Keeping the Mud and Dust Out: Tacoma Seat Covers

There are a variety of fabric options that offer their own benefits for protection:

• Leather: Offers a water-resistant finish and some extra comfort for your passengers.
• Suede: A tougher and more water resistant cover than leather.
• Tweed: A stylish material that’s both water-resistant and easily washable.
• Neoprene: A synthetic fabric offering a waterproof and insulated seal against the elements.
• Polyester cotton: A cheap, light material mostly designed for aesthetic and to cover up any scuffs in your interior.

Generally, leather and suede offer the best resistance against stains, grass or otherwise. These seat covers are easier to wash and wipe away than a coarser material. They are also wonderfully insulated offering a comfortable ride for both front and rear passengers. For an even tougher material, neoprene is both waterproof and incredibly durable. With a neoprene cover, you are guaranteed long-lasting protection against mud, dirt, and even shallow scratches and cuts. 

You also have the option of choosing between different fits, whether it’s a customizable fit for your make and model or a universal rear cab fit.

The first step to cleaning your seat covers is to remove any straps or clips that are being used to hold them in place. Generally, you want to use cold water, as opposed to hot water, when dealing with any fabric. Hot water can shrink sink covers, as can putting a seat cover in the washer.

In terms of treating tough stains on a polyester or neoprene seat cover, you may need a liquid solution, pre-treatment to help get embedded stains out. For mild stains you can leave the cover on the seat and run a brush or sponge over with liquid soap and warm water. But it’s important to always air dry and research whether they are machine washable or not.

Getting rid of sand or hair that’s trapped in the material can be a tougher challenge and require a high-performance vacuum or even replacement of the cover if it’s embedded in the material deep enough. But shaking it out will generally do the trick.

Installation should be fairly simple whether you’re using a universal or custom fit. Custom fits should have pre-cut holes available to make installation a breeze, while universal fits will require you to cut out headrest holes. Follow these four simple steps.

1. Unhook the headrest and release the bib panel
2. Slip the cover over the back and head of the seat
3. Fasten elastic loops with S-shaped hooks in the bib panel to secure the cover
4. Reattach the headrest and slip over cover

There are multiple benefits of investing in aftermarket seat covers. They can cover up stains and existing abrasions in the interior as well as provide a layer of protection against the elements.

Waterproof seat covers are ideal for water fowlers and off-roaders and flame-retardant seat covers are often used by Tacoma owners who enter their trucks in races and rallies.

Aftermarket seat covers can offer more comfort with a plush, custom fit. While your stock seats are generally adept at holding up against scratches and tears, they can be susceptible to deep stains. Investing in a strong cleaning product may be enough for those nylon and leather seats, but older Tacomas with polyester seats may be at a loss the next time you spill your coffee on your mid-morning commute.

Mostly though, aftermarket seat covers provide a bold and elegant appeal. Whether it’s tweed or durable neoprene material, there is aftermarket design that’s perfect for your Tacoma.

Installing aftermarket seats can be very worthwhile if you’re looking for more comfort or even a new look for your Tacoma. To begin you’ll need a mounting bracket that matches the dimensions of yours. You may need to fabricate a new one using power tools, although we recommend visiting the shop if that’s the case.

To start, you’ll need to place your seat forward and in the closed position. This way, you’ll be able to access all of the bolts and wires attached to your seat. Disconnect all the wires and dislodge all four bolts on the slider mechanism using your ratchet set.

To begin installing your new seat, you’ll need to bolt in your new seat buckle to the new mounting bracket. Reattach all wires to ensure that your power or heated seats provide you with that optimal comfort. Next, you’ll need to attach your seat and the mounting bracket to the prefabricated holes along the slider mechanism.

For new sliders, you’ll need to bolt them to the prefabricated holes in the floor. Simply bolt the new seat into the front and back bolts and then you are complete!