Adding leather seats

No, they just replace the covers, but the seats feel amazing, maybe it's the perf'ed leather. It definitely changed the look of the interior, especially having the center console wraped. I forgot to order the steering wheel wrap, so they had to order it. They will be putting it on next week. Very happy with the Katzkins seats and the install done by Upholstry Limited in Baton Rouge.

 

Rough estimate of cost for those covers? They look great!

 

Oh man, sounds like he may be getting some incentive to get you to buy the other brand.

 

I like how the switches look. Was worried they were going to look too aftermarkety but not bad at all! Probably going to go get mine done next month

 

Yeah, the switches are definitely large, but I do think they turned our pretty good. The cooling element was a lot more expensive to add, but holy geez is it worth it!

 

Somebody mentioned it the cooling was weak, but I think I’m gonna go that route. Did you go with the extra padding or keep everything the same?

 

I honestly don’t know if he did extra padding, but they are quite comfy. And whoever said the cooling was weak must not have experienced it. Mine blows 60* and it blows hard. It’s incredible.

 

Leather seats in a pickup truck?

Wait...is this for real? You guys getting mani's and pedi's on the weekends too? Ask permission from your wive's to leave the house?

 

JTFC. Damn getting the OEM hog rings removed is a major PITA. Just thick enough that I can't cut them with a pair of wire cutters. Gotta use two pairs of needle nose to get them bent apart enough to remove. I am about 4.5 hours into this. I have the headrests done, the rear passenger seat complete and re-installed and have the driver's side rear seat out of the truck and have removed the arm rest from it.

This is not for the faint of heart. My fingers and forearms are already sore. Local shop quoted $500 to install everything. I am planning on removing the OEM cover from the rear driver's seat today. At that point, everything might just be going back into the truck and to the local shop.

And why has no one said that the rear seat covers don't have holes for the headrests????

 

Looks Great! How is well doses the cooling part of the seat work? I am thinking about adding it, but want to make sure it really works.

 

I’ve only used it a couple of times, due to the fact I got these installed in January. But when I have used it, it’s VERY worth the money. I think cooled seats are just as important as heated.

 

Thanks for the reply.

 

Where people are getting this confused is from the factory setup. Tundra's only have "vented" seats from the factory but many mistake them for "cooled". That is why a lot of people think they are weak.

I had an '11 Platinum with black leather in Florida and found the seats did absolutely nothing in the summer.

 

I had dealer swap mine to leather and add heated seats. I think they used the factory black leather on mine and they are stiff as hell! Not comfortable on long drives

 

This guy who’s what he’s talking about!

 

Adding leather seats

with the steering wheel, center console, and seats installed, $2050. I think the barricuda flint perf'ed leather was a little more than the the plain leather.

 

Was the center console wrap part of the kit?

 

I'm not sure, They do work for a lot of leather upgrades for dealerships through Katzkins. They also do the doors, roof, dash, and even replace the floor liner with leather. I have to go back friday for the steering wheel wrap, I'll ask them and get back with you on that.

 

I didn't go with the coolers just the seat warmers. I did a write up of the install here.
https://www.tundras.com/threads/diy-katzkins-with-seat-warmers.31828/

 

Yep, my hands were all torn up by the end of the install too. None of the covers have the headrest cutouts. If you are done with the back, you should just get her done! Oh, and then I spent 3 hours with a heat gun getting the wrinkles out.

 

Install is pricey because it’s an art form to tuck the foam and pull the shit out of the leather, steam the wrinkles out before clipping it down so it looks OEM. Watch vids or pay an experienced installer, easier. Seats have to be removed from the truck. Tip, tumble dry the Katzkins hot before applying. And if you do it yourself in one go, you’ll need pain meds for your hands for several days lol.

Cost me about $620 total including hog rings, 2 seat pad heaters/switches and fuse tap. Katzkins were bought on eBay using 15% coupon. The other parts I got from Amazon.

If you want the fan kit, that’s extra including paying for upgraded perforated seats so you feel it (somewhat). It won’t be as noticeable as heat in the winter which feels damn good. If I were to do it again, I’d put heaters in the back too.

If your adventurous you can skin your center console too, they’re cheap on eBay.



You can install the switches anywhere you want and it’s easy to pop the gear cover off. I put mine here on either side.



Yep, it luxes the truck, off to my mani/pedi now lol

 

Your install thread helped me quite a bit- showed me three things that both helped a lot. #1- My wire cutters weren't big enough. I bought a bigger set and they actually cut the OEM hog rings, which is a hell of a lot easier than grabbing them with two pairs of needle nose and prying them apart. #2- it is a lot easier to separate the top and bottom halves of the seats and do them separately than it is to leave them together. #3- take pictures of where the OEM clips go on the back and bottom of the seats. Thank you.

 

Do you have a picture between these two? Do you really peel off the OEM vinyl or just overlay the leather onto the vinyl?

 

The center console cover is an overlay, I also cushioned it with a thin layer of white padding that came in unrelated Amazon packaging. You can’t use anything too thick as the leather is designed to go over with nothing in between. Wrap it around, use a glue gun, and screw the plastic plate back on. I got the idea after someone here paid $300 to switch out a real leather lid (off a Platinum I think).

 

Is yours synthetic or real leather? I can only find synthetic covers on eBay and Amazon- however, I can find several OEM replacements from Platinums ($595) and 1794s ($765).....

 

How big were the new cutters you got?

bought new channel lock cutters in prep for this project:

$32 Channellock E338 8" Diagonal Cutting Pliers with Xtreme Leverage Technology (XLT) Requires Less Force to Cut than Other High-Leverage Models | Laser Heat-Treated Cutting Edge for Extended Life | Forged from High Carbon Steel | Made in USA

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00D8WR5Q4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

7". Biggest the local Ace had on hand. The difference between the 7" and the 4.5" or 5" ones i had on hand is large.

Was your cover leather or synthetic?

 

I have a set of katzkins waiting to be installed. Yea i can imagine cutting those hogrings with a tiny cutter is no fun, lol.

 

Synthetic, current price $25+shipping (cheap!). There’s also one with TRD red stitching. If you’re gonna tackle this, good time to do the wireless charger mod too.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Console-Armrest-Leather-Synthetic-Cover-for-Toyota-Tundra-14-19-Black/173103285816?fits=Model:Tundra&epid=26013189896&hash=item284dc28638:g:uAIAAOSw8vNaXi-h#UserReviews