[UN4GTBL]

I wanted to post up a review of the WeatherTech Liners that I purchased for our new '11 Caravan.

Overall, the front liners are good. They should cover more of the dead pedal area like the Husky liners in my Caliber do, but otherwise they are good.

The rear liner is where the problem arises. When the seats are in their normal position, they are good and cover the majority of the carpet. However, as soon as you tumble either, or both of the middle seats forward to allow access to the back row, the mats get all messed up. What happens, is that the middle seats slide towards the middle of the van by 2-3" and thus push the liner around.

Here are some pics:

Normal seating position:

Seat folded forward:

Seat starting to tumble forward:

Seat tumbling forward:

Seat tumbled forwards:

Both middle seats tumbled forward:

As this obviously doesn't work well, and its annoying having to explain to passengers that my expensive new liners aren't designed properly. So I called WeatherTech and asked if they knew about this problem. The gentleman that I spoke to had not heard of this yet, but directed me to send an email with some pictures. So i sent them the above pictures. I heard back from them this week, and basically the engineers were very lazy in designing these liners. They made the assumption that people would get to the back seat by walking down the aisle between the middle row seats. Obviously that doesn't work, as that is just awkward and too narrow for our use. So basically I have two options with these liners - Cut them so that they stay in place when you tumble the middle seats or take them back and try and find generic mats that will work. I'm thinking that I will go ahead and cut them so that they stay still when the seats move.

Anyways, I just wanted to provide the community with some feedback on these mats, incase anybody else was thinking about buying them.

Here's what I now have as I wasn't happy at all with the weathertechs - I bought a full set of Husky Liners and I'm very happy with them - http://forum.chryslerminivan.net/sh...Weatherbeater-Floor-Mat-Review-(Picture-Heavy)

 

[dun4now]

IMHO: I would take them back and go buy some carpet at home depot and cut it to fit now that you have design info to go by. That floor liner makes me cringe that you would pay good money for something of low quality with a border that could trip you up getting out from behind those seats. Are they trying to hold water back? :lol: That's a little exsesive.

 

[UN4GTBL]

IMHO: I would take them back and go buy some carpet at home depot and cut it to fit now that you have design info to go by. That floor liner makes me cringe that you would pay good money for something of low quality with a border that could trip you up getting out from behind those seats. Are they trying to hold water back? :lol: That's a little exsesive.

Carpet will do nothing for the salt and snow in the winter that gets tracked inside the van. Hence why I went with the liners. I have them in my car and they work great...hold a couple inches of snow and salt and slush in the winter without me having to constantly adjust the mats.

 

[jimkjr60]

I bought Lloyd true berber carpet mats for my 2011 T&C. I really like the coverage and the ability to hide dirt. However, I have the same problem with the folded middle seats but since the carpeting "gives" more it is not nearly as big a problem as the vinyl mats. It is more of a cosmetic issue. Looks like the manufacturers have not caught up with the '11 design.

 

[UN4GTBL]

I bought Lloyd true berber carpet mats for my 2011 T&C. I really like the coverage and the ability to hide dirt. However, I have the same problem with the folded middle seats but since the carpeting "gives" more it is not nearly as big a problem as the vinyl mats. It is more of a cosmetic issue. Looks like the manufacturers have not caught up with the '11 design.

I did a bit of research, and I'm pretty sure that the '05-'10 stow n go seats went towards the middle of the van as well when they went into the bin.

 

[Homoudont]

I have them, but I have young kids and make them go between the seats. Their still small enough that it doesn't matter. :biggrin:

 

[andyg]

Myself and all my friends are 20-21. I've shown them all how to fold the seats forward but they insist on climbing through the middle. I'm not really sure why lol

 

[UN4GTBL]

I have them, but I have young kids and make them go between the seats. Their still small enough that it doesn't matter. :biggrin:

There aren't ever any kids in ours, so not always possible lol

Myself and all my friends are 20-21. I've shown them all how to fold the seats forward but they insist on climbing through the middle. I'm not really sure why lol

Yeah I think 15 is the youngest person that has been in the van lol

 

[davhamm]

We just keep one of the seats stowd at all times, of course that liner doesn't work to well in this configuration either. Still looking for a solution.

 

[Benny]

I did a bit of research, and I'm pretty sure that the '05-'10 stow n go seats went towards the middle of the van as well when they went into the bin.

Yes the 4th gen van stow n go seats go towards the center when tumbled. but theres plastic trim there (not sure about the 5th gen vans). so you don't really need the mats to cover in between the mid row seats. Of course my parents have never really invested in rubber mats (infact my PT is the only one that has rubber mats I put in, in the winter time)

and looking at those mats, they weren't really thought through, seeing as the seats hit the mat when the seats are tumbled, thats a terrible flaw, shows you how much effort they put forth in their designs.

