Looking to update to leather - how does aftermarket compare with OEM l

wrc7732 · August 4, 2015

Damnit. I need to stop looking at this forum. I was perfectly happy with the cloth in my SLE, but those seats look great. Going to have to check that out for sure.

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2014MallCrawler · August 5, 2015

Damnit. I need to stop looking at this forum. I was perfectly happy with the cloth in my SLE, but those seats look great. Going to have to check that out for sure.

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I love helping people spend their money! :-) let me know if I can post better photos for you! haha! I feel your pain tho. I totally do.

reiter284 · August 10, 2015

Got my Katzkins, Center Console swap, and Bilsteins installed this weekend. I would recommend paying someone to install katzkins. It is a LOT of work. So many different parts and tricks to it. It's one of those things that would take a lot of practice to become efficient at. Even after you figure out the driver seat, the passenger seat still takes 90% of the time/effort. Every piece has it's own little trick. It's a combination of a lot of effort, time, finesse, patience, correct tools, etc.... There is a high probability you will break some of the plastic pieces as well.

The main reason I went DIY was because I was going to install the center console anyway. So I figured while I had the seats out, it would be easier. Again, not worth it. It could easily be done as separate tasks on different days.

If you have a knack for this type of thing or you really enjoy this work, you may have a different opinion. Or if you were on a really tight budget, you CAN get leather seats for $575. But other than that, it's work best suited for a pro.

Mine is done and looks great. I think it came out absolutely flawless. But I wouldn't recommend it as DIY work.

Rawyzf · August 10, 2015

Got my Katzkins, Center Console swap, and Bilsteins installed this weekend. I would recommend paying someone to install katzkins. It is a LOT of work. So many different parts and tricks to it. It's one of those things that would take a lot of practice to become efficient at. Even after you figure out the driver seat, the passenger seat still takes 90% of the time/effort. Every piece has it's own little trick. It's a combination of a lot of effort, time, finesse, patience, correct tools, etc.... There is a high probability you will break some of the plastic pieces as well.

The main reason I went DIY was because I was going to install the center console anyway. So I figured while I had the seats out, it would be easier. Again, not worth it. It could easily be done as separate tasks on different days.

If you have a knack for this type of thing or you really enjoy this work, you may have a different opinion. Or if you were on a really tight budget, you CAN get leather seats for $575. But other than that, it's work best suited for a pro.

Mine is done and looks great. I think it came out absolutely flawless. But I wouldn't recommend it as DIY work.

Good post, thank you. Now I will not feel 1 bit bad about having it installed at a shop.

2014MallCrawler · August 11, 2015

I didn't feel that way at all. It was welll worth saving $550 and not hard at all just takes patience so it looks nice and tight. If you buy the set with the video it walks you straight through it.. knowing when to put them inside out. the plastic over the headrest foam so you can shrink it with a vacuum.. I'll install it for $500 for anyone in the Tulsa area :-P

enroberts · August 12, 2015

Here's mine after about 6 hours of install. I don't have a rear seat photo but you know what it looks like...ebay Katzkin here.

ember1205 · August 12, 2015

Anyone done this "a while ago" and can show condition after some miles have been logged?

Badass69 · August 12, 2015

I don't have pictures but I looked at a truck a few years ago that got katskins from day one. The owner chose 2 tone leather/suede and it was in a 2006 Vortex Max extended cab. The drivers seat showed a bit of wear but nothing like the oem leather does in the same period. The truck was 5 years old at the time with around 70000 miles on it. The Katskin is a much nicer product than the vinyl texture junk GM uses... even in the new model trucks. It's not just gm that uses cheaper feeling leather though however.

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sprayed99 · August 18, 2015

Here is a little "trick" with installing seat covers:

Using .5" high rebound foam that you can buy either at a supply house or a local trim shop. Glue it to the upper and lower bolsters. This will take care of any and all "wrinkles" in the covers once installed. I worked at a trim shop for a bit when the owner hurt his back. Helps to be friends with a guy that owns the joint because it was also around the time I needed my custom seat built for my street rod

tstehle · September 10, 2015

To follow up as I threw my two sense in early in the conversation. I followed through and chose Roadwire. This is a show truck so I needed something that was going to pop went with 600 Red so it has a similar look to the new Corvette adrenaline red. My local shop Keystone Styling did the install and in order to promote the shop we did the Outlaw custom embroidery which is one of the series of conversion trucks that they build. Perforated centers, all red stiching, just needed it clean like the outside of my truck. More photos available on my instagram @tstehle07 or their website www.keystone-styling.com

Rawyzf · September 10, 2015

Wow, that sure is red. You could get away with murder with that interior.

RobZ71LM7 · September 10, 2015

Porno red interior.

Rmiles2314 · September 19, 2017

Hi all! Thanks for this topic, I know it's been a while but I have had a 2014 WT and now a 2016 LT with cloth. I love the different ideas and I priced my truck and it's about $800 for what I think I want, not too bad. But I thought about getting the heating kit for $75 each seat to start and then upgrade to leather when I'm able. I just put Foose 22" wheels so that took a precedence. Anyone do that yet?