I'm not talking about seat covers.
Everybody and their brother sells a cover you can slide over a worn seat and buckle underneath.

I want to cut the bull rings, pull the fabric skin off, replace the foam as necessary, and reupholster all three seats.
I've contacted the makers of such and though they have extensive libraries of vehicles offered, nothing for the XJ.

When you tell them there were 2.2 million made and a wide ethusiast community exists, they just aren't interested.
The local upholstry shops will do something totally custom, but at a "go away" price of well over a thousand bucks.

There has to be somebody making these.

 

Year would help cause I don't think they deal with anything older then '97 but Google Richmond Auto Upholstery.

 

A grand for a full set of seat upholstery is a good deal... Just because it's "old" doesn't make them cheap...Don't buy a classic/musclecar you won't like what you pay for those upholstery kits and install...lol... Which leads to the real problem for the upholstery companies... How many XJ owners think just like you and don't want to spend the 2023 money needed to make these....I recently spent over $300 for just the bottom upholstery/foam for a 2013 chevy truck bucket seat and me doing all the work like you want to...

 

Are you looking to install factory original style covers (same material), or just something that is 'matching'?

Stock: If your goal is to stay stock, keep your eye open on ebay, and Facebook Marketplace for one which matches your Jeep. Guys sell parts, one seat or a whole interior may come up. And/or call some of these guys who have jeep-only salvage yards. Often times a Jeep with a 'mint' interior will come in. Why not post a picture of your interior here ...maybe someone here has a seat cover that'll work or a parts Jeep. Heck, you might find a guy who'll sell a whole interior online or FB for one-money ..and you might find a different color you like better than what yours is. Time is on your side if you're not in a hurry.

Aftermarket: These slip-over seat covers you're talking about, the 'higher-quality ones', I've seen guys take good quality slip-overs, to an upholsterer. When they're installed by a pro, they can look superb, even stock ...if the upholsterer does a real good job. They will tuck in the corners and/or even add material here or there so they don't look like a slip-on. And they can even add foam to where yours is currently torn (not necessarily replace the whole bottom). You could do it yourself if you took your time.

I don't have any particular brand brand covers to recommend. On my first car I did something like that. It was a classic car from the 60's and back then, no similar seat covers were available. But I found some (slip-overs) which looked similar and 'classic'. Took the seat apart and hog-ring'd them tight to the existing seat. Glued in new foam in place where the old foam was damaged. An older guy, family friend,ily friend (I was in high-school back then) kind of knew what he was doing and helped out. They looked stock and pro, not like a loose slip-over seat cover. I'm confident a guy could take one of the better seat covers and do a 'pro' install job and look great.

I recently bought a seat cover for my skid steer. Nobody makes one for my particular machine. Like you, I don't want to buy a whole new aftermarket seat. But there is a company who makes a slip-over for several Kubota style tractor seats but don't list them for any other make machine (even though there are a lot of similarities to other construction equipment seats). I called their tech guy, he said the owner of the company really likes Kubota tractors (lol). I found one which measures about right to mine, and the right shape ...they wouldn't guarantee the fit. But I took a risk and out of the box it looks great. I think it's going to fit real well. I plan to take my seat apart and hog-ring it down or do whatever it takes to get a pro-like tight fit. Only I'm going to glue in a custom drain tube (so water will drain through the seat and not pool up).

Customer Upholsterer: There are guys around who specialize in automotive upholstery. You just have to look and ask around. There used to be a guy in our area and I took a couple truck seats to him many years ago. These were for nice trucks that were really original, no covers available and in my case only the driver's seat bottom needed repairing. He sourced the original fabric and vinyl trim, his work was top notch. It wasn't cheap, nor particularly quick, but the end product was fantastic. Just like factory. If that's what you're after, it might be worth getting some pricing and maybe go that route. Always get references on an upholsterer before you jump in. Guys who are good aren't cheap and often are booked 6 months out.

 

Light hearted aside:
My brother just took a nice Jeep spare cover and worked it to look and function well on a clapped out snowmobile seat.
Not your issue but you got this. It's doable.
End of affirmation, strive on

 

Wrecking yards may have used seats in good condition. I picked up some very nice front seats for my 1990 xj at pick and pull. I wanted the replacement to match my interior, took a bit of searching but eventually I scored, and it was something like 50 or 60 bucks per seat, cheap!
I have a four door xj, but wanted seats from a 2 door as 2 door seats fold forward, 4 door seats do not fold forward. This was done to give me more room to allow sleeping in the back.
I scored these 30 year old seats, nice fabric and vinyl for little coin, but it took a while for them to show up, then I hopped on it and got them.

Row52 is a good website to search Pink N Pull yards.

Now you may find a driver seat that is worn, and passenger seat that is perfect, but the covers can be swapped if need be.

Learn which years of seats will work for you, then start searching. Row 52 often has photos from which you can see if the color or trim level is correct. When you see the correct year and color and style, hop on it before it is gone.

happy hunting.

 

On my '88, I found some at a local pick-n-pull. Not the exact pattern but the colors matched. On one, the cover was good (did need cleaning) but the frame was cracked. I simply swapped the covers.


"New" cover


Old cover


Seat covers from salvage yard

 

why don,t you make your own. I did my chev truck with my mom,s old sewing machine. It came out very nice if I do say sew. Lots of videos on doing upholstery. Just disect the old seat cover where is was sewn and sew it it back together in reverse

 

I see what you did there!!

 

I don't have that kind of talent.

My father bought a sewing machine when he was overseas in the Navy and made bank sewing on insignias and whatnot aboard ship.

 

Will a pass seat cushion fit the driver's side? If so, they are much more plentiful. You can hand wash in hot soapy water and they'll come out nice and clean.

 

Yes, actually swapped mine side-to-side on ny 89. Only thin noticeable is the loop for holding the seat belt receiver in the middle is on the wrong side.

 

I turned a leather '99 to '01 passenger seat bottom into a driver's side one.
The whole thing. Cover and foam.
They attach differently to the frame so had to get creative with some zipties.
And now the carpet is on the outside but my CoverKing seat covers hid that.
The back covers can be swapped cause I did that to. But just the cover. Can't comment on the foam.
Since then I have put factory heated seats in my '00 so this is no longer in the Jeep.