 

[redwein]

Myself and all my friends are 20-21. I've shown them all how to fold the seats forward but they insist on climbing through the middle. I'm not really sure why lol

My friends and family (of all ages) climb through the middle. It's the most obvious way. I'm > 200 lbs. and have no problem climbing in the back. I would not want someone to spring the seat forward. It causes the seat back to fold up and takes a reasonable effort to restore the seat to it's former state. To me it is obvious that the middle is the intended way to get into the back seat.

 

[UN4GTBL]

Yes the 4th gen van stow n go seats go towards the center when tumbled. but theres plastic trim there (not sure about the 5th gen vans). so you don't really need the mats to cover in between the mid row seats. Of course my parents have never really invested in rubber mats (infact my PT is the only one that has rubber mats I put in, in the winter time)

and looking at those mats, they weren't really thought through, seeing as the seats hit the mat when the seats are tumbled, thats a terrible flaw, shows you how much effort they put forth in their designs.

Yeah I'm thoroughly disappointed in these mats.

I wish that somebody else made something.

Even if they made the back mats into a piece for each row, and had the mats join where the seats go towards the middle, I think that would solve the problem.

 

[blupupher]

My friends and family (of all ages) climb through the middle. It's the most obvious way. I'm > 200 lbs. and have no problem climbing in the back. I would not want someone to spring the seat forward. It causes the seat back to fold up and takes a reasonable effort to restore the seat to it's former state. To me it is obvious that the middle is the intended way to get into the back seat.

Same for me. I have never flipped the seat to get into the back seat. I am 300 lbs and am able to do it just fine, as is my 69 yr old mother with a bad hip and 72 yr old father in law.
I truthfully never even thought of doing it. Seems like more work than it is worth.

So you could:
Open Door
pull latch to fold seat (after fumbling around the back of the seat to find it)
fold seat forward (making sure to put the headreast down first)
climb into van
sit down
lean back forward to put seat back (or let the next passenger do it)

or

Open Door
Walk between the seat and sit down.

I guess part of the reason I never thought of it was we had car seats in the middle seats for the first 4 years we had it, and still have a booster seat in 1.

 

[UN4GTBL]

Same for me. I have never flipped the seat to get into the back seat. I am 300 lbs and am able to do it just fine, as is my 69 yr old mother with a bad hip and 72 yr old father in law.
I truthfully never even thought of doing it. Seems like more work than it is worth.

So you could:
Open Door
pull latch to fold seat (after fumbling around the back of the seat to find it)
fold seat forward (making sure to put the headreast down first)
climb into van
sit down
lean back forward to put seat back (or let the next passenger do it)

or

Open Door
Walk between the seat and sit down.

I guess part of the reason I never thought of it was we had car seats in the middle seats for the first 4 years we had it, and still have a booster seat in 1.

Remember that on the '11 Caravan, the process has been simplified:

- Open Door
- Pull up on seat lever (one lever flips everything forwards)
- Walk into back seat
- Pull seat back down and flip the headrest back up

or

- Open Door
- Climb around the seat

 

[blupupher]

Remember that on the '11 Caravan, the process has been simplified:

...

Did not know that, but still...

 

[redwein]

Remember that on the '11 Caravan, the process has been simplified:

- Open Door
- Pull up on seat lever (one lever flips everything forwards)
- Walk into back seat
- Pull seat back down and flip the headrest back up

If the middle row seat was set to recline to anything other than the default first click, you would also need to reset that. Anyway you look at it, this approach is a needless pita.

 

[UN4GTBL]

If the middle row seat was set to recline to anything other than the default first click, you would also need to reset that. Anyway you look at it, this approach is a needless pita.

yeah, it doesn't remember how far the seat is slid back, or reclined.

but 75% of the people we've had in the van have wanted to "instinctively" flip the seat forwards and not walk through the middle - again, this is all based off my experiences

 

[UN4GTBL]

I wanted to update this thread.

I'm still disappointed in the rear liner. Its starting to show its age after 6 months, because its always getting caught in the seats.


Thanks to CDecker, it looks like Husky Liners has done it properly, and made the rear mat 2 pieces.

He's going to put up a review when he gets his set. At which point I may be replacing these...

 

[[email protected]]

I love my weathertech mats in my 08'

 

[skeelo]

People you've had in your van also own one? Every person Ive had in my van dont own a caravan and dont even realize that the stow and go seats would fold forward with the side lever. They think that the lever is just for reclining the backrest....

yeah, it doesn't remember how far the seat is slid back, or reclined.

but 75% of the people we've had in the van have wanted to "instinctively" flip the seat forwards and not walk through the middle - again, this is all based off my experiences