Katzkin Install Tips/Advice

I'll be doing my katzkin Install at some point in the near future. I'll probably start with the smaller rear seat.
For those that have installed katzkins, do you have any advice? Any tools that make the install go smoothly?
I bought hog ring pliers a year ago when they were on sale because I knew I would get katzkin eventually. These are them:

$25 DEWALT P7DW Hog Ring Pliers Kit

https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-P7DW-...qid=1603062248&sprefix=dewalt+hog+ring&sr=8-3

I feel like getting the plastic pieces off the seats may be a pain. Are they screwed in, or are they heald in by clips?

I'm installing seat heaters, those just seem to lay on the foam?

 

Take your time and make sure you fit them correctly around air bag sensors. Your hands will get sore and cut up - pace yourself. I used zip ties in a lot of places vs the hog rings. And be careful that you don’t pop the zippers. Having a helper compress the foam while you zip is advised. I took two basically full days to do my 4runner.

 

I believe @ElNopal would have some great advice.

 

I actually just started this one myself, I did the 5 headrests first and the small rear seat. Seat was time consuming but it's not as scary as I thought. Just used a hog ring set and garage tools, work bench, etc.

I actually found a really quick way to do the headrests, I had them down to just a few minutes a piece.

 

I haven't looked closely at the leathers, but are they precut everywhere they need to be?

 

https://www.tundras.com/threads/ale...at-heater-recommendations.71516/#post-1841831

I recommend starting with the rear smaller seat, then moving to the front passenger, then front driver, and finally ending with the rear larger seat. At least for me this was the order of difficulty. I used all hog rings, fairly simple after a few. Take your time.

 

I echo the other replies.

However, in addition...

Those are the hog ring pliers I was originally looking at. I didn’t get them because a family member (in the upholstery business) suggested that they don’t do as well in tight spots for upholstery...

My understanding was that the heaters, for best service/operation, should be installed inside a recess delicately cut out of the seat foam as to lay “flush” with the original molded seat foam lines...

I did not install heaters but was really close to pulling that trigger... I did a lot of research on it... There are plenty of great YT Videos on seat heater installs.

There are just so many little tips and tricks to deal with on installing the Katzkins kit... Nothing too hard to figure out but I would have have loved to have picked someone else’s brain while doing it. Like on how to remove the front jumper seat’s fabric, how to remove the back seat console arm rest fabric, why are there no holes cut out for the said console (you have to cut your own), and other little odds and ends stuff! So, yes, test fit and test fit again until you absolutely love it! ...

Anyhow, I shall be available, via PM, if you come upon any other questions, comments, concerns.

Best of luck!

 

Here is the write up I did when I installed mine. It shows the tools I needed. Most of the trim pieces have a torx screw then clips holding them on. It's a little time consuming but well worth it. I added seat warmers to my new truck a month or so ago and it's not quite the same but pretty close since most of the leather has to be taken off.

https://www.tundras.com/threads/diy-katzkins-with-seat-warmers.31828/

 

I did the Katzkin install on my 2014 4runner and swore I would never tackle that job again. I was thinking about attempting it on the Tundra and started calling around to local shops to see how much it would cost just to install (I was going to buy separately). I ended up going back and forth on this and took a chance getting the clazzio leather covers.......I am very impressed with the quality, fit and finish. Might be an option for you

 

Drats!

I missed your write up on this! Try as some of us may, I just have to relay, the site search bar does sometimes leave something left to be desired (or perhaps my user error)... I would have loved to have used this info... Nicely done!

 

I did mine in 2007. Only used angled hog ring pliers and rings. Headrests were a pain and i was afraid i was going to break the stitch. Eventually used a plastic bag over the foam, pulled a vacuum on it to compress the foam, then the covers went on easily. then i pulled the plastic out.

 

Thanks. It seems to get buried in the search. Usually take me a while to find it when I see someone asking about installing them.

 

I did my Katzkin/heated install in 2019. I actively resisted rushing. You have to be patient and persistent- and you’ll be pleased.

The plastic trim is held on by screws, clips, and retention strips. Each seat is a little different.

You’ll find that the heater kits have an adhesive backing. They adhere to the foam cushion. You’ll work the pad into crevices and smooth it down along the cushion contours. I followed @AlmightyCrash ’s walkthrough and cut small holes in the pad in order to fasten my hog rings. If you do this, be careful not to cut the heating element, only the fabric. (Tip)

You’ll find that you start each seat by attaching the seating and back rest portions using hog rings. You’ll get used to using the pliers and rings fairly quickly, I found them to be very intuitive. (Tip) attach the cover using the hog rings and then lay the leather back and make sure each piece is square and not under an uneven tension side to side or front to back. If you get it uneven, clip the hog rings off and do it over before fully installing the leather.

