The '06 Dodge Ram 2500 that...
The '06 Dodge Ram 2500 that belongs to 8-Lug contributor Tony Becker was pulled out of the garage just for this installation. Tony has put plenty of miles on his ride, and the original seat fabric was worn and discolored. But the truck had years of life left, and an interior upgrade made a lot of sense.
Unlike the warranty that covers your engine and drivetrain, your truck's seat upholstery isn't covered against normal wear and tear. So when the seats start to show their age, you're on your own to decide how to repair or replace them.
Specifically, if the seat upholstery (leather, cloth, or vinyl) needs a small repair, one of the most common fixes is to use a patching kit. These kits work on small tears or holes. However, patches won't totally hide the flaw-no matter how careful you are when applying them.
If the seat material is in bad shape, another solution is to go to your local auto parts store and buy an inexpensive set of covers, which slip over the factory seats and attach with buttons, ties, or hooks. They come in a variety of styles, and color choices. But they are sometimes ill-fitting universal slipcovers, and the results aren't always desirable. On the upside, you won't have to remove your seats to install them.
If you have deeper pockets, you can turn to a professional auto upholstery shop that can custom tailor new seat upholstery to your exact specifications. But the process can be labor-intensive, it takes days or even weeks to complete the job, and you're without a ride for just as long. So what's a good alternative?
Ordering the kit took just...
Ordering the kit took just a few minutes online. We placed our order from a pull-down menu and waited for the delivery.
One source we discovered was leatherseats.com. The company offers factory replacement interior upholstery kits with the do-it-yourselfer in mind. In fact, it has 2,400 different interior and seat cover patterns in 75 colors for most popular cars and trucks, so the odds are in your favor that you'll find what you're looking for. The most popular kit is the leather/vinyl combination and, like all the kits, these are vehicle-specific-not a one-size-fits-all product.
The company's kits are made to replace the factory seat cover material at the correct mounting points, so you get as close to the original look as possible. It also offers steering wheel wraps, shift and emergency brake boots, and even an assortment of upholstery tools should you need them.
Jumping ahead, here's a look...
Jumping ahead, here's a look at the underside of the driver's original fabric seat cover. It had seen better days.
The upholstery kits are manufactured from automotive-grade, vat-dyed, top-grain leather and come with a full warranty against defects. Leatherseats.com can make just about anything in 100 percent leather or vinyl if you choose, or even custom design something for you. It also has suede inserts and perforated forms if you want to get fancy.
If this is what you are looking for, you'll have to remove all the seats from your vehicle to install them properly. A typical leather/vinyl combination interior kit sells for $575 to $925, depending on the application.