Aftermarket seats

[bubbadabulldawg]

I was thinking of putting in some aftermarket seats in the XJ, has anyone swapped out the front seats for something better supportive and more comfortable and if so were you able to use the factory seat bases/brackets. I was thinking of somthing like these (black seat)

 

[Kejtar]

I'm not sure which model of the red art seats where donated for the XJ... but that seat was COMFY!!!! I sat in it originally a year ago at a 4x4 show and then again when the GiveawayXJ was on display @ Moab and if I didn't have to spend money on other things in my jeep..... I'd pick up a set of them

 

[YELLAHEEP]

Those are some nifty looking seats and probably great in a Honda or Acura. If you've never sat in an XJ with seats like that, you'd quickly learn that those kind of seats with the really high bolsters on the lower half of the seat make it a real pain in the arse to get in and out of the Jeep. Especially a lifted jeep.

I bought the Steel Horse seats ($190 each) back when they were in business. I really like the way they hold you in on the trail, but they are a little on the stiff side. I know these seats are still being made, just under a different manufacturer name. Fourwheel Parts Wholesalers still sell them. The only part of the design that I don't like is the lack of a quick release to rock the seat-back forward. You have to crank the large knob on the side and if you have a 2dr like I do, that's where it's a pain.

Alot of guys have snagged the factory seats from Hondas and Acuras because they have just the right amount of bolster. They can be had for a decent price at salvage yards - or look for some "ricer" club websites and check out their for sale forums for the seats. The nice thing about the Acura and Honda seats are the fact that the bottom surface is flat which makes bracket building much easier.

If you wanna see what I did, you can check out the "Tech Write-Up" forum available to members. I did a write up about my "no-weld bracket" seat install with pics and it's posted there.

BTW, I disagree with Kejtar about those Giveaway XJ seats -- they are the most uncomfortable things I have ever had to sit in. I got to take that XJ over a few obstacles on Moab Rim and got tired of those seats in a hurry. They'd be great for a buggy, but not a rig you drive to and from the trail - or daily driver.

Good Luck!
Troy

 

[Urban Redneck]

I was in the same boat you were in about 2 weeks ago. I almost went with Corbeau TRS seats. I ended up going with Mastercraft Rubicons. I LOVE THEM!!! Too many people told me that getting in and out of a lifted XJ with high bolster seats sucks. Now that I have my Rubi's I can't believe that I waited this long. They have adapters, because you use the factory frame rails.

 

[GRNT]

mastercraft rubicons

are the only way to go. They are very comfortable and Kartek in Corona California,(just do a search for Kartek) Now has their copies of the Rubicon which is what I ended up with alot cheaper. I did use the stock seat base for a 91. It was pretty easy. Stay away from the wide seats as they do not fit on the driver side properly.
If you have a 95 or newer style seat base, it seems to be a much easier job to install the new seat on it.
Paul Sinclar has the 95 seat base and his looked nice and easier to install than mine.
The Rubicon seat is very comfortable for 4 wheeling.
Good luck.
GRNT

 

[Gojeep]

I has SAAS seat in my CJ7 and they had the high base bolsters. They felt nice and secure when you had no roof and doors on but they were a pain to get in and out of. I had to re-cloth the bolsters only twice in the 5 years I had them as you slide over them all the time. Better to have them on the seat back instead.
I am thinking of adding some high density foam to the stock seats again like I did on my last XJ. The cheapest way to buy it is to get a sleeping mat and use that for the foam. I even re-shaped it a bit to get it to suit me better. You cant get too carried away adding the foam as you still have to streach the stock cloth back over it. You can shape the foam using an electric bread cutter. That way you still end up with matching seat cloth front to rear and they dont look so stuck in!

 

[bubbadabulldawg]

I have another style seat from this manufacturer in my Integra that has rigid side bolsters which I love but know wouldn't work because the XJ is lifted and it would be to hard to climb in and out of, it's hard enough climbing in the stock seats. These seats that I was thinking of have foam side bolsters which will make getting in & out over not to bad. The only thing I don't like about them is that the seats only have an adjuster on one side which could make the seat back flex in an accident or when wheeling unless you have a roll cage behind it so the seatback can't fall backwards. I plan to have 5 point harnesses and plan on doing a full cage on the inside the XJ.