Are vinyl seats any good in hot/cold climates?

[Mister-B]

Our weather is kind of all over the map in Utah. Dry summers in excess of 100 degrees, and cold winters that can get below zero.

I want to replace the cover on my bench seat. I like the look of vinyl, but is it going to be too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter? Is it going to just crack prematurely?

Thanks
Posted via Mobile Device

[dan42]

Vinyl is probably not the best in Utah. I lived there for 7 years. Temperature extremes, plus having very low humidity, would be a bad combo for vinyl. Personally I would stick with a cloth seat.

[BlackedOut67shorty]

I know with my vinyl bench it gets boiling hot in the sun. It also tends to have my lower back drenched with sweat. I wish i still had my seat cover still:/

[Daner]

Vinyl or leather are no good in temperature extremes. We always try to get cloth seats in the vehicles we buy. I've got a saddleblanket/weave seat cover in my truck right now. Works good. Now all I have to worry about is burning my arm on the rusty arm rest spot on the door. lol

[Mister-B]

Thanks guys. That settles it
Posted via Mobile Device

[Billett]

Yeah I'm in Jersey and it's sort of the same boat. We have a lot more humidity though. I have a black vinyl seat and that sucker is hot and sticky in the summer and freezing cold in the winter. I usually lay a blanket over it for the wife in wintertime. Summertime I ride with the windows down haha. I think eventually I'll change it, but it isn't a priority right now. If I had a choice though I wouldn't go with it. I like the look and style, but its kind of a pain in a DD.

[special-K]

Somehow people survived all over the map with vinyl seats. I still do. It's no issue what so ever. If you can't handle the seat being hot or cold for a short while they make cloth covers or you lay a blanket/towel/t-shirt/rag/whatever till the heat is absorbed. In winter,the seat is like anything else,it'll warm up. If wearing shorts just have enough sense not to touch your skin to it for the first few minutes. Temps are all over the place in most parts of the country.

[midniteblues]

[QUOTE=BlackedOut67shorty;5839187]I know with my vinyl bench it gets boiling hot in the sun.

i guess them thigh burning daisy dukes and belly shirts dont work too well with a vinyl bench seat.... I allways wondered how you got them fried looking hash marks


In one of my old squares I used too slide all over the vinyl bench and it got worse with a cover. that seat never did aquire a butt dent.

I like vinyl it stays and is easy to clean unlike fabric that stains and you gotta vacuum it off but I'm usually a greezy crud ball so its just my opinion

mr b, you are probally better off with vinyl with cloth houndstooth inserts like a highlander imo that would look sweet in your truck and give you the best of both worlds

[motornut]

A friends father told me years ago guys would polish/buff the pass side of the bench
a simple right turn kept the dates close by,even better if she brings another girlfriend!

-30 here today .....cloth seats were cold!

[midniteblues]

-30 here today .....cloth seats were cold![/QUOTE]

^

[nate_g_2003]

Tim (special-k) speaks the truth. Dad had a '74 Custom Deluxe, and it had a vinyl seat. He always had some rags for when I rode with him in the summer in my "short pants". I don't remember the seat ever being too cold, probably because I was wearing appropriate clothing haha.

[Stocker]

Originally Posted by special-K

Somehow people survived all over the map with vinyl seats. I still do. It's no issue what so ever.

We survived many years without A/C also....



It's a personal choice, no different than paint color or brand of tires. I've had several of both and prefer cloth, but I won't tell someone not to use vinyl if that's what they want. I had the seat in my '72 done in vinyl with cloth inserts.

[Mister-B]

[quote=midniteblues;5839401]

Originally Posted by BlackedOut67shorty

I know with my vinyl bench it gets boiling hot in the sun.

i guess them thigh burning daisy dukes and belly shirts dont work too well with a vinyl bench seat.... I allways wondered how you got them fried looking hash marks


In one of my old squares I used too slide all over the vinyl bench and it got worse with a cover. that seat never did aquire a butt dent.

