I have forgotten to post this so far, but it's really starting to bother me now - is there a known way to fix this or has anyone got a similar problem?

(sorry, best picture i have right now)

 

Ford in general has a problem with the driver's side bolster foam breaking down and then the material wears out, sometimes vise-versa, this is due to sliding in and out ! Ford may not sell the replacement foam anymore but you should be able to get some new firmer foam made aftermarket. Then you need to buy replacement SeatCovers.

I looked into this problem a few years back and you could buy a HD Seat Foam Kit, not sure now what is available.
I know Ford doesn't make Foam for my '03 seat anymore, you should have something made.

Also, there was a guy on this Site that made some really nice Exact Replacement Seat Covers, uses the same material as Ford, and you can vary the color some.
Search on Seat Covers

 

Hmm, the bolster isn't really destroyed, the material isn't worn through, it was split, no doubt from sliding as you say, but it makes me think it was nicked and then pulled open.

Some exact covers sound like all i need.

 

I just replaced my lower seat cover from the eBay seller, who makes exact Ford covers.Extremely nice,great service.

 

I replaced the seat covers on a passenager bucket, easy to do, time is all you need,

Take the seats out and take them apart, take the backs off, undo clips, roll off the old covers, turn the new covers inside out and roll them on. New foam might make it harder to get the new covers on.

IF your foam underneath looks OK, it may fall apart after you install the new covers and the covers will wrinkle up, so think about finding some new firmer foam. The area where you slide out of gets thin, push in on it a few time and see the return rate of the foam.

All of the above depends on what you want the interior to look like. If it is a DD and work rig then looking OK is "OK", but if you want it to look "GOOD" then it will take the extra step to get and stay there !

Either way, find some seat covers, maybe look in a JY and see what you can find for nice covers, wash them up and install, not a back project.

There used to be ssssooo many used Rangers in the JY and a lot of them looked in GREAT condition. I pulled parts from a Gas Guzzlers JY, and sold them, you would be surprised the condition of them but it was a little while back. I got a pair of doors from and '02 that were in perfect condition, no rust, and full electrics, I am still hoping to get a swap to my '03 doors.
Have you searched eBay/Craigs List you find a used set of seats in good condition.
Also, Bucket Seats are direct bolt ins, the holes are there, no matter what seats you have.

 

Been thinking on this and remembered what I found out when taking my 60/40 out of my '03.

In actuality, the passenger seat is similar to the Drivers seat, except for the controls being on the opposite side. When in reality the only real difference in the seats, (driver's vs passenger's), is the floor pan or track base.

Go to a JY, find a matching Passenger Seat, usually they are in better shape and the inside bolster of the passenger is in good condition, buy it, take it home. Now remove the driver's seat from your truck and remove the seat pan. take the seat pan off the newly purchased passenger seat and put the driver's side seat pan on it. Wham Bam... a new driver's seat.

The backs are interchangeable, just in case you happen to have a Lumbar support in the driver's seat back, the seats portion of the bucket seat is interchangeable, so the only problem is you end up with a set of buckets seat and no console.

So the above applies IF you can make do with bucket seats instead of a 60/40 !

Sorry if this isn't relevant to you and your exact seats, it is more of an option to your dilemma.

 

Permatex sells an upholstery repair kit at auto stores. I fixed a small hole in mine a couple years ago. Still looks good. It comes with a few different color fabrics and like a glue you mix up and apply to your seat. Cheap fix, worth a try.

 

Any details on this please? Pics? seller info etc?

 

I hadn't really considered "bucket" seats, but i also kind of like the 60/40 stuff.... undecided there......


I'm not too phased about changing seat covers, especially as they don't even sound too hard.
All the Rangers i looked at in my local JY were trashed inside, nothing upholstery-wise was worth trying to save :(

If i can get replacement covers, that'd be great (covers that go over factory covers are usually trash and they feel like they're covering it up)

 

Check bottom of my post for eBay link to seller Terry.

Here is the picture of the finished bottom portion of the seat. Cost $250




eBay seller link: https://www.ebay.com/usr/terrato3?_t...p2047675.l2559

 

Thanks Bob, that looks good - this was a replacement cover, not a cover over the original, right?

I did manage to find references to Terry here on the forums and then managed to find that channel on Ebay - nothing on there right now is something i could use, but i messaged him Friday, nothing back yet :(

 

Terry will take a little time to respond if he is busy but he usually gets back to you.
I had him make a set of red black for me, I altered the center panel to extend the full length on the bottoms.

He is pricey at first look but he work was alway good and the material was good quality.

