Hi there,
I've just bought a Camper van and want to re-upholster the seats in fake leather. Does anyone have any tips or websites that I could look at to do this?
Cheers,
Mikey
2006-09-05 02:30:19 · 19 answers · asked by Mike da Pikey 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Car Makes ➔ Volkswagen
Hi! Quite an easy job if you have the skills. Anyway, here are a few tips.. Hope these could help.
1. First, you need to have a pattern. This should not be a problem if you already have the seat designs. If this is your first time to make one, make sure you provide allowance for foams which will be placed at the seat sides and backrest areas.
2. You have to choose the right kind of leatherette material to suit your van. I'd personally choose an italian leather kind of material. Some choose leatherette with perforations for a more classy look.
3. For the driver's seat, it would be best if you can combine leatherette and moquette - leatherette material for the seat and moquette for the area of the backrest where you actually lean your back on. You can get good designs from actual vehicles (see the seat design of a Chrysler Town & Country) - or simple but luxurious designs like that of a Mercedes-Benz Vito-L. More preppy and "adventurous" designs are like that of a Nissan X-Trail (if its available in your area) or the X-terra's.
4. You can also prefer to have the manufacturer's logo embossed by downloading the pattern from the internet and enlarging it to the size you want. Print and simply paste your design on a soft plastic board (normally used as cloth filling material) and cut it out. You can stitch on the sides of the design for an original or OEM look.
5. If you choose to make the upholstery the removal type (much like a seat cover), you have to make sure that you get the notches correctly, that its, those areas where you need to attach a velcro, cotton rope or zipper - based on the seat design. (I'd personally choose to use velcro all the way for ease in removing and installation). If you'll make the upholstery permanent, make sure everything looks as "original" or "OEM" as possible. This can be done by planning how every single seat material will be placed on the actual seat before installing it.
6. You can opt to customize your design by adding head restraints to seats which are not equipped with one and would really use one. Or, you may add additional side bolters on the driver's seat for more driving control and sporty feel.
7. Make sure you choose the best threads and class A materials since seat materials are very prone to a lot of stress, especially if you have kids around.
Good luck!
2006-09-05 02:58:34 · answer #1 · answered by Kyoots 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You will be required some skills and a simple fortitude on patience and heat. Read some magazines and have designs made, or take the former seat covers and frame the same design, using your color in leather, might need new coils or perhaps more cotton. If you do not have the time for it, perhaps some 25 hours or so, might spend some 700 dollars and take it to an upholster one day to another.
2006-09-05 21:05:21 · answer #2 · answered by Manny 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An easy way is to remove the old ones and use them for a pattern. You can also see if you need to replace the foam padding then . Just cut them at the seams when you remove them and it will be easy. Make sure to cut your material about 1/3 of an inch wider because when the covers were sewn at the factory they were sewn with a serger that cuts off the excess as it sews the seam and also sews the overedges. Sew yours with a straight stitch and then go back over it with a zig-zag stitch to make it more sturdy. If you are planning to do top stitching for the look you won't have to do the zig-zag stitch.Change your needle to a heavy duty one and just your tension and bobbin tension aand pressure foot to accomadate the heavy material. Best wishes!
2006-09-06 00:56:49 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can buy decent vinyl slip over covers..they aren't very hard to install..If you truly want to re upholster the seats ..best leave that to a pro...
2006-09-05 16:57:49 · answer #4 · answered by emery p 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should buy a "kit" from jcwhitney.com because that is the easiest and most ecenomical way. It will have instuctions in the kit that even a beginner can follow. Good luck!
2006-09-05 21:13:09 · answer #5 · answered by Delta Charlie 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
go see a auto place so you can get upholster car seats
2006-09-05 20:49:41 · answer #6 · answered by piekingamerica 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
if you want it done right, pay to have your re-upholster see look in your phone book.
2006-09-05 09:37:01 · answer #7 · answered by justmejimw 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you are in the U.S try talking to Xzibit on PIMP MY RIDE.You might even get some assessories for free
2006-09-05 14:31:40 · answer #8 · answered by Rastar 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First Of All---COOL IDEA!!
Secondly---Ask the people at your local fabric store-they will help you through the whole process
2006-09-05 17:59:00 · answer #9 · answered by Evelyn 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
im sry i dont even know what upholster is
2006-09-05 15:24:31 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