Propickup Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/150744
Wet Okole Wet Okole offers comfortable, waterproof seat protection for all pickups and in a variety of colors and patterns, including the exclusive Bill Jordan RealTree camo. The company offers such options as seat heaters and lumbar pumps. Prices range from $239 to $275 per seat row. Wet Okole Hawaii: (888) 246-5653; www.wetokole.com SEAT COVERS & FLOOR MATS Saddleman Saddle Saddleman Surefit covers are available in all styles for rear bench seats. In addition to the saddle blanket style, Saddleman offers canvas-type covers as well as multicolor camoflauge patterns. Full-row sets start at $150. Saddleman: (800) 883-9919; www.saddleman.com Supreme Supreme offers 12 solid colors, seven Hawaiian prints and camoflauge for all trucks. Bucket styles (shown on Toyota Tundra) have a sewn-in storage pocket on the seat backs. Headrest and armrest covers are included where applicable. Waterproof fabric is available. Prices start at $139.95 and range up to $239.95 for heavy-duty waterproofing. Supreme Seat Covers: (800) 584-3858; www.seatsavers.com long-lasting, durable seat cover, especially when used for commercial purposes. The average lifespan of our seat covers is at least 10 years in commercial settings." Plain nylon or straight polyester can also be problematic since they don't hold up well to the greasy and dusty environments of the West and the oilfields. For those environments, you are better off choosing a Cordura nylon blend canvas that is abrasion-resistant and wipes clean with a damp towel. The point is when shopping for covers, take into account the type of environment in which your vehicle operates. "Our DWR coatings last a very long time – as much as 20 launderings," says Marathon's Rob Morgan, "and the Cordura nylon fabric we use is more durable than neoprene, is puncture-resistant and is a self-extinguishing fabric, so it won't easily burst into flame. "Contractors and concrete guys love our Superhide product since the concrete dust and dirt doesn't work through the Cordura. Oilfield guys like us since the grease and grime doesn't get into the cover, and the covers really hold up well to abrasion from dust and dirt." CARE & CLEANING Think also about breatheability, especially if you spend a lot of time behind the wheel; most seat cover materials breathe as well or better than OE, but not all do and nothing is worse than spending the day on a wet and sweaty driver's seat. Ask the manufacturer about cleaning and care. Some materials will wipe clean with a damp towel, while others may need to be removed for an occasional shampooing. Neoprene covers, for example, require periodic cleaning with a special wet suit shampoo (available from the seat cover manufacturer and most dive shops) to clear dirt and acids from the foam material, but don't have to be removed for the job since they are water- proof, protecting the upholstery underneath. While installing a set of seat covers is a great way to protect a new truck's interior (which accounts for almost 90 percent of the business, according to Steve Grew of Wet Okole Hawaii, makers of neoprene seat covers) they are also a great way to upgrade the appearance of work worn seats and keep them from completely wearing out too early, as well as make your truck appear more attractive to the next potential owner. Whether your truck is new or getting in years, protecting the interior with a set of custom-fit seat covers is both an affordable and practical idea. propickupmag.com PROPICKUP 81 ProPickup_2013BB_Seat Covers Floor Mats.indd 81 8/6/13 10:20 AM