My DIY Custom Seat Covers installed in Bronco Sport Big Bend 🐍

[gatornek]

Thanks Bro. Your threads are great. I'm totally grateful for your support. In other words, I "partially" blame you for putting me on this crazy adventure.
The OEM seats/covers are computer designed, engineered and fabricated by more skilled individuals or robots. I tried to copy old school auto upholstery techniques from what I learned online and through discovery during task at hand.
It's an amazing art and I have mad respect for those folks out there doing the real deal!
I found a Fire Rescue video that showed how the airbags deployed and from what I could tell they blow through the zippers. I couldn't find any manufacturer details after tiring searches. I also saw photos on ebay of OEM seat covers for sale that gave me some extra things to consider.
I had the ability and patterns in my head and could have gone full wrap on the back. The only reason to cover the backs was to protect original fabric. Since I fly solo, don't have kids or critters it's on me if something happen back there. I usually keep the back seats down and didn't want to go overboard with the motif. I ended up with extra skinsuit material, but in the end it was a cost effective project. Unskilled labor was cheap and it was serious labor. However, a Professional job will rightfully cost a fair amount. The covers I created could be copied and marketed but I'm not interested in that, just saying.

OBTW, Gatorskin is available ?
?

Haha. These forums are great for one thing and one thing only ... giving you further ideas on how to bleed your wallet dry. Thank you for sharing. The pics always make it a treat!

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[BeauxZeaux]

Well, I finally finished it...

...here's the story:

I wanted Western Rattler Green to go with my Cactus exterior. Since that was not an option I went with Black/White which was readily available.

I am by no means an amateur or professional upholster. I have owned a sewing machine most of my adult life, learning most of what I know from my mom when I was a young boy. I researched Ye Olde youtu.be and a few websites to see if it was even feasible. It wasn't, but I went for it anyway. I'm 63, so insanity is very likely. WTF was I thinking?

Shoutout to "gatornek" for providing detailed pics of his WetOkole seat covers. I wasn't crazy about the claim of "airbag compatible" seat covers offered on-line. Didn't like what was offered by the dealer either.

My intention was to completely cover front and back of upper seat. I purchased skinsuit and faux leather PV snakeskin to fully cover front and back. I made endless patterns and went one piece at a time custom fitting everything like the novice I am.

I incorporated everything without compromising the OEM seat covers as installed, improvising and mimicking the OEM fabrication to make it come together.

Because of OEM Seat/Seat Cover Design and construction, it became unfeasible and a waste of time and energy to do the complete coverage of the back of seat. You'll see where I punted on First Down and took advantage of field position, to make the top Back detail. This allowed to keep the useless M.O.L.L.E & Map Pocket accessible, although it is useless IMHO.

I did the Diamond Pattern for flair and mimicking the diamondback rattler look on Seat and Back centers with ¼" foam fusing, which really made the seats extremely more comfortable than the plain OEM cushioning. The seat heaters are not impeded in any way, and I can't use them for more than a minute anyway.

I am holding off on console lid. If I come up with something unique to compliment the seats...we'll see?

I think that's it? I'll answer most questions, but I will not EVER do something like this again! DON'T EVEN ASK! LOL

Well Done! They are Beautiful!!