Reupholster or Replace?

[Manhattan]

The seats in my '84 are okay. They look good for their age but bad for the miles. I tried slip-on seat covers - hate'em. They look sloppy and I'm always sitting or leaning on a fold.

I've gotten a couple estimates - $1,200-1,400 to reupholster these in cloth - nothing fancy. That seems high... based on nothing more than I expected less.... which was based on nothing.

I do like the idea of stock - the looks, bolt-in, simple. But for that kind of money, I gotta think two new aftermarket seats would be pretty damn comfy... and likely cost less.

I guess a third option is newer Toyota seats. But the time it'd take to hunt down a set of tan seats in great shape... I think I'd be better off with option 1 or 2.

Need some suggestions here.

The pic makes them look a little better than they are. The fabric is mostly spent - you can tell they're about to start coming apart.

 

[pappy]

For that kind of money I would go Mastercraft Baja RS. I installed mine before a month-long adventure last September. Everyday, except one, I was driving, mostly off-road. I can honestly say my 60+ year old back didn't feel it. If you have a super lifted truck they will be a challange to get into because of the side bolster.

The only issue will be the seat mounts. Mastercraft used to sell rails for our trucks, but the last time I looked I didn't see them. Maybe they would be kind and make a set for you. I ended up modifying the Corbeau mount I had. If you have fab skills you could get their seat, and seat slider, and probably make a pair of rails to mount them too.

 

[gnob]

My buddy has seats done semi frequently for under $500 a pair.
If you can't get a better price, go aftermarket. I agree with pappy. I have some simple corbeau baja ss in mine and have never regretted it.
They make day long trips not noticeable.

 

[G-Cat]

My preference would be for a seat that has an OE look to it...headrest on posts rather than molded, simply from an aesthetics POV.

The Mastercraft don’t have this, but look way better IMO than the seats with the huge “King Cobra” slots for harnesses, which I strongly dislike in old Toyotas.

Are you planning on running harnesses or OEM seatbelts?

 

[msahr]

There's This thread

 

[whiteyota]

I recently put a set of Corbeau GTS in my 88 single cab.I like the fact that they raise my seating position. I dont care for the high bolsters on the seat cushion, and the one on the drivers seat is separated already. they dont recline far enough with the single cab to be totally comfortable.They are not totally uncomfortable, just a bit too upright.
I found a set of 4 runner seats, wrong color, but in excellent shape.
The mounting issue could be solved by modifying the bottom of the OE seats and mounting to the Corbeau brackets.

 

[pappy]

My only comment on Corbeau seats is the Corbeau Moab I had in my truck for awhile was the most uncomfortable seat I've ever put my butt into. They also fell apart after only a few years. Pure garbage.

 

[whiteyota]

Yeah, if I had been able to sit in them and see the construction up close, I would not have bought them.
Costly mistake

 

[Manhattan]

Y'all are making me think I need to do more research and find a good, local guy to redo my seats - for more like $500-750. It's odd - I "know a guy" for just about every other trade related to cars. But even talking to those guys, I'm hearing "I used to know a guy..." like it's a dying segment or something.

 

[pappy]

But even talking to those guys, I'm hearing "I used to know a guy..." like it's a dying segment or something.

TRUTH! Old school craftsmanship is a dying art.

 

[CreeperSleeper]

If it were me, I would be throwing in a low back suspension seat with headrests.

 

[msahr]

Not that I want to promote "other" Toyota forums, but here's a couple of decent threads based on using other OEM seats. Specifically from a 2nd gen 4runner. Fun theory: The floor pan on a 1st and 2nd gen 4runners are the "same" and you can use seats from newer to older. And older to newer I guess as well.

Show off your swapped in seats! - YotaTech Forums

86-95 Trucks & 4Runners - Show off your swapped in seats! - Gonna be replacing the factory 1piece vinyl bench in my x-cab and was looking around for good ideas. SR5's would be great but are getting harder to find around town. Got me thinking about how many guys here don't even have toyota...

www.yotatech.com

What seats will interchange? - YotaTech Forums

86-95 Trucks & 4Runners - What seats will interchange? - I've got a 87 4runner and the front seats (mainly driver's side) is completely worn out. I'm looking on various forums, craigslist, and salvage yards for a new set of front seats. I've found several, just not sure if they will fit. Are the...

www.yotatech.com

 

[IslandJ]

Find a good local guy. My last fj60 looked amazing after he redid my seats. My current 60 has seats and door cards done by him as well.
Here in LA I paid $800 for four seats and door cards

 

[Greek Cruiserhead]

Not that I want to promote "other" Toyota forums, but here's a couple of decent threads based on using other OEM seats. Specifically from a 2nd gen 4runner. Fun theory: The floor pan on a 1st and 2nd gen 4runners are the "same" and you can use seats from newer to older. And older to newer I guess as well.

Show off your swapped in seats! - YotaTech Forums

86-95 Trucks & 4Runners - Show off your swapped in seats! - Gonna be replacing the factory 1piece vinyl bench in my x-cab and was looking around for good ideas. SR5's would be great but are getting harder to find around town. Got me thinking about how many guys here don't even have toyota...

www.yotatech.com

What seats will interchange? - YotaTech Forums

86-95 Trucks & 4Runners - What seats will interchange? - I've got a 87 4runner and the front seats (mainly driver's side) is completely worn out. I'm looking on various forums, craigslist, and salvage yards for a new set of front seats. I've found several, just not sure if they will fit. Are the...

www.yotatech.com

To use OEM seats seems beautiful and practical at the same time, IMHO.
Thank you for sharing info mate!
May I ask if these OEM Mini-Truck/4Runner seats could be used/interchange in the LC 40-Series as well?

 

[SteveH]

I've gotten a couple estimates - $1,200-1,400 to reupholster these in cloth - nothing fancy. That seems high... based on nothing more than I expected less.... which was based on nothing.

Seems high to me, too. Try to shop around some more or maybe find someone outside of the city, as it were.

 

[Manhattan]

Seems high to me, too. Try to shop around some more or maybe find someone outside of the city, as it were.

Yeah... maybe I should call @Jasonredwood's guy and see if he's got a cousin in GA.

 

[yotadude520]

Y'all are making me think I need to do more research and find a good, local guy to redo my seats - for more like $500-750. It's odd - I "know a guy" for just about every other trade related to cars. But even talking to those guys, I'm hearing "I used to know a guy..." like it's a dying segment or something.

Definitely keep looking - $500 is still a little high. There's a guy down here who does great work and would reupholster two cloth front seats for around $375-$400. They're out there!

 

[GeoRoss]

Definitely keep looking - $500 is still a little high. There's a guy down here who does great work and would reupholster two cloth front seats for around $375-$400. They're out there!

That is a name I could definitely use!

 

[gbogh]

I haven't checked dimensions, but the 1997-2001 es300 front seats look pretty good and were pretty comfortable for the few minutes I sat in them when I was cruising PnP a while back.

 

[Manhattan]

@Jasonredwood what material is that? It looks like what we're seeing in new(er) cars - a breathable synthetic kinda material. The only thing I'm opposed to is old school vinyl.... Atlanta summers and no AC