Looking for the best aftermarket seats for your 79 Series LandCruiser?
The factory seats in the 79 Series LandCruiser are functional but not exactly inspiring. After a long day on corrugated tracks, a few hours on the highway with a full tray load, or a season of work site use, most owners start thinking about an upgrade. The instinct is to go straight to a seat swap, but once you look at what is actually involved in a full seat replacement on a 79, the picture changes quickly. This guide covers what your options really are, why seat covers are the right call for most owners, and which ones to buy.
The Problem with Full Seat Replacements on a 79 Series
Replacing the seats in a 79 is not as simple as unbolting the old ones and dropping in something new. There are a few real-world issues that catch owners off guard.
First, cost. A quality aftermarket touring seat designed for a 70 Series application runs from around $800 to over $1,500 per seat before fitting. A set of two for the front of a single cab or dual cab gets expensive fast, and that is before you factor in the seat adapter kit required to mount non-factory seats to the 79's floor rails.
Second, compliance. If your 79 is fitted with side-curtain airbags or any integrated airbag system, swapping seats can create a serious ADR compliance issue. Aftermarket seats that are not airbag-compatible can interfere with the deployment system, which is both a safety risk and a potential roadworthy failure. For post-2016 dual cab models especially, this needs to be checked before any seat work begins.
Third, fit. Most aftermarket seats designed for 4WD applications do not bolt directly to the 79 Series floor without an adapter kit. These kits work well, but they add more cost and another layer of installation complexity.
For most owners, none of these hurdles are worth it when the core goal is better comfort and protection. That is where seat covers come in.
Why Seat Covers Are the Right Upgrade for the 79 Series
A properly fitted seat cover designed specifically for the 79 Series solves the problems that make the factory seats frustrating. They protect the original upholstery from sweat, mud, water, dog hair, fuel, and the general abuse that comes with working or touring in a 79. They add a layer of foam padding in some materials, which improves comfort on long drives without requiring any structural changes to the seat. They fit around armrests, levers, and cup holders without compromise. And crucially, airbag-compatible seat covers deploy correctly if an airbag fires, keeping your safety systems intact.
The other practical advantage is reversibility. Your factory seats stay completely untouched underneath. If you ever sell the vehicle, remove the covers and the interior looks stock. That matters for resale value on a vehicle that holds its price the way a 79 Series does.
The Best Seat Covers for the 79 Series: Black Duck
Black Duck is the benchmark for seat covers in the Australian 4WD and trades market, and for good reason. They manufacture in Australia, with their main production facilities in Perth and Wangaratta, Victoria. Their covers are engineered to a custom pattern for specific vehicle models, which means the 79 Series cover fits the 79 Series seat precisely, not a generic shape pulled over and hoped for the best.
Black Duck covers are designed to work around the specific features of each seat, including armrests, levers, headrests, and cup holders, so you do not lose functionality after fitting. For 79 Series models with side airbags, their covers are constructed with airbag-compatible seams that allow correct deployment without tearing the cover apart. They also offer a full money-back guarantee if you are not satisfied, which reflects the confidence they have in the product.
Black Duck Canvas vs Black Duck Denim: Which Should You Choose?
Black Duck offer two main material options for the 79 Series, and the right choice depends on how you use the vehicle.
Black Duck Canvas is built from 15.6oz military-grade Australian canvas. It is fully waterproof, rot and mildew resistant, and built for maximum durability in harsh conditions. If your 79 is a work vehicle, sees regular river crossings, carries wet gear, or gets wet dogs in it regularly, canvas is the right call. It is the toughest option in the range and will outlast almost anything you put it through.
Black Duck Denim is a heavy-duty twill fabric with water repellency, UV protection, and a layer of high-density foam underneath. The foam makes a noticeable difference to comfort on long highway runs and corrugated tracks. If your 79 is more of a touring rig than a work truck and driver comfort on extended trips is the priority, denim is worth serious consideration. Both canvas and denim are priced the same, so the decision purely comes down to your use case.
View the Black Duck Range at 70 Series Store
Single Cab or Dual Cab: Getting the Right Cover for Your 79
The 79 Series comes in single cab and dual cab configurations, and the seat layouts are different between the two. It is important to order covers matched to your specific body style so the fitment is correct across all seats.
The single cab 79 has a driver's seat and a three-seat bench on the passenger side. Covers for this configuration need to accommodate that bench layout correctly. The dual cab 79 has a full rear seat row in addition to the front pair, and covers are available for both the front and rear to give you a complete, matching interior. Ordering by your body style ensures every seat is covered correctly with no compromise on fit.
Single Cab Seat Covers Dual Cab Seat Covers
What to Look for When Buying Seat Covers for a 79 Series
Not all seat covers are made equal, and the 79 Series market has plenty of generic options that look the part but fall short in real use. When choosing seat covers for a working or touring 79, there are a few things worth checking before you buy.
Custom fit is the most important factor. A cover cut to the exact pattern of the 79 Series seat will fit snugly, stay in place, and work properly around all levers and adjusters. Generic covers that claim universal fitment will shift around, bunch up, and look sloppy within a few weeks.
Material weight matters too. For a vehicle used in tough conditions, a heavy-duty canvas or equivalent fabric will handle the abuse. Lightweight neoprene or polyester covers wear through quickly in hard-use applications.
Airbag compatibility is non-negotiable on any 79 Series fitted with side airbags. Check that the cover is explicitly rated as airbag-compatible before purchasing. Black Duck covers are constructed with this in mind across their range.
Finally, look for Australian-made or at minimum Australian-designed product with proper warranty support. Cheap imported covers often have poor stitching, incorrect patterns, and no recourse if they fail early.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I just buy aftermarket seats for my 79 Series instead of seat covers?
You can, but it is rarely the most practical choice. Full seat replacements require adapter kits, can cost $1,500 to $3,000 or more for a front pair, and may create ADR compliance issues on vehicles fitted with airbags. For most owners, quality seat covers solve the same comfort and protection problems at a fraction of the cost with no installation complications.
Will seat covers affect airbag deployment on my 79 Series?
Standard seat covers can interfere with side airbag deployment. Black Duck covers are constructed with airbag-compatible seams specifically so that airbags can deploy correctly through the cover without snagging. Always confirm that any cover you purchase is listed as airbag-compatible if your vehicle is fitted with side airbags.
Do Black Duck seat covers fit around the 79 Series seat features like armrests and levers?
Yes. Black Duck patterns are engineered for the specific seat design of each vehicle model. On the 79 Series, the covers fit around the seat's armrests, headrests, cup holders, and adjustment levers without blocking access or compromising function.
What is the difference between Black Duck Canvas and Black Duck Denim?
Canvas is 15.6oz military-grade Australian material, fully waterproof, and built for maximum durability in hard-use applications like work vehicles, coastal touring, and wet conditions. Denim is a heavy-duty twill with a foam layer underneath for extra comfort, better suited to touring builds where long-distance driver comfort is the priority. Both are the same price, so the choice comes down to how you use the vehicle.
Do I need different seat covers for a single cab and dual cab 79 Series?
Yes. The single cab has a different front seat layout to the dual cab, and the dual cab has an additional rear row. Covers are sold by body style so the fitment is correct for every seat in your vehicle. Make sure to select single cab or dual cab covers when ordering.
How difficult are seat covers to fit on a 79 Series?
Black Duck covers are designed for DIY installation and most owners fit them at home without any special tools. The custom pattern means the cover goes on cleanly with elastic, straps, and clips that hold everything firmly in place. Most installs take around 30 to 60 minutes for the full vehicle depending on configuration.
