Vinyl Seats? Are they comfortable?

[Scotty B]

I am in the ordering process of a 3500 w/HO. (They are now 2023's.)

QUESTION:
I am rough on interiors and have dog that goes with me everywhere. She sheds a lot. I am thinking about going vinyl (tradesman package) for ease of cleaning. We will be using the truck 99% for towing - long trips (siting for hours).

The cloth tradesman seat seemed very comfortable, but will be hard to keep clean with the dog. Leather is out of the question. We do a lot of remote camping - mud & dirt.

If you have experience with vinyl, I would like to hear if they seem comfortable. I know everyone's taste is different, but the dealers I have visited do not keep or have vinyl in stock.

Thoughts, pictures?

 

[Timd32]

I am in the ordering process of a 3500 w/HO. (They are now 2023's.)

QUESTION:
I am rough on interiors and have dog that goes with me everywhere. She sheds a lot. I am thinking about going vinyl (tradesman package) for ease of cleaning. We will be using the truck 99% for towing - long trips (siting for hours).

The cloth tradesman seat seemed very comfortable, but will be hard to keep clean with the dog. Leather is out of the question. We do a lot of remote camping - mud & dirt.

If you have experience with vinyl, I would like to hear if they seem comfortable. I know everyone's taste is different, but the dealers I have visited do not keep or have vinyl in stock.

Thoughts, pictures?

I've had the Work Vinyl in my '18, have about 75k on that truck, I think I did notice some cracking on the drivers seat last week when I was cleaning it out.

It's a great option, have the rubber floor no carpet and work vinyl.

But it was pretty impossible to configure my '22 3500 that way so went cloth. Not that we couldn't but anymore they are just hard to work with.

Go to Costco website and build out your truck.

But if there is a will there is a way for sure.

How's this for a mix of seats just yesterday.... Took the family to the hay ride / farm deal for Halloween in the '22 3500 cloth seats, got called out to work around 5pm, so.jumped in the '22 1500 Laramie leather / call it velor combo, to pick up the '18 2500 Work Vinyl, head to the shutdown, return back to the '22 1500 Leather. Got home around 11pm.

So just yesterday I got to sit in almost all trims, Laramie, Big Horn, Tradesman.

I like them all, the factory Mopar add on rubber mats are pretty nice, will see if they hold up, I think they will be fine.

Will take some pics of the Vinyl seats after 4 years and 75k miles next week when back at the shop. I do think there is some cracking. I have no side steps on that 2500 so always jumping in it, steps of any sort would go a long way.

Not having steps by the way, our '19 burb has retractable steps, '18 2500 no steps, got that '22 1500 with fixed steps and man they are loud in rain when the water hit those things. Amazing how quiet the retractable ones are.

But then look at these seats probably a set of steps would have helped the seat wear in my opinion.

 

[Timd32]

Here is a cool search for all my threads that include "Love" and "Vinyl"

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/search/2261255/?q=Love+vinyl&o=relevance&c[user][0]=1019556

I think your on to something you will enjoy, they are really nice seats.

 

[Scotty B]

@Timd32 Great information. Thank you for the search link. I have read that the vinyl is "soft", but think and not hot and sticky in the summer or too cold in the winter. (BTW I am in Colorado)

I never thought about going through Costco or USAA to order the truck. I have the exact build figured out, so it should be easy to order through them if available.

I am in no hurry for the truck, but would be nice for next spring.

Wife is very concerned about how comfortable the seats will be in vinyl. I said they will be more durable for what we do and the dog, but she could add a sheep skin cover to make it soft.

 

[Timd32]

@Timd32 Great information. Thank you for the search link. I have read that the vinyl is "soft", but think and not hot and sticky in the summer or too cold in the winter. (BTW I am in Colorado)

I never thought about going through Costco or USAA to order the truck. I have the exact build figured out, so it should be easy to order through them if available.

I am in no hurry for the truck, but would be nice for next spring.

Wife is very concerned about how comfortable the seats will be in vinyl. I said they will be more durable for what we do and the dog, but she could add a sheep skin cover to make it soft.

Easy to rent a 2500 from Enterprise commercial, they are nice, I've never found mine too hot or too cold. It's either just plan old hot or cold either way, the seats never added to the discomfort, and they cool down quick in the cab either way.

The newer ones like @mwilson has posted his have a cool little tag now"work vinyl", his are a two tone deal, I was concerned about the vinyl for about 20 minutes the night before I took delivery, then I actual saw the stitching and quality built into these rigs as work trucks they are really nice.

