Exmoor seats? Quality & comfort.

[VK3UTE]

G'day All.

I've been thinking about getting some new seats for Mary as the foam has given up in the old ones. With the current exchange rate Exmoor seats look like the go.
Can anyone share there experience with Exmoor seats? Is the quality ok? Are the "delux" versions any more comfortable than the standard type?
I'm using her once or twice a week now and a little more comfort would go along way.

Thanks Simon. :)

[Tusker]

Keep us posted on the quoted cost.

When I looked into it, Exmoor would only supply to various wholesalers in the UK, who would only distribute to Oz via certain well known re-sellers. The final price was outrageous with the multiple markups.

Good luck.

Regards
Max P

[Series3 GT]

I'm interested in the deluxe seats, so if you get a price that would be great. I've read they're a good quality seat and fairly comfortable, emphasis on the READ they're good I haven't had any expirience with exmoor seats.

[VK3UTE]

Been doing some research and it seems the UK suppliers are around the same price

Standard black vinyl £173
Standard grey £181
"deluxe" £195
Elephant hide £258

Have sent of a few emails asking for shipping cost, will post this total cost when I get a reply

Cheers Simon

[geodon]

Simon pls keep me in the loop. I don't think I can re-cover mine for that price!

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/07/655.jpg

[isuzutoo-eh]

Whilst getting UK quotes also ask the local sources, Karcraft (Silverwater, Sydney) now import them and their prices are reasonable on the stuff I have bought from them, though I haven't bought any Exmoor gear.

[101RRS]

CLR have a stack for sale on Ebay at the moment.

[VK3UTE]

Hi All. Had a response from Craddock, 65 pounds for shipping. So a set of deluxe sets delivered should be about $395 AUD.

Will report back when I get a response from the others :)

[wpalmo]

I have purchased a Deluxe set for my Series 3. I had quotes to recover my original seats by local auto trimmers and it worked out cheaper to import Exmoor seats from England. They are a bit harder than my original seats but I am very happy with the quality and it worked out about 2/3 of the retrimming price. I ordered mine through Paddocks I think. Hope this helps.

Regards Warrick.

[Series3 GT]

Been doing some research and it seems the UK suppliers are around the same price

Standard black vinyl £173
Standard grey £181
"deluxe" £195
Elephant hide £258

Thanks Simon, I now have an idea on the price. I may consider them down the track, 65 pounds doesn't seem like a huge amount in postage, I bought an exhaust manifold for my IIA and it cost about 60 pounds in postage alone. It cost an extra 35 pounds for the part itself and it didn't even fit right, we had to modify it.

[drifter]

Does that price include the VAT because, if so, you will get that refunded.

[VK3UTE]

Does that price include the VAT because, if so, you will get that refunded.

That price excludes the VAT, seems cheap enough compared to having them redone locally. Just hope the quality is there, some of the parts from the UK are not the best.

[drifter]

I was quoted $1000, locally, to get a set of 'standard' seats refurbished.

I can get 'deluxe' seats from Sydney for $600 + freight; 'standard' seats for $550 + freight (for the extra $50, why would you bother with the standard ones?). The freight component was unknown.

My wife offered to sew new covers for my seats around 18 months ago and looked t it again as little as a month ago but there is an implied 'strain factor' in pursuing that option.

After looking at the above, I contacted the UK and I am getting a set of 'deluxe' seats landed here (including freight) for $363, the freight is via DHL and was quoted at £115.

At £65 freight, how are yours being shipped?

[The ho har's]

I bought deluxe exmoor seats from Craddocks nearly 3years ago, for 'zara' which is my daily driver:) Craddocks service is excellent, and the seats were here in a week. The seat are comfortable to drive for long distances, which I do regularly on our series vehicle trips.

Our canvas guy couldn't match the price of repairing the original seats.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/07/585.jpg

Mrs hh:angel::angel:

[zwitter]

I bought exmoor rebuild kit for a Defender seat for about 250aud. Really good quality and instructions on dvd. Cheaper than used or local repair. 5 years later still excellent!
James


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[Slunnie]

Do people not just reupholster the seats themselves?

Surely it isn't that hard or expensive is it?

[VK3UTE]

Years ago I did all the upholstery for my Austin Champ including the seats, hood, sides and doors. It was quite a big job! I would recover Mary's seats myself but all the backs and bases don't match and most of the padding is finished, not to mention I'm time poor:(
I havent done the sums but I would imagine by the time I brought the vinyl and padding it would cost about as much as a new set from the uk?
Saying that it's nice to have the satisfaction of doing something yourself:D

[Slunnie]

Thats it, I'd imagine the Austin was a difficult job and the delux seats look a bit tricky too, but I would have thought the flat seats to be very straight forward based on the little that I've done in the past. Something I did notice with my flat ones, is that the foam in the centre of the back has holes through it, I assume this is so the seat "grabs" you a bit.

[VK3UTE]

With the Champ I managed to unpick an original seat trim to use as a pattern. They were a bit fiddly to sew, I found the top stitching difficult and fitting the vinyl over the foam and seat frame was hard. Some tips I was given after I'd finished;) was to cover the foam with a garbage bag so the vinyl slides over easy and also to heat the vinyl and fit it hot. Once cooled it shrinks and makes for a nice tight fit and they stay tight in the hot weather.

