by Matt Konkle
Managing Editor
Coal dust mixed with mud at Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area in Coal Township, Pennsylvania, makes for quite a messy substance. If you’ve been to the park before, then you know what I mean. Goopy, soupy gunk that always finds a way to slather itself on and under your vehicle no matter how much you work to avoid the stuff.
No doubt your off-road park or trail has something like that as well.
Luckily, a quick stop to a self-serve car wash and you can spray off all that muck to ensure your Jeep looks its best after a day, or weekend, of off-roading.
Your interior, though, may not be so lucky. Because here’s the problem. How many of us really stay inside our vehicles for the entire off-road session? I’d bet almost no one. Lunch, bathroom break, spotting or taking pictures — we’re always on the move.
So the chances are really high you’ll track some of that messy mixture inside the Jeep where it can soak into carpeting and make for a much more difficult cleaning adventure.
Now, this danger isn’t limited to an off-road park or trail either, as there are plenty of inclement weather days where even a driveway stroll or walk through the parking lot can threaten your Jeep’s interior.
That is, unless you employ a nice set of protective floor liners.
And there are certainly several good choices out there, but for me, I’ve had several years of experience using our Ultimate Floor Liners inside Project Grey Wolf. So when the Snazzberry diesel came along, one of the first things I placed inside was a new set of these popular liners.
Here is what I like.
First off, they are made in the USA and engineered with a hefty, injection-molded thermoplastic elastomer material with a heavy-duty construction you can feel right out of the box. There isn’t anything flimsy about them. They don’t flop like a cheap paper plate and each liner can handle 40 percent more liquid than previous editions.
Next is the deep 5/16-inch tread. Not only will it hold all that moisture you track in and keep it away from carpeting, but the pattern itself is unique to the liner industry and crafted to keep your footwear clean and dry as well. Living in the northeast, I've seen plenty of different weather conditions, and taken the Jeep off-roading in every season. So, yeah, having those grooves as a shield against turning my interior into a mud-filled region is definitely important.
Third, the Ultimate Liners are smartly designed to snugly fit driver and passenger footwells right from the start, so there is no cutting needed or hassling with confusing templates before installing. We all like simple installation, right? These guys head from the box to the Jeep about as easily as you just walk from one room to another. Simple. Each one even comes with carpet hook reinforcements and a nibbed base that locks the liner into place so it doesn’t slide around. There are also rear seat liners for those with Unlimited Wranglers, as well as a cargo area versions for many models that work just the same as front liners.
Once installed, you’ll immediately notice the extra tall sides that fit flush to the floor’s contours and do an excellent job providing security against moisture spillage. These things have all been temperature tested as well from sub-zero up to 100-plus degrees Fahrenheit — ensuring they won't crack, fade or warp over time.
Finally, all that collected moisture, dirt, mud or whatever does not have to live in the liner grooves forever, as each one (front, back and cargo) is designed for easy removal. Simply pull out, wash all the nasty away and replace in the vehicle. You don't even need to wait for a car wash or driveway to clean as I’ve pulled them out several times on the trail just to erase some mud.
Quadratec's Ultimate Floor Liners are available for most Jeep editions, including all Wrangler models, CJ7, Gladiator, Grand Cherokee, Cherokee (old and new body style) and Renegade.
