Happy with canvas from Surplus City Jeep

[53a1]

I installed the front seat cushions today and I'm very pleased with how it turned out. The cushions were 82 bucks a seat and everything was included. The base cushions were totally assembled and all I had to do was bolt them on. They even textured and painted the bottom of the base board OD so it looks like metal and installed a blind fastener in the wood. Everything fit perfect and I like the way they doubled up the material where the screws go through the canvas. All the hardware was included.
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'53 M38A1 X2

[wilfreeman]

Have you taken any pictures? I am almost to the point of buying canvas and have wondered about Surplus City's stuff. I read that they use a thinner material, but haven't heard any comments from anybody that bought it. It makes me want to vomit when I think about $400 for seat cushions, but I don't want to drop $300 and not be happy either.

Matt

[53a1]

Hi Matt.

I don't have enough experience to judge the material they used but it seems fine to me. I measured the edge where it is doubled up and it was .075 so I figure the canvas sheet is half that.

Personally I'm on a serious budget with this project and this was all I could afford. I can't even afford to buy the correct batteries so I have two that won't fit in the compartment sitting in the bed as you can see in this picture. But hey, it's driving and the imortant things like corrosion control I didn't cut corners on.



Hope this helps you make a decision.
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'53 M38A1 X2

[gunter635]

Those covers look good. I thought about taking some canvas I have to a local boat guy and having them make some seat covers. They recover boat seats and make tops and boat covers. Has anyone tried to do this?

[wilfreeman]

Yeah, I'm in the same boat - holding out on windshield glass too. Right now, when I drive it back and forth out of the shop, I'm sitting on the metal pans, and probably will be for awhile. I know the Jeep won't get a whole lot of use or be judged for correctness, so the correct thickness is not a problem for me - as long as they last. I thought about trying to find a tarp and get the local guy to make covers too - I just haven't searched around to get a firm price yet.

Matt

[Yarder]

Yes, I have been researching things, and I'm just about to do just that. WEEBEE Webbing http://www.odcloth.com/products.html has just the canvas seats without the guts.

Then I'm going with a local and well respected marine grade seat cushion company. I have several of their cushions already and they're great! http://www.bottomsiders.com/ The cushions are a solid closed foam.

I decided to go that route instead of refurbishing or replacing my springs as I feel this will be the best thing for me, as I live in a wet area of the country and I don't want to deal with rusty springs. Even though the marine grade cushions are UV resistant, I feel that with the canvas cover, they should last a lifetime.

Same promise, when I get it all done, I'll post pictures!

[Deino]

Just to throw out my opinion, I also got the seat cushions from Surplus City for my M38A1. I love them. No, they're not very original, but most can't tell the difference at a glance and they ride so much better than the spring cushions. Worth every penny to me.
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- Dan

1952 M38 (MC56474, 33 108M HQ6)
1953 M38A1 (MD54216, 40-I-160I B-35)
1954 M170 (MD-A10513)
1964 M416 1/4 Ton Trailer (35-138F CT-12)