I've driven lots of ASTRO Van's, Ford vans, and uhauls, where it was the lowest quality ever, this Work Vinyl is nothing like that.

I'm in NJ I've gone as far as almost Kansas City with my truck, at times my left knee can hurt a little if I'm pushing the miles and hours and the seat is in the exact wrong spot. The leading edge can be a little harsh, but I will see how the cloth set up is.

 

[Scotty B]

I've driven lots of ASTRO Van's, Ford vans, and uhauls, where it was the lowest quality ever, this Work Vinyl is nothing like that.

We had Astro vans for our business (still have a 2000 cargo) with vinyl, and it is awuful. @mwilson heated seat install pictures were very good.

 

[BigPapa]

Well, there are only three choices, right? Leather, cloth, or vinyl.

• You said leather was “out of the question”, however, I’d say leather is the most durable and easiest to take care of.
• Cloth “will be hard to keep clean with the dog”, which I totally agree with.
• Which leaves vinyl, which you said was “awful” in an Astro van you’d spent a lot of time in.

Whatever you choose, if you plan to keep this truck for a long time, from my experience I would advise you to get a driver seat bottom cover and maybe even foam now and put it away. They will eventually wear/crack/tear and it ALWAYS happens after they’ve been discontinued and you can’t find anymore.

 

[endoscott]

I love the leather and find it easy to maintain. Back seat of our Acura has a nice neoprene seat cover for dog protection, works great. I mean maybe you don't want that on your front seats, but you could always do a seat cover in back and keep dog there. We also go off road a lot and our dog is a bird dog. She gets pretty muddy and wet. When she does, she goes into the kennel in the back seat til she can get washed off. I wouldn't hesitate on the leather. I just don't think it will be an issue for you to keep clean after your dog sits on it.

 

[Turbo Terry]

I have cloth tradesman seats. Very comfortable as mentioned above. Lots of support . I plan on putting seat covers on mine sometime in the future. Headwaters brand seat is what I used in the past. Very durable

 

[Turbo Terry]

Glass ? Sorry

 

[Wiredawg]

2009 Ram 4500 Tradesman had upgraded vinyl knit seats that were very comfortable.

I'm skeered of getting new truck fever, so don't look since I bought my 2017 Ram 5500.

 

[Scotty B]

2009 Ram 4500 Tradesman had upgraded vinyl knit seats that were very comfortable.

I'm skeered of getting new truck fever, so don't look since I bought my 2017 Ram 5500.

I did not come to the new truck decision easily. My 96' will not tow the weight I need. 2016 + years are pricing in the $60K range (low miles with HO - if you can find one). New ones equipped like I need are in the low 70's.

It will be my last truck or until they stop selling diesel.

 

[Wiredawg]

I did not come to the new truck decision easily. My 96' will not tow the weight I need. 2016 + years are pricing in the $60K range (low miles with HO - if you can find one). New ones equipped like I need are in the low 70's.

It will be my last truck or until they stop selling diesel.

With society being litigation happy, I made the decision to get "legal" on all aspects of my tow vehicle, including manufacturer's weight ratings. When it's grossly overweight, criminal law takes over, but when you're only within axle and tire ratings, the civil law quickly gets involved. We've all noticed all the lawyer adds on TV, particularly related to crashes.

So I completely understand your purpose and need to get the right horse for the job. My last purchase with the 2017 Ram 5500, I got a Clysdale.

 

[Timd32]

Here are my '22 Cloth Seats.

 

[Wiredawg]

Here are my '22 Cloth Seats.

View attachment 135544 View attachment 135545

Those look like the vinyl knit, very comfortable and breathe, not like the 1978 bench seat in Dodge LRE.

 

[mwilson]

 

[mwilson]

My wife, who is quite fussy regarding vehicle seating says these are hands down the best and most comfortable seats of any truck I have owned..

That was even before I added the heated seat kits..


And take it from me, that is one glowing review…

 

[mwilson]

I don’t know if the two tone vinyl is a Cab / Chassis thing only or not…

 

[Signal73]

I don’t know if the two tone vinyl is a Cab / Chassis thing only or not…

Nah, I’ve got them in my truck. I’m happy with them, lots of hours on the road towing and my eyes get tired before my backside.

 

[mwilson]

Nah, I’ve got them in my truck. I’m happy with them, lots of hours on the road towing and my eyes get tired before my backside.

Good to know, I hadn’t seen any in anything other than the 5500 I tried out and the truck I bought.
I wonder if some truck shoppers realize just how comfy these seats are in the Tradesman trim.