Once i find some decent short back bucket frames for my 80, I'd like to get the seats built and covered in some kind of material built to stand both Arizona sun, monsoon rain, and a dog. I'm guessing something like a marine vinyl (ouch in the sun!) or something similar to a motorcycle. Any advice?
I remember seeing seats done with a product made for patio furniture. It was on a high end 4x4 (I think by Ikon). It looked good. You could also look into material made for awnings. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Might be a good option with the higher end stuff. Cheap awnings like the ones advertised on TV or on basic campers seperate fairly quick but the canvas type material on the expensive awnings hold up over time and repel water very well for years on end. Have one on our back deck for about 12 years now and it has suprised me. In the end where friction and wear matters it sounds like something Jeff Jamison would have the best knowledge on.
Every one always goes to marine vinyl,but its not realy made for inside of a car/truck where the heat can get over 150 degrees in an inclosed vehicle.Tweed holds up well,but will not do good in water.I did one seat for a mud racer,out of all things,roofing rubber,held up great but very hot to sit on.To be honest I would go with a good automotive vinyl,but don't know how long it will hold up where you are at,I don't get those temps here.But heres a picture of a set I just finished.
Sunbrella is a fabric used in a lot of custom awnings. A little research shows that IKON 4x4 uses Chilewich textile. Chilewich is what I would choose. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Used the fabric they make high end convertible tops from. Very durable, waterproof, and not hot like vinyl.
This is probably a very good option. They make waterproof/breathable fabric and from my experience it is very abrasion resistant. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Just noticed this thread. I would suggest Sunbrella as a candidate also. I was in the awning business at least part-time for a while and worked with a lot of fabrics. Sunbrella was one of them. It's very easy to cut and sew, and very good with prolonged sunlight. It's woven tightly but not coated, as I remember. So it is waterproof enough for an awning and things like that. Would probably be okay for seat upholstery. In fact, just for fun I googled it and found that Sunbrella is commonly used for covering golf cart seats.
Hmm. Cordura is made of nylon fibers though. Nylon, such as used in Cordura, Ballistic nylon, pack cloth, rip-stop, etc. doesn't handle UV as well as some other materials (like polyester for example). It can handle some sun, but over months or a year of daily intense direct sunlight it'll degrade and start to rip apart at the seams.
Great idea - the top on my Boxster never really faded much, was waterproof, and never ripped after 15 years. Better for the heat too! https://www.haartz.com/exteriors/cloth-topping
Good point walkersscout. My '02 330 Ci convertible top is nearly 18 years old, always exposed (never garaged) has travelled 312,000 miles plus the trip from Germany and only leaks occasionally through the rubber seals. It's black and in the sun it isn't nearly as hot as black metal. It is a canvas like cloth. No cuts or tears though one dime sized spot is mildly frayed (not leaking). It is up and down probably 50-100 times a year so it handles movement well. Seems like it would make a perfect seat fabric.
A buddy had cordura installed in his Land Rover 88 way back when and it wore like iron. It's everything (except flame) proof. Scratchy when you wear shorts, though.
I was just searching for something else and just found theres a newer type of foam for boats,they get wet and the water just drains through.
