Escape Gear Dash and Trans covers - pics/feedback?

[yonah]

 

[MTN2SND]

I'll have to see how my dash cover fits. They didn't do a cut out on my dash cover for the center speaker, which I'm o.k. with, since I don't plant to use the dash cover for 90% of the driving time.

 

[yonah]

I finally got some time today to install the full matching set of Escape Gear seat covers in the 200. It took much longer than it should have (probably four hours total) -- a lot of discovery learning — but I took my time with the front seats to ensure no wiring harnesses were strained by the straps (which are tightened considerably).

Quality is top notch and I really like the grey Tough Canvas fabric. It feels like Cordura Nylon — similar to the material found in a Carhartt jacket or military rucksack — only lighter and softer to the touch. The covers are definitely comfortable; they also give the 200-series interior a more utilitarian feel and aesthetic (which I like). Additionally, the covers keep debris from falling into the little holes in the perforated seat fabric; I feel this is a big drawback of this style of fabric, at least in a vehicle designed for outdoor activities.

Photos:

*the jump seats are not pictured as they’re stowed and covered by an additional cargo liner (Canvasback).

 

[7000ft]

The Escape Gear shipment (ordered via @Equipt) arrived Tuesday from South Africa.
I didn’t have time to install the seat covers, but did install the dash cover this afternoon.

A lot of the time is spent on prep; mostly cleaning and dusting before adhering the 3M Velcro tape to the dash. I recommend a little aerosol spray can of compressed air to clean the dash before pressing on the Velcro tape. I found that a very small amount of dust would continually the fall from the cover while moving it around. It took me about an hour to get the tape installed and the cover positioned in a way that I was happy with.

IMO, material quality is a 10/10 and craftsmanship is a 8.5/10.

Things I like:

1). The fabric seems durable and it is attractive on the 200 dash. It’s nice to know that if something is accidentally dropped on the dash, like a phone mount or a GPS unit, that the cover would do its job in protecting the plastic’s finish. It also covers probably 90% of the plastic on the dash, so sun fading should be minimal.

2). It’s lightly padded and the pockets are a nice touch. I put the vehicle registration and proof-of-insurance in the small pocket in front of the steering wheel and misc. device charging cables in the pocket above the air bag. It’s nice to have a bit of functionality added with the cover.

3). Escape Gear has installed a strip of Velcro at the bottom of the flap that covers the air bag. That seems to hold it down well, while also being semi-detachable (maybe this is an improved feature) - the lack of Velcro here was mentioned in a previous comment by @Markuson

4). Overall, the cover conforms to the dash really well and doesn’t detract from the interior appearance of the 200. I like the integrated “Equipt” logo tag - it’s an attractive logo, but I suspect it will fade from red to pink in a few years due to the location.

5). Escape Gear seems to have made their own 3M equipped Velcro tape. They even added some additional reinforcement stitching the to pieces that are placed on the dash. Very cool. The grey, semi-foam-like, 3M trim tape is an excellent product.

Things I don’t like:

1). The cut-out for the right side door defroster vent is about .5”, maybe a bit more, too far left (seen in some of the below photos), so roughly 1/3 of that vent is obstructed. I played around with the alignment at least a half dozen times and could not fully align the cut out over this vent. If I slid the cover more to the right, the left side of the cover (over the gauge cluster would rise up off of the dash and it looked unsightly. Maybe the left side of the cover (between the center speaker and left side defroster vent) was cut a little too short? Open to suggestions if someone thinks I could have installed the cover incorrectly. Overall, not a huge deal, but it seems like a QC issue to me. I think the right side vent should still accomplish its purpose in defrosting the side window, albeit not as effectively.

2). The fabric that runs over the top of the front of the nav screen only has Velcro on 1/2 of its length - on the right side. Would have made sense, from what I can see, to have Velcro installed on the entire length of this piece. I can see no practical reason to have not done that. This would help to fully hold it down for a more finished look. It’s noticeable from the drivers seat view, but not so much in the photos below.

