leather seats install

[jknappen]

going to have leather seats installed and needing some insight on a few things

1. katzkins or roadwire?

2. how hard is the install if you want to do it yourself

3. would it be cheaper to buy the seat covers and have someone install them or buy them from the install place.

place in nashville says 1200 or so for roadwire installed plus tax.
I want the cloth covers completely taken off and new leather seats put in just like it came from the factory
wanting all seats plus headrests and center console
2013 express

 

[adrianp89]

It really isn't that hard. We ran a trial program and did several cars. It is time consuming. I would highly recommend having an empty garage and removing the rears first and finish those. Then move on to the passenger seat and do that one, and then by the time you are ready for the driver you've got a hang of it (hopefully). I would say probably 12-14 hours labor if you have never done it. But if you have a garage and can do it like I said above you can do it over a few days and its nothing.

 

[Tray Burge]

going to have leather seats installed and needing some insight on a few things

1. katzkins or roadwire?

2. how hard is the install if you want to do it yourself

3. would it be cheaper to buy the seat covers and have someone install them or buy them from the install place.

place in nashville says 1200 or so for roadwire installed plus tax.
I want the cloth covers completely taken off and new leather seats put in just like it came from the factory
wanting all seats plus headrests and center console
2013 express

I've worked in an upholstery shop before, and it's easier to have it done for you, just more expensive. If you don't know how to do it, don't try unless your the type of person willing to learn the hard way (certain trade secrets that make things easier to install) If you want the old stuff removed, specifically indicate that and they may charge you more. Some places just cover over the existing material because of the time to remove it. A high end place will automatically remove it.

 

[Avgas]

Definitely go with the katzkin, plenty of videos on you tube on how to do it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0jV6PnCiUE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGDQC-8byGw

 

[jimbo1man]

I picked up Clazzios, took about 4 hours taking my time in the driveway. Love 'em!

 

[deangtp]

I bought seats from leatherseats.com. I think they are excellent quality. I paid 789 for a crew cab. Added heated seats from eBay for 50 bucks. I build the seats for the Chevy Malibu for a living so, they were a piece of cake for me. Took about five hours for me to do it by myself. That's pulling ratchets out to unbolt seats and putting tools away. It's not overly difficult. You'll want to do it right and put some effort into it or you'll get unsightly wrinkles.

 

[jknappen]

watching the videos. looks pretty straight forward really. I have access to hog rings and hog ring pliers... looks like just slow and take your time and work out all the wrinkles.

 

[Ricks Ram]

I bought seats from leatherseats.com. I think they are excellent quality. I paid 789 for a crew cab. Added heated seats from eBay for 50 bucks. I build the seats for the Chevy Malibu for a living so, they were a piece of cake for me. Took about five hours for me to do it by myself. That's pulling ratchets out to unbolt seats and putting tools away. It's not overly difficult. You'll want to do it right and put some effort into it or you'll get unsightly wrinkles.

I also went with Leatherseats.com. the quality and fit were exelent! They were also very helpful when I had some questions. I highly recomend them.This is one of my fronts after the install they are equal or better than factory IMO. It is actualy fun to do once you get the hang of it.

 

[getupkid]

Rick, do you have a picture of them installed? Did you do your jump seat? How much? Haha

 

[smoothee]

I'm also considering LeatherSeats.com. Seem to be a helpful bunch, sent out free samples so I could verify colors.

 

[Ricks Ram]

Rick, do you have a picture of them installed? Did you do your jump seat? How much? Haha

Yes I did the jump seat as well. I haven't done the console lid yet because I didn't have a little staple gun. That is why its a diffetent color. Going to try to get it to it next week.It's really pretty basic if you just take your time. I have the three piece console for the Express but the seats I got were out of a 14 Laramie. I bought a 30.00 garmet steemer from Wallmart and it worked great. They were great to work with. They sent me samples and were great after the sale when I had questions. These things are nice. I was very impressed when I saw the quality. As stated the base price with console is around 750.00. I payed more because I upgraded.....I added the custom Ram logo,double contrasting stitching,two color inserts,and perforated high flow center pieces for the ventilated seats so it came up to 1050.00 total. Sorry the pictures are so hazy. The sun was reflecting in the truck. The colors are a lot brighter than they look in the pictures they have a nice contrast. All of the little wrinkles in the picture completely dissappeard in a few days.

