Black Center Console Lid

[TJM623]

Did any explorers come with black center console lids?? I've seen them alot but I also kno that many people have painted or recovered them...are any stock like that?

 

[TJM623]

anyone?? I'd like to put one in my car since i have the grey cloth with black console it'd look sharp IMO

 

[davesexplorer]

I've never seen one stock, there is a dark grey I believe, but for me I just recovered it in black vinyl.

 

['96explorereddiebauer]

I've never seen a black console lid. It's most likely that they have recovered them since it's pretty common for the vinyl to crack and make it look like crap. I recovered mine with suade fabric a while ago.

 

[TJM623]

do u like suede or do u wish u woulda kept vinyl?? Suede might be an option...hmmm

 

['96explorereddiebauer]

I liked it very much. It doesn't burn you in the summer since I leave the sunroof open all the time during summer. I don't know about the winter because I don't have my truck anymore but it's a good alternative to vinyl recovering.

 

[TJM623]

Hmmm interesting I never had even thought about suede, whatta you do just pull it tight and then staple it on the underside?

 

['96explorereddiebauer]

Oh man...the install was soooo professional, I was even amazed at myself!!

First, you take the lid out then unscrew the black plastic at the bottom of the lid. I have a bottle of 3M trim adhesive in the garage so I used that. I layered the suade on top of the bad vinyl because once you removed the vinyl cover, the suade will stretch over time and it won't look good so attempt to fix the cracks first. I used epoxy mix and filled in the cracks to make it as smooth as possible. Then I sprayed trim adhesive all over the top of the cover and let it dry for a little bit then I put the suade cloth on top. Try to make it as smooth as possible without any creases or lose places then wrap it around. Have a helper help you out and try to pull the fabric as tightly as possible while you staple the fabric to the lid. Put everything back together and voila! Nice and new lid for $3.50.

I wish I can tell you more but I don't have my truck anymore. Good luck with this project if you decided to go at it!!

 

[davesexplorer]

that looks pretty sweet, vinyl's nice but really cold to sit your arm on when it's about 4 degrees out like this morning!

 

[boominXplorer]

Yeah the newer sporttracs come with a DARK gray in them.

 

[TJM623]

i like the suede ...my vinyl's not cracked just looking for something to make it looker nicer I think i'm gonna go ahead and try this next week or later gotta finish paying off people first lol, that's sad when i don't have 3.50 spare laying around

 

[BBQ_HotDogs]

What you should do first since yours is not cracked or anything, is go to a junkyard and buy a beaten up one. Use that and recover it. That way if you don't like the way it looks or turned out for any reason, you still have your original one in perfect condition to fall back on. Don't experiment with a perfectly good console cover. They go for around 100 bucks on E-Bay now. Just a word to the wise.

 

[Glowin97x]

Heres mine (black vinyl) I LOVE IT its an awsome upgrade, and pretty easy.

 

[TJM623]

yea that looks like my interior...cept for the seats Hotdogs, that's a really good idea lol

 

[BBQ_HotDogs]

Hotdogs, that's a really good idea lol

Just take it with a grain of salt. I have done many things in my days and learned allot the hard way. Take the advice. You will be glad you did down the road.