3). The Velcro strip on the back of the center speaker runs about 1” over the trim on some uneven transitions between the speaker grill, trim, and dash. I suspect the strip of 3M Velcro tape at this location will fail to bond well and detach over time. It’s also odd that Velcro is only found on the right side of the speaker.

4). I feel like the the loop portions of the Velcro tape could have been more strategically placed/sewn on the underside of the cover to marry up to the contours and trim of the 200’s dash. Seems like an oversight on an otherwise well-made product.

—-

All and all, I would probably purchase it again. Maybe not on its own, but since I was ordering a full suite of Escape Gear seat covers, I figured I’d give it a try. I’ll definitely keep it installed and give some feedback via subsequent posts as a longterm review.

Working from my phone, so photos of the cover installed will be placed in below posts.

-Steve

Photos:
View attachment 2727592View attachment 2727593View attachment 2727594View attachment 2727595View attachment 2727599

Is this the cover in charcoal?

 

[yonah]

Is this the cover in charcoal?

Yes.

 

[7000ft]

I finally got some time today to install the full matching set of Escape Gear seat covers in the 200. It took much longer than it should have (probably four hours total) -- a lot of discovery learning — but I took my time with the front seats to ensure no wiring harnesses were strained by the straps (which are tightened considerably).

Quality is top notch and I really like the grey Tough Canvas fabric. It feels like Cordura Nylon — similar to the material found in a Carhartt jacket or military rucksack — only lighter and softer to the touch. The covers are definitely comfortable; they also give the 200-series interior a more utilitarian feel and aesthetic (which I like). Additionally, the covers keep debris from falling into the little holes in the perforated seat fabric; I feel this is a big drawback of this style of fabric, at least in a vehicle designed for outdoor activities.

Photos:
View attachment 2739554View attachment 2739555View attachment 2739556View attachment 2739557View attachment 2739558

*the jump seats are not pictured as they’re stowed and covered by an additional cargo liner (Canvasback).

Nice install! Did you tuck and strap down the front seat covers behind the plastic fronts? I just installed a pair yesterday, but I ran them over the front of the plastic seat front and strapped them from below the seat cushion.
Yours look much tighter.
Also, your console cover fits great. I need to investigate here on MUD the best way to install without removing the console cover.

 

[yonah]

Nice install! Did you tuck and strap down the front seat covers behind the plastic fronts? I just installed a pair yesterday, but I ran them over the front of the plastic seat front and strapped them from below the seat cushion.
Yours look much tighter.
Also, your console cover fits great. I need to investigate here on MUD the best way to install without removing the console cover.

For the front seat covers - yes, tucked under the lower plastic seat trim. Well worth the extra few minutes to do so - it’s a much more finished look.

For the console cover - I simply installed the console lid cover. But didn’t remove the inner plastic trim, as some have done on Mud and documented. As a solution for a lid cover, I recommend wetting your console lid cover and installing it when it’s slightly damp to the touch. Then parking outside in the sun to let the interior of the truck “bake” for a few hours. That may tighten up any slack in the fabric. I believe Escape Gear even recommends this for cover installs after laundering. It helps with the install and finishes with a tighter fit.

 

[DPA200]

Here’s a photo that shows the passenger half, which includes the part that is unattached in order to accommodate an expanding airbag under that oart of the dash (above glove box).

The zippered pocket visible there is just the right size for trail books such as the excellent FunTrek series.
View attachment 2665686
Ignore the green arrow (from a different post), but here a closer view of passenger…
View attachment 2665687

Here’s a glimpse of the view from driver.
Smaller pocket on driver that I keep a couple Fast-Trak units in (toll road transponders) and a tourniquet…within reach (If you need one a crash, you need it NOW &within one arm’s reach).
View attachment 2665692

Worth noting that despite not being garaged (so direct sun all the time), there has been no noticeable fadinh after several years.

I’m curious as well, what are those A-Pillar mounts you have?