Mine FINALLY shipped. I get them Wednesday, to mad I will be in TX starting Wed for a week.

 

I install the katskin leather kits for the dealer i work at all the time. In fact im the only one they come to install them. Takes me about 4 or 5 hours for a quad cab. Yes the head rest are a royal bitch and the center console bucket is even worse. When you go to install that part, what i do, i stand in the middle of the bucket to put pressure on the foam. works a little easier. Be real carefull with the zippers because they like to split and get bound up easy.

Just a little hint, if your vehicle has a black center console lid and your leathers are black or the lid piece is black, dont worry about installing the lid cover. It looks the same and you spend less time on it. Plus the clips in the lid are easily broken when taken apart. Just tryin to save some headache.

 

Thanks for the tips stantheman I just received the covers today. The headrests are a snap to do, took me about 15 min for all 4...
The set is very nice, actually better than I expected...
I have a problem though and was wondering what you guys advice might be. I ordered the 2 tone dark slate with the light grey/silver looking inserts, but they sent me solid dark slate. I was hoping for a little contrast in the color to brighten up the cab but was wondering how well the lighter colors hold up? I'm figuring the dark color will hide stains better and wear better, but asthetically the 2 tone is more pleasing to my eye.

I believe I'll have no problem getting it resolved. I was wondering if it was worth it, based on experience here. All of my vehicles have had cloth seats with exception of 2, my wifes 01 T&C light grey leather, and my 94 Grand Cherokee LTD dark grey.
We just bought the minivan, and the seats seemed brand new so I'm not sure about longevity there.

Also what do you cut the holes into the leather for the headrest mounts and various **** and power control with. How do you figure where to cut exactly so it does not look hacked?

 

I use a folding razor knife. Its a bit tricky to do. Ive done so many now its like second hand to me. The head rest, just push down on top of the seat at the back to feel where the sleeve hole are. Just cut a dime or nicle sized hole where you feel them. For the lumbar if ya got it just do the same but cut your hole a little bigger, feel where the middle is and cut that out, then you can see how much to cut. You will want the hole just big enough to where you can see the screw holes. The electric seat switch, leave the switch assem. in when you do it, you will feel the basic sqare of it to cut out then just trim over a little to where the screw holes are to where you can see them. All the same for the recliner. Just pull the leather to where the recliner post is above the seam and cut around it. also make sure you controls are above the seam. what i usually do is once i cut the basic square out i pull the seam over the switch bracket at the bottom then trim out for the switch screw holes. The center console hole on the side can be difficult. Got to kinda measure that one. make sure you cut it before you install because you have to run the power outlet wire though it. Most of the rest is just feeling where the bolt hole line up and cutting them. Youll go through some razors so have enough, that foam and leather dulls the hell out of them.

Hope that helps, Stan

 

That helps alot. With exception of the center armrest (which I might not do) it all seems pretty straight foward. I have about 100 utility knife blades handy. I think that'll get me through the install.

 

Here is a picture of my truck after the cloth seat covers were replaced with leather...



more pictures at My Website

-Luigi

 

Looks nice. I'm gonna do mine this Sunday. I ended up keeping the solid color afterall.

 

Well, I finally got home from Dallas and installed my leather covers. I took the seats out and was going to take them in to have them done, started looking at the kit and the seats and decided to do it myself. Glad I did, saved $300.

If you are going to do this you will need....

Assorted screw drivers
Assorted sockets and wrenches
T45 torque
Razor blades
Scissors
Common sense (sometimes that is hard to come by).

Removing the seats from the truck is not as easy as you may think, not hard, but a little harder than the 4 bolts under each seat. The center console is attached to both seats. You have to remove the plastic insert (in the hidden storage compartment), then you have to get under it, remove 6 nuts, then get the center console out before the seats will come out. And of course there is power running to it you have to disconnect.

If you take your time and examine how the covers are installed it is not to hard. The hardest thing I had to do was the head rests. I did not have to big of an issue getting them on, but it was hard to get the old ones off. I put a slight tear in one of them taking them off, which bummed me out because I plan to sell my old covers. I did entertain the thoughts of not putting the head rests back on. The new covers have no holes so it would have been a clean look along the top of the seat. Would have gave the seats a look from the 60s, plus the looks through the rear window would have been nice. Something you may want to consider.

If anyone is interested in my old covers I will cut you a sweet deal. Send me a PM if interested. Note, as I said I put a slight tear in one of the head rests. Also not my drivers seat cover has the holes for a power seat and the round hole for the lumbar support. These covers are the premium covers, which were an option in 05. They are MINT, no stains, tears or holes with the exception of that one head rest. $100 shipped or $85 picked up locally (Toledo Ohio).



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Looks great! How long did it take you to complete the project? Or perhaps I should ask how many cold ones did it take

 

Nice work.

That looks just like mine, except my cab is 4dr. I did the rear seats this am. Honestly, it took me 3 hours to do. With cleaning and detailing the debris the previous owner left back there it added about 20 min to the job.
Repetition makes your faster...
After doing the smaller rear seat the large one took me half the time. Instead of cutting holes on the second seat I just cut cross hairs into the leather/ naugehyde for the rear seat pivots, and headrest mounts. The seat back brackets wer simple enough to cut also, and are hidden so you have room for a little error.
Slipping the covers on was much easier with the seat foam still on the frame. The foam comes off the rears really easy. I pulled the small one apart but left the larger side on the frame and was able to maneuver the cover a little better this way.
If I have time I may tackle the fronts later today.