jonrjen

I would like to replace my cloth seats over to leather. My dealer will do this for $1,000 in a solid black. I have found a two tone black/grey set of leather Katzkin covers that I like for just under $600.

Has anyone done a DIY installation of the Katzkin seat covers? It is a true DIY task to undertake, or is it better to pay the man to do the installation?

What is the quality of Katzkin covers? Is there a better brand to take a look at?

Thanks for the assistance,

obusnizzle

Is there better than Katzkin? Maybe custom made, but Katzkin is really good stuff. $1000 is a good deal for install, assuming that they are providing some type of warranty. I'm going to have Katzkin leather and the AC/Heat units installed on Monday.

To be honest with you, if the difference in price between buying the kit, assuming you have all the smaller tools and having the dealership do it....isn't that far apart. I would have them do it and move on with your life. Time is money.

SContiVT

From what I've read, it takes about 3-5 hours depending on skill. I'm going to do it myself in the future. If paying $100/hour to install them is worth it to you, have them do it. I've seen some quotes as high as $1200 on this forum, so $1000 installed is not bad. Also, Katzkins are selling on eBay from official re-sellers for about $570 shipped.

https://www.ebay.com/p/2015-2017-For...d=292481764841

obusnizzle

Katzkin has an "official" price through its authorized installers @$1,495 out-da-door. Yeah, prices seem to be all over the map!

I'm going to have my upholstery shop do mine, partly due to having the heat/ac installed too. Also, since it rains here every day and its already almost 90 degrees, I'll gladly have someone do the work in their shop and drive my other car when weather permits for a few days!!

catch 22

I just received these, for when mine start to look bad, the dog puts a nail thru one, or to replace/give someone at resale. They are perfect, and only $229.00!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2015-2018-F...53.m2749.l2649

SContiVT

Those only work if you have the rear armrest, and have a front center console. For me, I would need to buy the rear seat 60% section ~$100 and the jump seat set ~$50-$150 (depending on whether I go with OEM leather or try to make a Katzkin piece work). So, about $500 for OEM leather, or $550 for Katzkins for my truck. Nice find either way.

sholxgt

That is not a bad price at all as it is a pain. I've never done an F150, but I did a different vehicle and it came out great.

To make my life easier, I pulled all of the seats out and took them inside my air conditioned house and worked on the floor. Not sure about the F150, but I needed hog ring pliers and patience for the one I did. Automotive seats aren't so much upholstered as they are just slip covered. You basically remove the current slip cover and replace with the new leather covers. The most time consuming part for me was getting them fitted just perfect and then working out the fold marks from transport.

Katzkin is good quality. If you can find a retailer that will sell you just the kit, Classic Soft Trim also makes nice stuff. At the time I did mine, I went with CST because they offered the option of full leather instead of leather/vinyl match. Not sure what is available now as that was 15 years ago or so.

SContiVT

The sites I've read and couple tutorials say that there are no special tools required for the F150 besides what it takes to take the seats apart (no hog ring pliers needed).

JoeInPI

I have a box of those take-offs waiting to go into my truck also. No special tools required. I have a dog cover over the whole back seat(s) so I just left the original cover on those since you can't see them anyway and just changed the headrests back there. If I do decide to change them, I'd need that $100 rear seat non-armrest cover for mine also. Keep in mind- it says make offers on the listing, so make a lower offer than the listed price. I got lucky on mine with a low offer.

jonrjen

Yeah, I'm old and retired, it's not so much the money that I would save by doing it myself. But, more the pride and self satisfaction of doing it myself. While I'm no longer as quick and limber as I once was, I'm not to old to pat myself on the back when I deserve it...LOL!!