Seat Cover Comparison/Review

This page contains seat cover comparison information for two brands�Seat Covers Unlimited (SCU) and Overlanders. There is also a brief comment on Great-Covers brand�All photos are of �custom� seat covers designed for a Toyota Tundra.� All photos on the left are of the Seat Covers Unlimited design.� Photos on the right are of the Overlanders design.

So let�s get started:

This is the center console/armrest.� The part from seat covers unlimited (SCU) is on the left.� Note the stretch polyester that covers the storage bin lid on the inside.� The installer is required to make a hole for the latch and the owner is required to feel the latch release through the cover.� Not shown is the black string on the bottom piece that runs diagonally across the storage bin.� This cover is also rather loose up front near the cup holders.

On the right is the Overlanders (O) design.� It covers only the fabric of the armrest and leaves a very nice finished appearance.� Use is also improved since there is no string on the bottom half to get in the way when moving things in and out of the storage bin.� This cover is held on by elastic around the edges.

Again on the left is the Seat Covers Unlimited (SCU) design.� NOTE:� THIS IS NOT WHAT YOU WILL RECEIVE IF YOU ORDER CUSTOM COVERS FROM THIS COMPANY.� The latch is covered up on the SCU units (it is shown accessible here). �After receiving the covers I went back into the shop and insisted that a recess be added, this picture shows the end result of their modification.

The Overlanders design has a cutout for the latch, and plenty of clearance to allow for easy operation.� However, if you have dirty hands when you go for the release lever, the unprotected seat may get dirty.

This is the storage area for the seat belt buckles.� It is important to be able to stow away the buckles so they do not hinder access to the jack and storage areas under the seats (the rear seats fold up against the back tightly without seatcovers or buckles in the way).

NOTE:� THIS IS NOT WHAT YOU WILL RECEIVE IF YOU ORDER CUSTOM COVERS FROM SCU.� After installing the seat covers I noticed that there was no place for the belts or buckles, I also noticed that access to the underseat storage was inhibited with the belts and buckles out, so I returned to the store asking for a modification, and this is the end result.

The Overlanders seat cover comes with a hole for the belt buckles to be stored away.� The hole is appropriately sized to cover the seats but allow free movement of the buckles in and out of the storage area.

This is the professionally installed back cover for the rear bench seat.� Originally they forgot to put the hole for the arm rest in, then when they put it in it was too big.� After another trip back to their store, this is the end result.� They added a thin strip along the top and covered approximately half of the gap.� Since it still doesn�t look right I asked them to make me a new one�an emphatic �NO� was the response�.even after I talked to the general manager (he just put the assistant manager on the phone to refuse again).

Conversely, on the right hand side, the Overlanders cover fits perfectly with only a sliver of the seat showing through.

The four pictures shown above are included to show fit, finish, and quality details.� The SCU design eliminates some of the vehicle�s features.� The top left picture shows that the small tray in the armrest is covered up and the tab used to pull the armrest out is not accessible.� The bottom picture also shows some of the �clumsiness� of the design, especially when compared with the Overlander�s design on the right.

You�ve seen the pictures and a brief description of each, now for the nitty gritty�

Seat Covers Unlimited

Tidbit Facts:

• Ordered on a Saturday, available nine days later, they request that the customer call to verify/check availability
• Review of items during initial pick up revealed the lack of an armrest hole in the rear upright (back) cover
• I made a total of three return trips to obtain the mods shown above, not mentioned earlier is the fact that they had to modify the armrest cover in order to get it on (even then I could not get it on following their instructions)
• I was told that the gap near the armrest in the back was because I did not have them install it (I did not install it correctly).� The picture you see above is their (professional) installation.
• Map pockets are not shown, but are on the back of the front seats, normally $5 each, I received these free
• Arm rest and head rest covers were extra, $15 for the armrest and somewhere near that for the headrest (I did not purchase the head rest)
• Total cost (again, without headrest covers) was ~$285
• Would not replace �patchwork� rear upright (back) cover
• Would not allow me to return covers for a refund

Comments:

• Soft foam backed materials and sheepskin were the only material choices
• Color matched vehicle interior nicely
• Directions were minimal, but installation simple (except for armrest) �material must be tucked under in some spots tending to �bunch�
• With the exception of the rear upright piece the seat upholstery was not visible
• Armrest cover in rear is loose (no ties to hold in place)
• If �custom� seat covers retain unobstructed use of the original vehicle design features, these seat covers were definitely not custom (although they are sold as such)
• They said they have sold and installed lots of these covers for Tundras and they had none of the installation issues I had (they actually said that the other vehicles did not have latches on the upright rear cushion (these latches allow access to the underseat storage and have always been this way on the Tundra))
• Generally poor build quality and design
• I will not purchase from this outfit again

Overlanders

Tidbit Facts:

• Total of six weeks for delivery, several delays and missed delivery dates
• One bottom cover not correctly made (overhang for seat edge was between seats instead of on the outside)
• Covers for all items included in set (front and rear seats, head rest, arm rest, etc.)
• No map pockets
• Water resistant, non-bulky cordura material
• Overlanders sent a whole new seat cover set when they were informed of incorrectly made bottom cover
• Rear bottom cover does not extend low enough, 1� of seat showing at the bottom
• Total Cost ~$500

Comments:

• Cover installation slightly difficult, very tight
• Very good color match
• Seats easy to move on, material doesn�t bunch
• General design and build quality is good
• Rear armrest cover held in place with ties
• Pain in the neck to get them, expensive, but nice

Ratings (1 to 10, 10 being best):

	SCU	Overlanders
Service	4	8
Design	2	8
Value	6	6
Customer Satisfaction	2	8

Final Comments:

I recently reviewed input from a few people on a Tundra chat/info site.� One person purchased covers from a company at www.great-covers.com and says they fit perfectly and cost only $89 each (total $178 front and rear).� This company also has several fabric choices including matching upholstery (exact OEM seat material) and cordura.� Their web site says they cover all fabrics (arm and head rests included) and have multiple pockets.� However, I have not seen them and cannot provide comments of my own for comparison against the two you find here (but if you go to their home page you can see a Tundra front seat cover).

I also ran across the following comments on Seat Covers Unlimited�

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I have the same setup as you from Seat Covers Unlimited (Mesa, right?). Pros: Very similar to OEM seat design, covers full seat, protects original seats completely. Cons: Everything else. My covers do not fit terribly well. They cover the controls for the seats in the front and the lever that unlocks the rear seat. They tie down with funky little ties that don't stay tight and get in the way. They slide around on the front seats, bunching under yer butt after a short period of time.

If I had to do it again frankly, I'd go to Toyota and spend the money to get the original pattern with covers that were designed to fit from the start. If you want to see pics of what I got, I'll take some. Basically I'm not completely happy with the covers, but they do the job I bought them for, so I'm not completely dissatisfied either.

Chris

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