Summer is coming, and many trucks and SUVs with leather seats will find their drivers and passengers cursing as the sun roasts the leather to skin-scorching temperatures. However, there is some salvation in the form of a myriad of truck seat covers to suit every requirement and price point. Installing seat protectors is a great way to preserve your OEM seat materials for longer, as leather, as well as fabric seats, do wear down over time with continuous use.
What’s the difference between seat covers and seat protectors? Well, they broadly perform the same task, although some seat protectors may provide added protection from abrasion and liquid spills. Let’s look at some of the advantages that seat covers and protectors present.
- They protect you and your passengers from getting scorched in the sun.
- Some (but not all) offer waterproofing properties, stopping liquids spilled on them from reaching your OEM seats.
- They offer an additional line of defense from wear and tear, cuts, and slashes that may result from something as simple as forgetting to take a screwdriver out of your pocket before getting into the seat.
- They offer extra breathability, ensuring that if you’re prone to sweating, moisture is quickly wicked away where it can evaporate rather than getting trapped in the seat and promoting mold, mildew, and unsavory odors.
- There are seat covers with in-built fans for active cooling that can act as a substitute of sorts for ventilated seats if your vehicle doesn’t have them.
We’ve gathered five options for seat covers that we think you’ll like. Have a look, and hit up our website to browse the entire range that we carry.
Corbeau Rear Seat Cover
Corbeau is a renowned name in seating, and their Rear Seat Cover can be had in a variety of colors, including black, black and red, black and gray, gray, and tan. This allows it to match most Jeep and other truck and SUV stock interior colors. Attaching via nylon straps, it’s easy to install and remove, and being priced at around $150 give or take a few dollars, represents a sound choice for keeping your rear seats in pristine order, as well as granting decent comfort to rear seat occupants without scorching their legs off.
Aries Offroad Seat Defender Seat Cover
Aries Offroad has a great range of Seat Defender seat covers for front and rear seats, and the best part is that they start at $50 for single front-seat covers. Their dual-layer non-skid construction ensures good comfort, and they are easy to install and remove, with thermoplastic rubber gripping your factory seats for added comfort and safety. The woven 600-dernier fabric also ensures a decent degree of spill protection, although they aren’t explicitly marketed as being fully waterproof, so that’s something to bear in mind.
WeatherTech Universal Front Bucket Seat Protector
The WeatherTech Universal Front Bucket Seat Protector is a little pricier, at around $140 per side, but comes in a range of colors, including charcoal, cocoa, gray, and tan. It’s said to be semi-custom to fit most vehicles, although it is warned that it may not be compatible with seats that have in-built airbags, so it’s a valid point to consider with any seat cover you’re looking at. Durable rubber straps and a non-slip bottom ensure a tight fit with the seat, and it’s made from a polycotton twill fabric that is said to be water-repellent. As well, these seat protectors are machine washable and reusable, and engineered with an extra layer of nylon lining to protect the seat on which they are installed.
WeatherTech 2nd Row Bench Seat Protector
WeatherTech also makes the same product for the 2nd row of your truck or SUV, costing around $170. Available in charcoal, black, and tan, it requires bench seats with headrests for proper installation. Made from the same polycotton twill fabric as the universal front bucket seat protector, it offers the same water repellent properties. It’s easily installable and removable and can be machine washed too. Durable straps as well as inserts and a non-slip bottom ensure the cover stays in place on the seats and does not get dislodged easily.
Smittybilt G.E.A.R. Seat Cover Kit
The Smittybilt G.E.A.R range of seat covers are a bit dearer, with front seat kits ranging upwards of $200 and individual covers for front seats coming in at over $100. Still, you do get that legendary Smittybilt build quality thrown in. These aren’t waterproof, though, but are solidly built and easy to install and remove using a Molle/Pals restraint system that ensures the covers stay in place even under vigorous off-roading. Some of their front seat cover options also offer up to seven storage pouches hanging off the rear of the seat cover, giving you added storage spaces in what would usually be unutilized. Some models have military-grade clips and snap-fit connectors, and there are even places to store the American Flag, for those important moments that deserve to be commemorated by the Star-Spangled Banner.
Seat Covers, Seats, and Everything At 4 Wheel Parts
With over 90 stores located nationwide and a comprehensive website to shop from, it’s no surprise that many off-road enthusiasts, from novices to seasoned professionals, swear by 4 Wheel Parts as their preferred vendor of all things for their machines. We carry thousands of SKUs in stock at any time, from hundreds of quality established brands, and offer products for a broad range of vehicles. Even if your off-roader isn’t in our list, there are plenty of universal-fit options, meaning that you’re bound to find something with us.
Take advantage of our price matching policy for the best price, and rest easy knowing that we offer applicable warranties on eligible purchases. With 4 Wheel Parts, it’s all about maximum peace of mind for customers, who we consider as family. Once you’re part of our community, it’s a long-term relationship and it’s why customers stay with us for years, and counting.
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