The complete installation took us about 8 hours. The most difficult aspect was re-skinning the center console of the truck. If there was a downside, Leatherseats.com doesn't include instruction booklets, so we had to really plan ahead. However, the folks at Leatherseats.com were available by phone when we had any questions. The company also has a general installation guide online if you get stuck.
Unlike some trucks, the Dodge Ram seats didn't require upholstery hog rings to hold the material on the seat frames, so for the most part we were dealing with zippers, plastic clips, and J-hooks. Not using hog rings made the job a lot less intimidating, but it still required lots of patience and some muscle to pull the material tight around the seat frame.
If we can offer any advice, we'd recommend you get a friend to help. It can be done alone, but there are instances that require more than two hands. The following photography illustrates the process on the Dodge. While your installation may vary greatly, this overview will at least give you an idea of what's involved on a fullsize rig.
The new seatcovers from Leatherseats.com really made a difference on the road. The leather gave the truck that new-car smell and feel. Not to mention, it bumped up the resale value tremendously.
3. Once the seatcovers arrived,...
3. Once the seatcovers arrived, we did a quick inventory check to see if everything was there. Satisfied all was accounted for, we laid the new leather seat covers in the sun to relax the leather for an easier installation over the factory frames.
4. Our foam was in good shape,...
4. Our foam was in good shape, so we reused it. In researching this article, we found a web thread at www.ramforumz.com. There was lots of good advice there about Dodge seats, especially from those having issues with the foam liner being cut by the metal seat frame. Check it out.
5. By using the original cover...
5. By using the original cover as a template, we determined how the Leatherseats.com product should fit.
6. The leather was tight....
6. The leather was tight. We had to massage and hand-roll it over the foam as we went. The more it stretched, the less likely we'd get wrinkles or creases.
7. The rear seating looks...
7. The rear seating looks a whole lot better now.
8. The factory center console...
8. The factory center console lid had staples that mounted the fabric to the plastic frame. We had to re-staple the new leather on the plastic frame, which required 1/4-inch staples.
9. Here's the finished console...
9. Here's the finished console lid. The material fit as good as stock.
10. The reason the center...
10. The reason the center console took so long is because there are multiple pieces that need to be disassembled. There were also electronics that ran through the box.
11. The Leatherseats.com folks...
11. The Leatherseats.com folks made sure their material attached to the factory anchors, making the job easier.
12. We didn't rush the process...
12. We didn't rush the process along, which made for a better fit.
13. One last check ensured...
13. One last check ensured that the center console lid shut as tight as the original.
14. The front seats were relatively...
14. The front seats were relatively simple once we got the hang of it.
15. With the front seats going...
15. With the front seats going back in, all we had to do was bolt them down to the floor.
16. The rear seating was mounted...
16. The rear seating was mounted and bolted down.
17. A few wipes with a clean...
17. A few wipes with a clean cloth to remove the sweat, blood, and tears, and the truck was ready to get back out on the road.