shop. Plenty of them in the Boston area.

How bad is your carpet, is it salvageable? If yes you could consider steam cleaning it. A decent home steam cleaner will run between $100 - $200, and McCullough has a good reputation.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00G00BTEA/?tag=wranglerorg-20

 

[skrelnik]

While I work on the mechanical side of things on my 98 Sahara, I thought I'd turn my attention to some cosmetic issues as well. The interior, while overall not too bad, could definitely use some TLC. Hoping someone can give me some suggestions:

- Steering wheels leather is peeling, torn, and very gross. I hate the slip on covers so I'm trying to find a different option. There are a few used ones in good shape on eBay, but they lack the cruise control buttons, wiring harness, etc. Can those all be moved over from the old wheel to the new one? Are there any companies that will take my wheel and replace the leather?
- Door panels are faded and cracked along the top. I've searched everywhere online for some and the one or two I've been able to find look even worse. Has anyone had luck restoring these? Perhaps repair the cracks with a bit of adhesive, sand, and repaint them? Any paints that would work well that comes in a matching color? Should I just wait around for some clean ones to pop up for sale around me? Center console and the steering column cover has also seen better days, but not nearly as bad as doors.
- Carpet needs replacing. I've read good things about BedTred on here, was wondering if there was something newer / better out or that's still the option to go with?
- Are the Bartact covers worth the money? They're quite expensive compared to the alternatives, but seem to be the most highly rated.

That's all I can think of for the moment, as always thanks for the help!

Since you are looking to replace/repair both your steering wheel cover and seat covers, you could check out an auto, or marine, upholstery shop. Plenty of them in the Boston area.

How bad is your carpet, is it salvageable? If yes you could consider steam cleaning it. A decent home steam cleaner will run between $100 - $200, and McCullough has a good reputation.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00G00BTEA/?tag=wranglerorg-20

 

[Camhabib]

I just recently painted my console, door panels and dash, added new interior and exterior door handles (those are a pain in the ass to install), bedrug carpet, and floor mats. It looking pretty decent now.

Did you paint it black by any chance? Would love to know which paint matched the stock black.

Hand stitched steering wheel cover

Seat covers from https://www.caltrend.com

Lots of stereo suggestions in this group. And cheap. Just got the Kicker amp and sub & will have it installed soon.

View attachment 86016

View attachment 86018

That wheel cover is actually more or less exactly the kind I’m looking for. Did you make that yourself or is there someplace I can buy one?