When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
So I wanted to jump on here and let you guys know that installing your own Katzkins is not as bad of a task as you might think. It took me about 10 hours to remove the seats from the truck, remove and install seat covers, vacuum the truck, and install the seats. It could be done faster, but I wanted to make sure to take my time with this. You will definitely want another set of hands to help you with this. A lot of the work can be done by yourself, but fastening the plastic "J clips" is a chore with only one person.
What I thought would be the worst part of the install was actually the easiest. The headrests are three pieces (the cloth or leather cover, a foam insert, then the hardware that the foam and cover slides onto). Do yourself a favor and break the headrests down to install the leather. Insert the foam into the leather and work it around to ensure proper fitment. Then install the actual headrest into the foam. The small center headrest in the back seat is the only one that does not break down. I just used a steamer to heat the inside of the leather and muscled it onto the head rest.
This is my first time taking on a job like this, but I never felt like it was too much for me to do. Take your time and be very tedious with your teardown and install. Make sure you remember how things come apart and it will make the install much easier. Hopefully when the summer rolls around and the leather is exposed to the heat, some of the wrinkles in the seat bottoms will smooth out. I think 10 hours worth of my time over a cold weekend is much better than paying someone else.
I couldn't agree more. DIY for these isn't bad at all. Yours turned out awesome btw!!
Katzkin installation complete 2018 SCREW. Modified seat. Video very helpful
I installed black katzkin kit into my 2018 magnetic xlt screw this past weekend. The job was a real pain but doable. I’m guessing it took about 9 hours taking my time. Only slightly damaged one of the orange clips. I bought the kit and paid extra for an installation video which helped out tremendously. There are some little tricks to learn and of course I could do it a lot faster now. I also modified the drivers seat as it was killing my back. I’m a physical therapist and the seat was ergonomically horrible from the factory. If you like yours, great, but I’m over 6’ tall and it was all wrong. instead of playing with the foam on the surface I simply added a bit of support in the back between the foam and the spring system where it hits your thoracic spine with Thin pieces of Luann. It’s great now. Also, the back is accessible by zippers so it can be adjusted and modified later if desired. The video really eliminated my fears of screwing it up and showed some highly valuable tips to make it work. Word of warning: your fingers will be tender and totally smoked/ throbbing by the time it’s complete! Instal looks amazing and is very comfortable. Looks like a factory install except for the katzkin tags which I think I’ll careffully scalpel off. 0 degree weather in Rochester ny and still they look great. I took each seat out and did one at a time in my nice warm living room.
the creases and lines are from the kit being in the box for a long time and have smoothed out nicely! Looks awesome. Only concern is that the factory match color per the ebay seller came as “licorice”. It is really not black enough to match the center console or door vinyl on the armrests. You’d have to look close to realize but still freakin irritating. It was supposed to come with console cover and did not. I’m going to contact seller today.
So I wanted to jump on here and let you guys know that installing your own Katzkins is not as bad of a task as you might think. It took me about 10 hours to remove the seats from the truck, remove and install seat covers, vacuum the truck, and install the seats. It could be done faster, but I wanted to make sure to take my time with this. You will definitely want another set of hands to help you with this. A lot of the work can be done by yourself, but fastening the plastic "J clips" is a chore with only one person.
What I thought would be the worst part of the install was actually the easiest. The headrests are three pieces (the cloth or leather cover, a foam insert, then the hardware that the foam and cover slides onto). Do yourself a favor and break the headrests down to install the leather. Insert the foam into the leather and work it around to ensure proper fitment. Then install the actual headrest into the foam. The small center headrest in the back seat is the only one that does not break down. I just used a steamer to heat the inside of the leather and muscled it onto the head rest.
This is my first time taking on a job like this, but I never felt like it was too much for me to do. Take your time and be very tedious with your teardown and install. Make sure you remember how things come apart and it will make the install much easier. Hopefully when the summer rolls around and the leather is exposed to the heat, some of the wrinkles in the seat bottoms will smooth out. I think 10 hours worth of my time over a cold weekend is much better than paying someone else.
Where did you order yours and what color is the stitching? Those are the exact ones I want so they will match my console. I may try to tackle this project soon. I will putting them on an 18 XLT and the passenger side rear seat has a pull tab to drop the back rest. Is that similar to the 15-17s?
Where did you order yours and what color is the stitching? Those are the exact ones I want so they will match my console. I may try to tackle this project soon. I will putting them on an 18 XLT and the passenger side rear seat has a pull tab to drop the back rest. Is that similar to the 15-17s?
I purchased mine from eBay, but do not have the exact link to which one I ordered. They are all the same on there, I.t just depends on who charges shipping. The passenger rear seat has that pull tab to lower the back. The drivers side, however, is a little mor difficult. You need to lift up the lower part of the seat to get your hand behind the seat and locate the latch. There is a pin on the left side (looking at the seat from the front it’s to your left) that you will need to pull up towards the roof. That will lower the back of that seat.
I've tried paying attention to the pics and posts here, but has anyone actually installed the center console leather cover? I had my covers professionally installed, but he didn't do the console. My SE has Red stitching, so the factory console already matched my Katzkins... Just curious how tough of a job it is.
EDIT: Just found this, and if you skip to 21:56, he talks about the console...
I purchased mine from eBay, but do not have the exact link to which one I ordered. They are all the same on there, I.t just depends on who charges shipping. The passenger rear seat has that pull tab to lower the back. The drivers side, however, is a little mor difficult. You need to lift up the lower part of the seat to get your hand behind the seat and locate the latch. There is a pin on the left side (looking at the seat from the front it’s to your left) that you will need to pull up towards the roof. That will lower the back of that seat.
Ok so the 2017 seat cover most likely fit the 2018. I wasnt sure if the seat covers had the slit on the side for the pull tab on the rear passenger backrest. Thanks for the help! Do you know what ebay seller you used? Lastly does one need any specific tools to install the covers or just pliers and normal tools?
Ok so the 2017 seat cover most likely fit the 2018. I wasnt sure if the seat covers had the slit on the side for the pull tab on the rear passenger backrest. Thanks for the help! Do you know what ebay seller you used? Lastly does one need any specific tools to install the covers or just pliers and normal tools?
“touchups” is the seller that I purchased mine from. Don’t take my word as the truth because I haven’t researched this, but I don’t think the interior changed from 17 to 18. The covers had the slit already cut and stitched for the pull tab on that seat. Any other penetrations, you will have to cut yourself. This includes headrest holes, latches on the undersides of the rear seats, holes for the metal loops in the back seat for car seat attachment, and holes for your wiring on the front seats.
As for the tools, I did not have some deep sockets needed for this. I want to say I needed a deep well socket for the airbag bolts (10 mm) and deep sockets for the bolts holding the seats to the frame of the truck (18 or 20mm I think). Everything else is basic tools you should have. Flathead screwdriver, SHARP razor blades (the dull blades don’t cut cleanly), etc.
Let me know if you have any other questions and I’ll do my best to help.
ya, I agree, nothin special at all in terms of tools. Your finger tips will be really freakin sore. Job kinda sucks. Tedious and painful in the hands with the clips.
01-02-2018, 03:33 PM
