ripped, torn seats and covers on a jeep cj off roader

As you can see, our seat covers are falling apart from twenty years’ exposure to the Arizona sun. The seats are in much better shape underneath, but are still very worn and lack cushioning.

Just like suspension components and tires, a Jeep’s interior will begin to wear eventually–especially after years of off-roading on rugged trails. Take this 1982 Jeep CJ-7, for example. The Bestop seats had been in the Jeep for more than twenty years—a good long run—but the Southwestern trails had mashed the padding down and worn the covers thin.

The Jeep’s seats ended up hard and unforgiving when the Jeep hit a rock or rut too hard, and several small cuts and scratches in the original covering material were becoming too big to ignore. The older seat belts and center console had also seen better days. The console lost its lid a few years ago when the wood frame became too weak to hold it. The seat belts’ couplers were so worn they were quite difficult to release and we were worried they could stop locking at any time.

Time to place a call to Summit Racing for a CJ interior rehab.

We chose Summit Racing’s Sport Seats. The deep racing-style seats have rolled up sides that cushion and cradle the occupant on both sides, from the knees to the shoulders. The seat backs have access openings for shoulder harnesses. The simulated leather seat covers are soft and the padding is very comfortable. These seats make us feel much safer on the trails and during mud bog and tough truck racing. We also got the matching seat brackets.

The Racequip four-point harnesses have three-inch wide lap belts and two inch shoulder straps. They keep us in our seats no matter how rough things get, and the added width is much more comfortable during long hours on the trail.

The final touch was the Rampage center console. The large two-door console holds more stuff—first aid kit, toilet paper, gloves, etc.—plus four drinks in separate cup holders (the holders could be deeper to better hold drinks on off-camber trails, though).

We fully expect these seats, safety harnesses, and center console to keep us safe and comfortable for at least another two decades!

Parts List

Summit Racing Sport Seat (two used)

Summit Racing Seat Bracket (two used)

Racequip Latch and Link Harness (two used)

Rampage Center Console

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Author: Jim Brightly

A former editor of Truckin’ and Trailer Life magazines, and tech editor of Four Wheeler, Petersen’s 4-Wheel & Off-Road, and Family Motor Coaching magazines, Jim Brightly is now a semi-retired photojournalist living, writing, and wheeling in northern Arizona. He’s been building and wheeling Jeeps for more than fifty years.