Worn Seat

[Seahawk]

I plan on keeping my 1996 Land Cruiser for as long as I can drive. I have put nearly 30k on it in the 2 plus years I have owned it and it just ticks all the boxes for me.

Everything works perfectly except the "D" indicator light on the dash. Condition wise the paint and interior are in 90% condition. I have do rust spots that have been dealt with in the short term but will need attention in a year or so.

The only other problem is the drivers seat. I covered the seat with a seat heating element that I cam to hate so I removed it.

Here is a picture of the seat:



I thought I'd start here before I posted on LC specific sites. Is this fixable without help or do I need to take it in to a professional?

Any advice is welcomed.

[1990C4S]

For a vehicle you're keeping either take is somewhere, but a used seat, or buy a new skin for it.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

For a vehicle you're keeping either take is somewhere, but a used seat, or buy a new skin for it.

concur.

If you take it to a pro, you probably won't be able to tell. I've had some minor cracks and scratching fixed and you couldn't tell.

I'm not sure if they can/will fix that much wear or if they'll recommend replacement upholstery.

[Seahawk]

Interesting. I figured as much. I don't mind the fix not looking new, just want to arrest the spread.

Thank you both. I guess there is no handy solution

[911boost]

I bought a replacement leatherette or whatever it is cover from Ford for the passenger rear seat bottom in the F350 and did it myself. Was pretty easy, but it’s a 2012. I bet that 1996 has hog rings etc. if it was me and I was thinking long term, I’d pull the seat and get a pro to put new foam and leather on it.

Agree on LC’s being keepers, I absolutely love mine.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by 911boost

Agree on LC’s being keepers, I absolutely love mine.

Mine has low mileage (144k) and belonged to a friend of mine since new - I bugged him for years

It is a bit slow, clunky at times, smallish in the interior, but the sum of the parts just work for me.

Looking at upholstery shops as we speak!

[David]

Take it to an auto upholstery shop. I bet that would be $100 or less and be done in a day at the shop I use.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by David

Take it to an auto upholstery shop. I bet that would be $100 or less and be done in a day at the shop I use.

Ditto...I modified a bit by going to a local cruise-in, asking several about the upholstery shop they used...quite happy with the way my pickup seat was done.

[1990C4S]

I did a Volvo seat once that had hog rings, I cut them all off, and replaced them with zip-ties. They lasted over ten years....

[911 Rod]

Can't see that only being $100 unless they just paint it.
Maybe no Porsche tax. Katzkin makes some nice stuff.

[911boost]

Growing up on old Mustangs, I am pretty good with the hog rings and pliers!

And I agree Paul, mine just fits me. Not huge and not small.

[fintstone]

Depends on how much you like the car. A single seat bottom that sorta matches...
https://www.ebay.com/itm/264117000310?hash=item3d7e999876:gskAAOSwfhlcKnP z

or an entire interior can be had for a reasonable price:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/255042280638?hash=item3b61b45cbe:g:GZYAAOSwO2tg2OA m

[matthewb0051]

I used these guys in Alexandria VA a few years ago. Nice work. They have lots of cars there if that is any indication. I don't remember if this is far from you though.

https://www.keyautoupholstery.com/

[Seahawk]

vvv I tried to give away the third row seats I had, no takers on any LC site.

I think, we'll see, I have found the right place. I want to keep the patina of the old seats - the picture I showed earlier is the only issue in the entire interior.

I am in Baltimore at Hopkins waiting for the Pathologist and will stop on my way home.

Originally Posted by fintstone

Depends on how much you like the car. A single seat bottom that sorta matches...
https://www.ebay.com/itm/264117000310?hash=item3d7e999876:gskAAOSwfhlcKnP z

or an entire interior can be had for a reasonable price:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/255042280638?hash=item3b61b45cbe:g:GZYAAOSwO2tg2OA m

[Baz]

Hey Paul......

I realize the ultimate solution would be to have the seat reupholstered.

But a short term solution *might* be to just get a seat cover for it.

I have always used seat covers in my work trucks, the '02 Silverado being the current edition.

Underneath ---- the factory cloth seats are nearly perfect.

In any event it would buy you some time to get it all figured out.

Seat covers can also be a bit of a PITA, so there's the caveat, I guess.

Good luck!

[fintstone]

Some say Lims is the best for investment grade vehicles...but I have not used them myself (and likely pricey).
https://www.limsau.com/

Lots of nice stuff out there for LCs...wish there was similar for my cars.
https://www.lch4x4.com/land-cruiser-heaven-80-series-leather-seat-covers/

If you use someone local, please let me know how it goes as I have some work that I need done when I am in the area.

[craigster59]

Pricey but you can't go wrong with Specter Off Road....

https://www.sor.com/cat308b.sor

[Seahawk]

Holy snikey you guys are good!

[vash]

paul. hate to tell you, that is too far gone.

you should put it on a truck and send it to me for proper disposal.

i saw a clean one for sale. $27,000. but both seats were nice.

[mattdavis11]

You are going to hate my answer, but they all wear out that way, even the cloth seats going back to FJ60. It's just something you deal with, or fix.