Seat Wear Issue

[JHC14]

I have seen this happen on many other, older cars. Last weekend I was cleaning my truck with black leather interior. I was thinking as I cleaned the leather and using some leather conditioner from Chemical Guys, "My seats have held up really well. None of the flaking or cracking of the leather like some many of the old cars. Ford has really upped their game in their seating". Then after a week long vacation to Florida I notice this....I know, I jinxed myself by thinking this hadn't happened to my truck, but after five years and 120,000 miles it is happening, so how do I fix this on the seat?

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[got3fords]

Stop getting in and out. (sorry)

 

[JHC14]

Stop getting in and out. (sorry)

I am sure My fat butt has a lot to do with this issue.

 

[Tim H.]

Step side running boards will help a lot with that.

 

[Grumpaw]

First, be aware that the part that is flaking is not leather. It is the infamous "Pleather" grown in a lab.....basically vinyl.
The only leather on the seat is the center panels of the seat and upright backrest. Only other leather is the steering wheel cover and the gearshift trim.....that's it for the leather in your truck.
The side bolsters where it is flaking, on all the seats, are vinyl, as is the backs of the front seats, door panel trim....all vinyl,
Second, being basically vinyl, there isn't anything you can do, short of replacing it, that you can do....no matter what you treat it with,, it will continue to flake.....
As for the back seat in both the Scab and Screw......"Ain't no leather to be found, at all" !!!
The "leather" interiors in todays vehicles (most of them) aren't the same as your grandfathers 1960"s Caddy's or Lincolns, and if you dig deep into the description of your Ranger, it will read, "Leather Trimmed" !!!!
Let me add that no repair or patch you do (other than a strip of duct tape) will hold up long term. (You old timers remember the duct tape seat repairs, don't you ???)
Best bet is a pair of custom fit seat covers....

 

[JHC14]

First, be aware that the part that is flaking is not leather. It is the infamous "Pleather" grown in a lab.....basically vinyl.
The only leather on the seat is the center panels of the seat and upright backrest. Only other leather is the steering wheel cover and the gearshift trim.....that's it for the leather in your truck.
The side bolsters where it is flaking, on all the seats, are vinyl, as is the backs of the front seats, door panel trim....all vinyl,
Second, being basically vinyl, there isn't anything you can do, short of replacing it, that you can do....no matter what you treat it with,, it will continue to flake.....
As for the back seat in both the Scab and Screw......"Ain't no leather to be found, at all" !!!
The "leather" interiors in todays vehicles (most of them) aren't the same as your grandfathers 1960"s Caddy's or Lincolns, and if you dig deep into the description of your Ranger, it will read, "Leather Trimmed" !!!!
Let me add that no repair or patch you do (other than a strip of duct tape) will hold up long term. (You old timers remember the duct tape seat repairs, don't you ???)
Best bet is a pair of custom fit seat covers....

I do remember the duct tape seat covers in trucks and on fishing boat cushions, as I am one of the old timers now. I was hoping there was a different fix than just duct tape now.
As for the "pleather", I have no doubt some engineer at Ford and every auto maker for that matter thought this was a good idea.
I think I am gonna ride it out. Whenever the day comes I am tired of the peeling and flaking I will have them recoverd see about changing the seats out. Who knows...I was simply wondering if there was a fix. Oh well, thanks for the input.

 

[JHC14]

Step side running boards will help a lot with that.

I have running boards, but at my height they are either too high or not high enough. But I know what you mean.

 

[PltFX4]

Couple things:
1. if you are concerned about resale value (or just don't like the warn look) there are some quite nice seat covers to choose from. That will slow down the ware, I would imagine.

2. Proper reupholstery is expensive!! Replacement "slip on" (take old covers off, slip new ones on) is not much less unless you can do it yourself.... the price of the labor is ridiculous.

3. Yes, duct tape will fix anything!! It's well documented.

 

[got3fords]

Couple things:
1. if you are concerned about resale value (or just don't like the warn look) there are some quite nice seat covers to choose from. That will slow down the ware, I would imagine.

2. Proper reupholstery is expensive!! Replacement "slip on" (take old covers off, slip new ones on) is not much less unless you can do it yourself.... the price of the labor is ridiculous.

3. Yes, duct tape will fix anything!! It's well documented.

I think a decent seat cover would be the least expensive fix. I often use a waterproof sweat cover for driving after workouts. It just throws over the headrest and covers the the entire top of the seat. Easy on and off. It's not pretty, something more form fitting might work aesthetic wise.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LZH8F07?ref_=ppx_hzod_title_dt_b_fed_asin_title_0_0&th=1

 

[4x4 Ranger Man]

First, be aware that the part that is flaking is not leather. It is the infamous "Pleather" grown in a lab.....basically vinyl.
The only leather on the seat is the center panels of the seat and upright backrest. Only other leather is the steering wheel cover and the gearshift trim.....that's it for the leather in your truck.
The side bolsters where it is flaking, on all the seats, are vinyl, as is the backs of the front seats, door panel trim....all vinyl,
Second, being basically vinyl, there isn't anything you can do, short of replacing it, that you can do....no matter what you treat it with,, it will continue to flake.....
As for the back seat in both the Scab and Screw......"Ain't no leather to be found, at all" !!!
The "leather" interiors in todays vehicles (most of them) aren't the same as your grandfathers 1960"s Caddy's or Lincolns, and if you dig deep into the description of your Ranger, it will read, "Leather Trimmed" !!!!
Let me add that no repair or patch you do (other than a strip of duct tape) will hold up long term. (You old timers remember the duct tape seat repairs, don't you ???)
Best bet is a pair of custom fit seat covers....

Now that's old @Grumpaw

 

[Grumpaw]

Now that's old @Grumpaw

Yes, I remember Ricardo and the Corinthian Leather commercial.
"Corinthian" was used to give it that "high level" push...in reality the leather was just standard stuff sourced from a company in New Jersey. (yeah...I looked it up)
To digress....I go back much further....first car commercial I remember seeing on tv was Dinah Shore singing "See The USA In Your Chevrolet" in the early 50's !!!

 

[4x4 Ranger Man]

Yes, I remember Ricardo and the Corinthian Leather commercial.
"Corinthian" was used to give it that "high level" push...in reality the leather was just standard stuff sourced from a company in New Jersey. (yeah...I looked it up)
To digress....I go back much further....first car commercial I remember seeing on tv was Dinah Shore singing "See The USA In Your Chevrolet" in the early 50's !!!

Funny you talk about that I was watching a Youtube video talking about the same thing about were the leather came from.

 

[Dr_Strangelove]

There are companies like Permatex that make Vinyl seat repair kits. The downsides of these kits is they're hard to color match, and they are also temporary in nature. (They're not "supposed" to be temporary, but of course, whatever wore your seat will wear the patch as well..) The upside is they're cheap and they could help prevent the spread of wear before it becomes a tear.

Could be something worth watching a few youtube videos on.

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