(Tip) have an extra pair of hands whenever you have to install the zippered portions of the front seats. The fit is very tight and the zippers WILL break if you try to force them.

(Tip) the back of the rear seat is bristling with sharp metal edges. Didn’t cut myself, but you could do so easily. Use caution and maybe leather gloves lifting and manipulating the rear seat.

That’s all I can think of. Good luck!

 

Thanks everyone! It doesn't seem like a very difficult install, just maybe a little frustrating and time consuming. I may start in on it this weekend.

I had a little bit of a concern that the hog ring pliers i have would be too wide to get into the nooks, so i may grab some standard ones just to be safe. I've had these things since Oct 2019, so i'll probably give them a try, and worst case i can return the new ones.

For those that used plastic to vacuum out the air out of the headrest, how do you get the plastic out? Just pull it as it re-inflates?

I remember reading about using a barrel sander to make a recessed pad for the seat heater to fit into. I'm not sure if i'll do this or not. @Patch999 can you feel the edges of the heaters through your covers (great write up btw, i'll have it open while i tackle it)

 

Headrest were the easiest part for me. Just crush it in one end, start to slip it on, keep crushing it against the carpet, and it will slip on without a hitch. Never pull on the stitches as they will tear. This goes for the whole project. Also, take plenty of pictures, the leather straps, hardware, etc., for reference.

 

No you can't feel them. You will cut and tape them so you can install the hog rings and the leather will keep them in place. Just test fit them with this in mind. Depending on how you cut them they will pull down into the creases once you use the hog rings. So if you want them further forward or back, push them into the creases before you start cutting so they end up where you want them. You will need to cut out a piece of the pad for the thermostat attached to the warmer to sit in.

 

All I have left today is the driver's seat, everything else is done. Slowly getting there, used the write up by @Patch999 to get me started.

Just got the passenger side back in. Doing that 60 rear bench definitely sucked.

 

Finished this up today, tore the side zipper on the last dang seat, working on sewing that up while it's in the truck. About half way there buy at least the hard stuff is over.

 

Do it inside a warm room. Heat each piece in the drier on high to get it more pliable before application. Use a fabric streamer to work out creases. Compress that foam the best you can and stretch the leather back nice and tight for a smooth look. I would work each piece with your nicest fit that faces the door, the sides that you see when you open your doors. I would start at the back middle, then back seats.Your best work by experience will be the front seats last. Honestly do one seat per day because your hands will get tired and you’ll start cutting corners losing your methodical finesse you cared about at the beginning. You don’t want it to look like loose wrinkly covers. Watch some YouTube vids.

While the fabric is off, it’s a good time to clean the foam. Tips are the same as cleaning/drying a memory foam mattress.

 

So I installed one panel, holy hell....what a pain.

The pliers are too wide to get in there....had to use zip ties. I'm going to order some different pliers.

 

Yep. It’s been over a week since I did mine and my hands STILL hurt. I recommend taking before pictures so you have a reference. I did not re-install the rear seat latch cable correctly, pinched it, and had to order another one. $35 lesson learned I guess.

 

Dang.
It was a pain just figuring out how to disassemble the seats. I ended up leaving the cable attached and kinda leaving them together.

When I was putting the new cover on, I got all the clips on the back seated.....realized I didn't do any of the hog rings.....i amaze myself sometimes.

I got to a point where I have to remove the seat flip bracket and stopped, do you happen to remember how that comes off? I think I'm going to try to do 1 panel a day.

 

It took me a bit to figure out the hog rings and I had to cut a few off because I missed. Just push them hard into the foam. It will give. It was much easier the second time round putting seat warmers in me next one.

 

I might remember. Which “seat flip bracket” part are you referencing? The metal latch that holds the seat down or up had two 12 or 13mm nuts. The plastic handle trim just took some gentle prying.
For hog rings I got to where I would load the ring, hook the top edge around the bar in the cover, then use the pliers to push the ring and cover down to the bar in the foam.

 

The one to lift the rear seat. The one that the release cable is attached to.

 

You removed those? I never did...

 

There are two nuts holding them on (one of them circled in yellow.)The lock assembly is number 19 in the diagram below. I think I removed it and left it attached to the cable when separating the seat halves. But in hindsight I think if you pop the plastic cable holders (circled in orange) out, it should give enough slack to get the cable end out of the lock assembly.

 

Not cheap but these worked for me....

$56 KNIPEX Tools - Hog Ring Pliers, Multi-Component (9192180), 7"

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B..._title_oth_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

 

I saw those. Im a big fan of knipex tools.
But a little too pricey for a one time use.