 

[deangtp]

Hey Rick. You don't need staples for that cover. You can just make slits in the material to hook onto. That plastic "ring" pops off. You'll know what to do when you see the stock cover. You'll need to unscrew the latch bezel on the lid too.

 

[Ricks Ram]

Hey Rick. You don't need staples for that cover. You can just make slits in the material to hook onto. That plastic "ring" pops off. You'll know what to do when you see the stock cover. You'll need to unscrew the latch bezel on the lid too.

That's a good idea!.......Thanks

 

[jknappen]

I am leary about the leatherseats.com. They look easy but they arent all leather. Looks like you can get them with all leather feonts and the vinyl on the sides and back. I just dont want cheap looking.

 

[Ricks Ram]

I am leary about the leatherseats.com. They look easy but they arent all leather. Looks like you can get them with all leather feonts and the vinyl on the sides and back. I just dont want cheap looking.

You can get them however you want. They sell them in full leather as well. If you scroll through the options you will see all of the selections. Factory seats are not full leather either. If you read the factory description leather seats only have leather in the seating areas. That is why they say leather trimmed seating areas. My seats were out of a 2014 Laramie. They are all vinyl except for the center section. Yet they say they are leather seats. I went for the factory style with leather seating areas. Don't let my cell phones crappy pics scare you off. I am extremely picky and I was very impressed with the quality and fit. As I stated they apsolutly look equal or better than the factory covers that I replaced. Half of the battle is taking your time and doing a good install.

 

[A05GSHO]

I'm also considering LeatherSeats.com. Seem to be a helpful bunch, sent out free samples so I could verify colors.

X3, don't think I would try to install them myself though.

Home

 

[Ricks Ram]

X3, don't think I would try to install them myself though.

Home

I was a little hesitant as well. I got quotes from 400.00 all of the way to 1000.00! To install them so I decided to give it a try. As others have said if you watch the video and take yor time it's not realy that hard. You just have to make sure you massage the cover where it needs to be and work out the little wrinkles here and there and then stand back and give it a good once over to make sure it is strait before you cut the holes for the headrests.

 

[jknappen]

They do look good. Im kind of worried about the headrests tho i dont have a vacuum thing. How bad is the rear seat? I have the solid bench. I saw the options i like the vinyl on the sides and backs but leather on the entire fronts and headrests. Great work though.... Also on seat heaters are the child sensors on top of the passenger cushion or what? Cole brothers told me that heated seats coupdnt ne done with child sensors on top of the cushion. How good are the ebay seat heaters? Is the install easy? Where did you all mount the switch.

 

[Ricks Ram]

I did the back seat first to get the hang of it. I think.it was a little easier than the fronts. I installed the headrest covers by having my wife slide them over while I squeezed the foam together. I did not turn them inside out to install them. They felt like they were going to tear when I did it that way but I did turn the seat covers inside out to install them. They aren't that bad if you take your time. I haven't installed seat heaters yet. My seats came out of a Laramie so I haven't decided which way to go yet. I do not have child sensors in the back seats(I am not realy even sure what they are) so I can't comment on that. There are several different seat heating kits you can buy. It wouldn't be hard to install at all since you would already have the seat apart. The wiring to install is basic.

 

[DavidRam]

I was really happy with my Clazzios... Went in pretty easy, fit great, looked great and held up really well..

Btw, the console lid is not Clazzio, I had it custom covered by JPM Coachworks with Alcantara and silver stitching.