Just found what I believe to be his e-mail.
Contact him without using eBay, you might get a better price.
Mention the Ranger Site, all of the Seat Cover picture and the great responses from the members.

terry_eds@yahoo.com

Good Luck,idont think you will be un happy with his stuff.

I know you didn't mention Bucket Seats, but this could be a good time to consider them.

 

Thanks for the info, Scrambler, i just emailed him, hopefully he'll be able to do something for me.

Tell me about switching to a bucket style seat? what's involved, and why would i want to do this?

 

Yes it is original lower seat cover he makes,remove old, replace new. It took awhile for him to respond to me,contacted through eBay and his Yahoo account. Be patient his work is worth it.

 

There is only one reason to switch to bucket seats, because you want them !
You lose the third person rider, you lose the center console attached to the seat, you gain... nothing other than a look !

Its time consuming to change, the Passenger Side seat is a 40% Bucket so that one is good to go, the driver's side is the 60% unit and would need replacing.
From what I have done on my truck, I found the cushions to be the same on a 40 % seat and Bucket Seats, it is the seat base that has the holes in it and the Tracks that are made for different sides. Also, I found that the 60% side has a Seat Base that can be removed and put on a 40% Seat, two 40% seat, using the bases from your truck, you end up with two bucket seats.

Again remember it is more of a look and what you want more than gaining anything.



x2


When I got my seat covers a few years back, the price of $250 was for a complete set, not sure what Terry is asking now or what he will make for you, but just ask, be polite and you guys can come to an agreement.

Ltr,

 

My lower drivers side cover was $250, but that should be the end of the problem. If nothing else, I know the material is new, so could be sewed, if future problems arrive.

 

So, short version: if i wanted to go to a bucket seat, all i'd need, would be the seat base? And i could get a passenger side seat to use on the drivers side?

Also, he charged you $250 for *just* the drivers side seat base!! and that was a bucket seat? Wow, i guess it's not really worth his time anymore.

 

I guess he charged me more because he didn't have one made and had to make it.Check with him and see what he asks for one for you. He may be getting short on original Ford material, so the price went up accordingly. Just wait it out and see.

 

MD,

Wait until you talk to him yourself about the price... actually I think I remember the he is a she !

A complete set might not be as expensive, but be open to longer wait time.

OK, first thing to do is verify that your driver's seat has a removable base pan, not just the track !
If so double check the passenger side seat to see if it has one too.
Then get your JY seat and make sure it has the same removable pan and if possible that your driver's side pan will fit... before buying. Then you will know for sure.

All you need to do then is replace the lower pans and when bam you have your second bucket seat.

I did all of my work on a 2003 Ranger, standard cab, I am thinking it should be the same for any Ranger but do some home work to determine if you have the removable pans and if they will swap.

Ltr

 

Wow, $250 for just the bottom cushion, not calling you out but are you sure of the price ? Like I said, and I would have to look it up, but I thought I paid that for the complete set, and yes I could be wrong. Wouldn't be the first time, nor the last !

About looking it up... I moved from Gloucester, MA to SoCal, and I am not sure where all of my Ranger Parts are little lone my paperwork so I am pulling stuff out of the old brain... and the other place too !
I hope I can Locate the paperwork to be a little more precise.

Good to see you still in here.

Ltr

 

No problem waiting, this isn't urgent in the slightest.

How?

Guess i just need the JY seat for it's internals, doesn't matter if it's a mess?



I don't mind doing a little work, but i'm still wary of the cost, i don't want to be spending too much here, it's an occasional use truck that i'd like to be nice, not "perfect".

 

I bought a used cover,had it installed,didn't last a year and it ripped out in the same place.I figured any used cover I bought would be at least 14 years old and got tired of wasting time and money,that's why I pulled the trigger on a new one,problem solved. My second choice was new covers from eBay or Amazon and decent ones were priced the same as what the new lower cover would cost.Plenty of good feedback on the cover I bought, so no regrets.

 

He/She has a set ready, just like mine, they look perfect.
Also has a set ready imminently, will fit mine, but in 04 material, look pretty good too.

My problem right now is trying to justify the $470 for the pair (don't even need the passenger side)

I'm sure they're excellent, but that seems like a *lot* of money for a 15 year old truck :(

 

Why not just remove the cover to the affected seat and take it to a local upholstery shop for repair?

 

You know what, i really need to see if i have a suitable shop in the area - whilst not a problem, the PO was a heavy smoker and there are various careless holes over the cover caused by this.

Some more pics specifically of the damage.