I recently made a tonneau cover(i think thats how you spell it?) for Mary too which turnd out ok. Canvas work is much easier

Cheers Simon

[VK3UTE]

Marys tarp

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/07/580.jpg

The Champs seat, nearly worn out again!

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/07/581.jpg

The old Singer machine, she can sew two sheets of corrugated iron together!
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/07/582.jpg

The clothes pegs are great for holding canvas for sewing, its a bit hard using pins

[drifter]

I think my seats wanted to stay in the UK :D

[drifter]

Seats arrived today and I am somewhat surprised to see that they don't have mount points on the seat backs. I guess I have to pull the old ones off the old seats - rather disappointed about that, I am.

In spite of that, though, they landed on the doorstep for about $382 so I guess I can afford a bit of extra for the mounts...

[drifter]

Ooops - I have a confession - mine are not Exmoor Trim seats - they are Britpart

My mistake - I had made an assumption - so, for your reference, caveat emptor.

I have sent emails to the supplier and to Britpart and will let you know what they say.

[drifter]

No reply yet from the supplier but my own searching (the parts manual) shows that there are 2 types of fitting: pin type (which is what I had assumed) and bolt fitting (which is what I have received).

Here is the type of bolt required: http://www.lrseries.com/shop/product/listing/608/28/2/331709-SHOULDERED-BOLT-SEAT-SQUAB.html

My experimentation has found that it is a M6 bolt thread (10mm spanner) (http://forums.lr4x4.com/index.php'showtopic=68057 post 6). I think I will use some M6 bolts I have here and make some simple sleeves from some ali tubing for the 'shoulders'.

[drifter]

A reply from Britpart tonight says the bolts are ¼" UNF X ¾" to 1” long

They sent a pretty crappy diagram to show where the captivated nuts are (there are 4 holes per side but only 3 have captive nuts).

Their email:

They are held into place by a bolt to go through the tab on the frame and into the metal plate on the bottom side face of the cushion behind the vinyl. The plate has 4 holes that you should be able to feel through the vinyl and only 3 of them have a threaded nut captivated. I hope the attached diagram helps you to identify the ones that can be used, either of them can be used and generally the one nearest to the front lower of the plate is used.Attached is the picture (click to see a bigger version).

[VK3UTE]

Well I bit the bullet last week and ordered a "Deluxe" seat set from Craddocks in the UK. All up including postage $389 and they arrived to our front door in 6 days! You cant beat that for service not to mention they replied to all my emails over night. Will be using them again for parts in the future.
The quality seems good particularly when I consider the price.



https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/08/1329.jpg


Thanks to all once again for the advise

[The ho har's]

Well I bit the bullet last week and ordered a "Deluxe" seat set from Craddocks in the UK. All up including postage $389 and they arrived to our front door in 6 days! You cant beat that for service not to mention they replied to all my emails over night. Will be using them again for parts in the future.
The quality seems good particularly when I consider the price.



https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/08/1329.jpg


Thanks to all once again for the advise

As said before, mine are 2 1/2 years old now and in my daily driver, still good as new;)
Mrs hh:angel:

PS. is Penny still at craddocks? if so, she always replied quickly to us also via e-mail.

[VK3UTE]

Yes Penny was who I dealt with, nice to get some good service for a change!
And the kids had a ball playing in the cardboard box they came in :)

Cheers Simon

[wpalmo]

I sourced mine from Paddocks. They are Exmoor and were a lot cheaper than recovering my original seats by the local trimmer. I also found the seat belts and new anti burst door locks far cheaper through Paddocks as well. Before and after images below.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/08/1164.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/warrickpalmateer/6758179365/)
Sad state of affairs, new seats on their way (http://www.flickr.com/photos/warrickpalmateer/6758179365/) by wpalmo (http://www.flickr.com/people/warrickpalmateer/), on Flickr

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/08/1165.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/warrickpalmateer/7690315142/)
IMG_5896-web (http://www.flickr.com/photos/warrickpalmateer/7690315142/) by wpalmo (http://www.flickr.com/people/warrickpalmateer/), on Flickr

[EchiDna]

some bastido stole your gearbox while you were putting in the seats mate! ;-)

[wpalmo]

Had to sell the gearbox to afford the seats. Really comfortable seats though even if I can only enjoy sitting in them parked up in the shed!

Seriously though. Gearbox and motor going back in this week all going well. Had a chance to rebuild it while I reconditioned the motor at the same time. It has been off the road for about 5 months while the rebuild has taken place. Looking forward to enjoying the seats while on the move. Couple of images below.

Regards Warrick.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/08/1155.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/warrickpalmateer/7596645162/)
IMG_5597-web (http://www.flickr.com/photos/warrickpalmateer/7596645162/) by wpalmo (http://www.flickr.com/people/warrickpalmateer/), on Flickr

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/08/1156.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/warrickpalmateer/7596646320/)
IMG_5574-web (http://www.flickr.com/photos/warrickpalmateer/7596646320/) by wpalmo (http://www.flickr.com/people/warrickpalmateer/), on Flickr