The Sahara Cloth Seats
First off, I should disclose the fact that Iove the fabric seats that came with my 2017 JKU Sahara. They look great, but I was worried about how they would wear, especially if I got caught in the rain with the top off.
As you can see in the slideshow below, they have beautiful stitching on front and back.
As you can see in the slideshow below, they have beautiful stitching on front and back.
Diver Down Seat Covers
Well, the problem with cloth is that it doesn't typically wear well. In my last Jeep, I got caught in the rain with the top off on more than one occasion and I think Neoprene wears better. If it fades or gets ripped or if the inside of my Jeep gets covered in mud, I can simply pull these out, rinse them off, let them dry, and put them back in or replace them.
So now that I determined that I wanted seat covers, I started looking around. The Diver Downs were the cheapest, well made, covers I could find that has a company that stands behind them. Unlike my last covers, these are thick in front and back. They have tons of straps to make sure they stay put, as well. They also have pockets in the back of the front seat, so I can still put my umbrella in there.
As for the color, I had a hard time deciding. Most of the teams I like are blue, so I thought about getting the Black and Blue covers. However, I eventually decided on Red and Black. The main reason is that red pops when it is on black. If you have seen my Den pics, you should know that I like that combo. I have also used it sparingly inmy office. The other reason I chose red is that it is a common color for Jeep accessories, so I can stay with the color for grab bars, D Rings, etc.
Below is a slide show of the new covers in my Jeep.
So now that I determined that I wanted seat covers, I started looking around. The Diver Downs were the cheapest, well made, covers I could find that has a company that stands behind them. Unlike my last covers, these are thick in front and back. They have tons of straps to make sure they stay put, as well. They also have pockets in the back of the front seat, so I can still put my umbrella in there.
As for the color, I had a hard time deciding. Most of the teams I like are blue, so I thought about getting the Black and Blue covers. However, I eventually decided on Red and Black. The main reason is that red pops when it is on black. If you have seen my Den pics, you should know that I like that combo. I have also used it sparingly inmy office. The other reason I chose red is that it is a common color for Jeep accessories, so I can stay with the color for grab bars, D Rings, etc.
Below is a slide show of the new covers in my Jeep.
Problems!
Well, all was not perfect. I had one issue with the back of the front seat headrests. Notice in the pic below that the driver side is black on the headrest and the passenger side is red!
I sent an email to Quadratec and they are going to send me another box and I can pick out what I need and send it back. Unfortunately, the seat covers are on backorder, so it could be a month before I get a new set. Not a huge deal, but it does look strange if you have an eye for detail.
However, I am very happy that I spent the money on these rather than getting a no-name brand from Ebay that could have a similar issue, but without anyone to stand behind the product.
However, I am very happy that I spent the money on these rather than getting a no-name brand from Ebay that could have a similar issue, but without anyone to stand behind the product.
Cushioning is good?!
These do have their own cushioning. The only issue with that is that it puts my body closer to the steering wheel and my head closer to the speaker bar. I can live with it, but it does make me want to get the Misch Big Boy brackets, that give you a few extra inches of leg room, even more. They are comfy, though. I should also mention that it takes some getting used to when getting in and out of the Jeep. You don't slide as easily across it as cloth, so you have to scoot a little harder.
I have heated seats, so I called Quadratec to be sure these would be fine with them before ordering. I tested the seats and they take a little longer to heat up, but they generate about the same amount of heat as the regular seats. I should also note that my Jeep did not come with side Airbags, but they have a slot in the covers for them and you can't order them without it. Not a big deal, but worth mentioning.
I have heated seats, so I called Quadratec to be sure these would be fine with them before ordering. I tested the seats and they take a little longer to heat up, but they generate about the same amount of heat as the regular seats. I should also note that my Jeep did not come with side Airbags, but they have a slot in the covers for them and you can't order them without it. Not a big deal, but worth mentioning.
Installation
I should mention that there were not any installation instructions in the box. It is easy enough to figure out how to install them, but I still ended up with one extra clip in the back without anything to attach it to. That is my fault for putting them on at night in a dark garage. I did realize that I need to switch the interior lights to LEDs, though! It took me between around an hour or hour and half ( I took a break to dry off..it was also hot outside). They fit great and look great (other than the headrest issue).
Note: I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products in this post.
Note: I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products in this post.
The Wrap Up
The Diver Down Seat Covers by Quadratec were around $160, less than half the price of some brands, but they look great and are comfy. I am going to put some 303 protectant on them soon, so that should help with fading. All in all, a nice, relatively inexpensive upgrade for the Jeep that will allow those factory cloth seats look new for years!
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