Blanket style seat covers

[USSkoval]

I'm not sure if this is the best place for this, but it seems the best option.

Earlier this year, I bought a pair of Saddleman blanket style bench seat covers for my crew cab. They are the red/wine color. In July, I installed the cover on the front seat. It was kind of a pain getting the strings ran under the seat and tied up so that the cover fit OK, so I decided the rear cover would be good for another day. I never got around to it.

I noticed a few weeks ago, that if you rubbed your hand on the seat bottom part of the cover, a bunch of little red fibers would come off of it. OK, so it's fading early, not a big deal. Now, midway through October, the seat cover is literally disintegrating and falling apart. Not ripping, actually turning to dust and falling apart. It seems it's only the red portions of the fabric. It's only been a few months.

Has anyone else bought one and had the same trouble? I'm wondering if I got one of a few bad ones, or if they all suck now. I always liked these covers because they used to last several YEARS, not months.

[old Rusty C10]

I havent had a cover like that in years but i remember the last one i had on my truck wasnt too good a quality either..if i need to put something to protect my seat i usually buy a couple of good bath towels and put one on the bottom and one on the top of the seat

[tucsonjwt]

I got one with the 83 I have and took it off - never fit right and felt very uncomfortable - very stiff to the touch, always moving around on the seat. However, it did not shed any fibers - I am looking at it right now - but it does feel dusty when rubbed - probably just dirty or pieces of foam left over from the original falling apart seat bottom.
I recommend a brand of seat cover made by Bell - sold at Pep Boys around here.
They are a fairly thick canvas fabric with some kind of water resistant bottom side. I think they are only available in black. They cost about $20-$30 but they are worth it. I have them in my new GMC now, and have had them in my last 3 new vehicles.

[WigglesTheHoly]

I have one on my truck thats been on it since the early 80's it still looks great but I have to agree that its not as comfortable if your heavy like I am when your sitting with skin touching it its itchy.

[nbpro]

i put one of these on for a friend one time, as i remember he didn't like it afterwards before we put our bucket seats in we picked up a couple of cheap fleece blankets at walmart and had my nephew's g/f sew some elastic strips, added some s hooks to pull it down under the seat to connect. was pretty comfortable and lasted quite a while

[Oilbrnr]

Same thing happened to me. Picked up a cover from Checker back in early May for my K20 beater work truck. By the first of August it was dust. Literally. Whatever they are making that stuff out of is not UV stabilized. Not to mention, it fit like crap!

Those covers used to last for years. Guess those were the ones made here in the US out of cotton.

[USSkoval]

Originally Posted by Oilbrnr

Same thing happened to me. Picked up a cover from Checker back in early May for my K20 beater work truck. By the first of August it was dust. Literally. Whatever they are making that stuff out of is not UV stabilized. Not to mention, it fit like crap!

Those covers used to last for years. Guess those were the ones made here in the US out of cotton.

Well crap. That's pretty sad when you can't even buy a decent blanket seat cover anymore. Around here, if you have an old truck with a vinyl bench, that's what you put on it... it's just how it's done. Kinda like hot dogs, apple pie, and Chevrolet.

So much for that.

[Gregs71]

I had one of those covers in the mid 90's and it worked great. I bought one last year and it tore and fell apart in less than 2-3 months. I too, wondered if the quality has deteriorated in recent years?? I was disappointed to say the least.

[TexasJeff]

This was mine after 10 years or so, but I had the same fibers you are talking about at least the last 5 years I had the seat cover on.

[BigBlocksRule]

Back in the day, we put those on brand new trucks, we all liked the look and feel as compared to hot vinyl.
Looks like they're stealing blankets from hobos in Tijuana now, hate to hear that the quality has gone down the toilet that bad...

[West Texas Z]

wow, I remember those!!!! The red wine color/white was my favorite.

[softballnrd27]

I have had one for about 3 months and it is coming apart as well.

[tucsonjwt]

I think I know what the problem is. Internet search shows genuine Saddleman brand blanket style seat covers go for $140-$180. Other brands go for ~$35. I'm guessing you guys did not spend $140 for those covers.

[Oilbrnr]

Wow! They didn't sell for that much back in the day!

Well, I'm just replacing the whole damn bench with something out of a '07 Tahoe.

[USSkoval]

Yeah, it was only 35 bucks, but it did say Saddleman right on the box. I didn't expect much, but to only last a few moths is ridiculous. Spending any more than that would be silly, considering it's not real expensive to have the bench recovered.

[THE "10" SILVERADO]

The one on mine was put on by PO 15 years ago....(it sat next to a barn for a decade and didn't get used but was exposed to sun) and I have been using it a while and still looks fine and works fine....no dust

[tucsonjwt]

I would question the "genuineness" of that Saddleman box marking, considering that it was about 1/4 the going rate for the "real thing." Maybe it was "Saddleman style" or "Saddleman light".

[TDS-MN]

Add me to the list of owners needing to scrap a relatively new seat cover, too. I had one years ago on my '75 Sub. Based on it's fit and durability, I chose to buy one for my 85, and have had 3 of them so far that crumbled away, over the past few years. Hate that dusty feeling you get from touching it, but have been reluctant to spend the big $$ for one of those real nice covers. They are definitely not as nice as they used to be. . . .

[tucsonjwt]

For anyone who wants a non-shedding old style saddle blanket seat cover, I posted my old one on the parts for sale section.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=429271