I like vinyl it stays and is easy to clean unlike fabric that stains and you gotta vacuum it off but I'm usually a greezy crud ball so its just my opinion

mr b, you are probally better off with vinyl with cloth houndstooth inserts like a highlander imo that would look sweet in your truck and give you the best of both worlds

I like the look, but unfortunately one of the biggest reasons for having the cloth to stay warm, is because my petite wife keeps *****ing about how cold it is to sit on the bench seat lol. I currently have a setup like that, but is aging and needs to be replaced. She sits in the middle bench seat right next to me, and it's vinyl and pretty cold. I was thinking of just putting a towel there, but if it'll be cold for me too, and hot in the summer, I'll go with cloth all around
Posted via Mobile Device

[Billett]

I definitely think its bearable, I just wouldn't pay for brand new vinyl. Personal preference. Honestly, if you haven't cleaned the heating system or replaced the core and blower fan recently I would do that. I'm going to be doing that later today and I hear the newer stuff heats up much faster. If that's the case then I don't see a problem with vinyl at all.

[Mister-B]

Originally Posted by Billett

I definitely think its bearable, I just wouldn't pay for brand new vinyl. Personal preference. Honestly, if you haven't cleaned the heating system or replaced the core and blower fan recently I would do that. I'm going to be doing that later today and I hear the newer stuff heats up much faster. If that's the case then I don't see a problem with vinyl at all.

Yeah, every heater component has been replaced, from heater core, blower motor, etc. it heats up really well, but for a chick, those first 5 minutes sitting on a frozen sheet of vinyl isn't too pleasurable. How is it their butts get so darn cold? Lol. When we camp, she backs up her butt into me, and it feels like a frozen butterball turkey
Posted via Mobile Device

[KrazyRay]

How about the old fashion butt AC:

[Billett]

haha I hear that. I didn't have any insulation or even weather stripping on mine for the longest time. Finally got those put on and what does she do? Rolls the window down with her jacket still on... just can't win

[GRX]

As someone who has Black vinyl seats in his '69 GTO, I can say with absolutely certainty that they SUCK in the summer with shorts on. Thanks goodness my c-10 has a cloth bench.

[special-K]

I've never had a problem with not being warm enough in one of these trucks. These heaters will warm vinyl up quick as toast. Just warm the truck up first. You can't make winter warmer but you can warm your truck.

[Mister-B]

Originally Posted by special-K

I've never had a problem with nit being warm enough in one of these trucks. These heaters will warm vinyl up quick as toast. Just warm the truck up first. You can't make winter warmer but you can warm your truck.

It take a good 5-10 minutes for the heater to warm up. What do you do, start it and then wait that long before you get back in?
Posted via Mobile Device

[Z10]

The only thing vinyl is good at is easy clean up. They're rarely just right. Usually too cold or to blasted hot!

[truckster]

I definitely wouldn't choose vinyl for our climate.

[69GWC]

Originally Posted by Mister-B

It take a good 5-10 minutes for the heater to warm up. What do you do, start it and then wait that long before you get back in?
Posted via Mobile Device

You dont let your truck warm up for 5/10mins in the winter before you take off in it..?
Anything I drive gets warmed up that long before I drive off in it when its real cold out.

Myself I think the houndstooth center and vinyl outer would look great in your truck along with some white wagon wheels..lol
Posted via Mobile Device

[sboris]

Never got carried away worrying about the comfort in these old trucks. I just love the nostalgic look of vinyl.. Everybody's preferences are different. Vinyl all the way!!
Posted via Mobile Device

[Mister-B]

Originally Posted by 69GWC

You dont let your truck warm up for 5/10mins in the winter before you take off in it..?
Anything I drive gets warmed up that long before I drive off in it when its real cold out.

Myself I think the houndstooth center and vinyl outer would look great in your truck along with some white wagon wheels..lol
Posted via Mobile Device

Depends. Probably more like 3 minutes, unless its really cold and I have to scrape ice or remove snow. I run full synthetic 5-30, so that might help

I know what you mean about wheels. These are starting to bug me. I think I'll get some white wheels, and original center caps before too long
Posted via Mobile Device