YJ Seat Recommendations And Floor Coating Advice

[SquareFace]

Now that I’ve pulled the trigger on a new center console, I figured—why stop there? Let’s talk seats.

I’m on the hunt for solid replacement seats that are easy to install on either the floor or the OEM brackets. I’ve been eyeing the Smittybilt black vinyl seats—they look great and seem rugged enough, but I’d love to hear from anyone who’s actually used them. Yay or nay? Comfort? Durability? Fitment?

Also, since I’ll be pulling the seats and console anyway, I’m thinking of tackling the floor while I’m in there. Any recommendations for protective coatings for the tub? I’m looking for something that offers rust prevention, of course, but curious what other benefits folks have noticed (sound deadening? easier cleanup? less stink?).

And here’s a bonus question—can you lay the factory carpet back over it once the coating is down, or does that defeat the purpose?

Probably overthinking, but hey—I love getting into the details. Appreciate any insight from folks who’ve been down this road!

 

[machoheadgames]

Are you having issues with the factory seats? I find that the stock seats are a much better fit than anything aftermarket I’ve seen. Almost guaranteed - adapting anything to the factory brackets will sit too high. Aftermarket seats are almost always 2-3” thicker in the cushion making them noticeably higher and potentially jamming you into the steering wheel and making pedals hard to reach.

Corbeau makes some seat brackets that replace their stock brackets in order to pair with their own seats, which puts Corbeau seats at a more normal height…however the reviews I’ve seen on Corbeau were iffy which kept me from going that route. I’d love to hear positive feedback from someone who has them though, and preferably has had them a while.

I personally tried a Mastercraft seat in mine because people spoke highly of them….i didn’t like that seat at all. It was too high (expected), and the spacing of the bolt holes made it to where the slider bar handle wanted to fall out of place constantly. Overall it wasn’t a good fit at all.

Eventually I gave up and threw Bestop covers on the stock seats. Someday I’ll do something else, but I don’t know what I will do or when that will be.



For the floor, no coating you do will ever take the place of the heat and sound insulation of carpet. Something like a bedliner will just be a more durable coating, but it’s not going to do anything for insulation. If you need rust protection then sanding off any existing rust and bed lining over the floor isn’t a terrible idea. But if you don’t throw the carpet or some other type of floor kit back in there over it, prepare to be warm in there. I have carpet added back to mine and it’s so much better than it was for the years where I had nothing in there.

 

[TRevs]

Mine has smittybilt black vinyl. The only good thing about them is the retro low-back look. Otherwise they’re not very comfortable and have an awkward position. I’d much rather have original seats.

Mine was bare metal when I got it; I put in a carpet kit and it was well worth it both for sound deadening & heat transfer.

The color has faded fairly quickly in the direct sun, but other than that I’m satisfied with it.

 

[ytradio]

Probably not for everyone, but I got the Bestop Trailmax II Pro’s in fabric. We think they are very comfortable, wider than stock I believe and probably tighter between the wheel. But it’s do able for me. I’m 6’3” and 240lbs.

 

[JKP]

Agreed, just put them in my 92.

 

[tugskipper]

Probably not for everyone, but I got the Bestop Trailmax II Pro’s in fabric. We think they are very comfortable, wider than stock I believe and probably tighter between the wheel. But it’s do able for me. I’m 6’3” and 240lbs.

I just put bestop trail max II Pro vinyl in my 95yj because I leave the top off most of the year. Didn't want the fabric option because they get rained on. The are very comfortable for me. This is my third set of seats in 15 years. Original, rugged ridge(uncomfortable and didn't last long), and the new bestops(by far the most comfortable) and they have adjustable headrest.

 

[Zehnmaster]

I just put the bestop trailmx II vinyl in to replace the stock seats in my 89 YJ. They fit perfectly. Yes, they sit higher due to the higher density foam used today.. that will break in over time like everything else. Very comfortable and adjustable unlike the stock seats.
I removed the carpet and the crappy bed liner someone put in. Sanded to bare metal and repainted. It’s a Jeep not a luxury car. Get rid of the carpet.

 

[machoheadgames]

I forgot to mention that I tried the Bestop Trailmax II Pro and in mine I found them to be terrible like the others. Could be my height and leg vs torso length (5’ 11 30” inseam), or it could be the 91-95 driver’s seat bracket, or it could just be my preference. There were two problems with them for me…the cushion was not only significantly thicker than stock, but it was also angled whereas the seat cushion on stock is about flat (and the bracket is angled to give some angling comfort on the legs). The angle in the Bestop combined with the bracket in the Jeep made the seat feel very steep and it also made it harder for my leg to reach down to the pedals because of the weird angle. I have to imagine the different year seat brackets plays a part in this since they are different, but I don’t know for sure.

It was a free experiment through Amazon returns, so it doesn’t hurt at all to try them….however, they definitely weren’t for me in my specific Jeep.

I don’t even like the stock seats but they are the least of the evils so far for me.