Cloth VS Leather Seats VS Dogs

[EL7]

I'm currently doing a stint in Afghanistan but will finally return home in a couple weeks. I've always wanted a 4Runner in the past but the last generation felt a little bland for me and those older T4Rs just never come down in price! I introduced my wife to the 5th gen and she loves it. Once we started talking about trim levels we became stuck on one key area...the seats.

We have two large dogs, a chocolate lab and an australian sheperd. We have always purchased cars with leather seats because they stand up well to the dogs and are easy to clean when they slobber all over the back of them. The only other annoyance is the swirling vortex of the sheperd's hair in the cabin when the windows are down. I noticed something about "water resistant" seats in the TEs and I'm really leaning toward that trim. The wife of course loves the Limited but I love the look and capability of the TE.

Are the TE seats easy to clean? I had an explorer with cloth seats once and they acted as magnets for dog hair. Are there any dog lovers out there with input on this? I can't wait to come home and see this beauty in person. Now if I can only find a dealer within 50 miles that actually has a TE in stock!

 

[Jesse1983]

thanks for your service! :thanks: :ak472:

I don't have dogs, but i love my TE

 

[chimyz]

No real issues with my dog's hair...but it is short. I have always had leather too, so this is my first cloth with the dog. The seats also clean up easily.

All that being said, he always sits in the back behind the second row, so I can't comment on how it would be if he actually sat on the seat.

 

[x67934]

I have two dogs one weighs in at 125lbs and sheds quite a bit. I have an SR5 with cloth seats and I like them a lot. The seats are smooth and the hair does not stick too bad. I aslo put two coats of Scotchguard on the seats as soon as I got it and the drool does not stick. Get the trail you wont be diappointed. I just got back from afghanistan in Dec, Stay safe.

 

[sandcrawler]

current '10 TE owner; former '06 Sport owner; two dogs: collie mix and rhodesian ridgeback mix. oh yeah, there's some serious dog hair, my friend!!

fwiw, i'm totally impressed with how easily the fabric in the Trail cleans up. and so far it doesn't seem to be "catching and holding" dog hair the way the seats in my '06 Sport used to (so badly that it would never come out... the collie hair always blew everywhere but the ridgeback hair seemed to hook into the seatbacks and cling for life.)

before i picked up my Trail i thought i would have aftermarket leather installed... i'm tabling that for now. (will probably just add seat-heaters this winter.) so if you want my vote you shouldn't be too worried about the lack of leather in the Trail.

come home safe!!

 

[M1911]

EL7, thank you for your service. Stay safe. Wear your pot and your armor. Always keep a firearm with you (and a loaded magazine, even if they tell you not to).

 

[wasupdu]

We have a limited so I can't comment on your dog issue aside from the fact that our English Bulldog and Teddy bear puppy (bischon, poodle, pomeranian, shitzu) are in the truck frequently and cause zero problems whether it be shedding or scratches.

We BOTH GREATLY APPRECIATE your service. Thank you!!!!

 

[doodman]

my dogs (german shepherd and lab-chow) come from riding in a cloth seated vehicle and the seats were the smooth cloth type but still caught hair like no other. i highly highly recommend leather since it'll be easier all around to clean with spills, hair, slobber, staining, etc...

just my 2 cents...

 

[cityblues]

Dogs and cloth vs leather

I have a TE and it's great; however, I too have a dog and the waterproof seats, like all cloth, grabs hair, so, I'm going to install leather; my dealer said they can do it for about $1400, but, I don't like the 2 color options and I'd like gray (ventilated) rather than black; so, I'll find a good interior shop to do it. The only concern here is the side airbags in the seats, but, I'll assume a good trim shop can handle that issue (hopefully without voiding the warranty).
Thanks for serving and keeping us safe. Take care.

 

[semperfly]

i've got the tan cloth seats in my sr5 and really haven't noticed any hair from my pup but he's in the back sitting on his bed with his head out the back window 95percent of the time so that may be why...

 

[x67934]

Good times

 

[TTown]

I have leather, but haven't had the dogs in the car yet? I'm worried about scratches. Those with leather, do you really not have any scratches at all? Do you have to trim their nails religiously?

EL7, thanks for putting your life on the line for this country. You are the true heroes!

 

[M1911]

Good times

Time for a tank recovery vehicle?

 

[fxoffroad]

I have dogs and for me, leather is the only way to go. Easy to clean and the dog hair doesn't get embedded like it would w/ fabric seats.

Good luck w/ your decision.

 

[EL7]

I have leather, but haven't had the dogs in the car yet? I'm worried about scratches. Those with leather, do you really not have any scratches at all? Do you have to trim their nails religiously?

I will say this about leather. It really depends on the quality of the leather in the vehicle. For the most part, leather holds up very well to my big lab. When that big lunchbox climbs onto anything, it's all he can do to get his fat butt up there. The only vehicle where I noticed scratches was in our Chevy Tahoe. The quality in GM vehicles is really crap compared to the Ford and Volvo leather we've owned. I treat the leather with Meguiar's Gold Class leather cleaner and found that it helps stave off scratches and those wrinkles and cracks you normally see in the driver side seat where one's butt slides in and out of the vehicle.

Currently, in the back of our Ford Edge, we use a rubber cargo mat and we've place some adhesive carpet film on the backs of the rear seats to minimize hair collection. It's the same carpet film that looks like saran wrap. They normally put in down in model homes to keep the carpet clean when people are looking through the houses. I found it cheap at home depot in the carpet section. Works great.

 

[AMRose]

I have an SR5 with leather and two dogs. I have always had leather (in sedans) with dogs - and it definitely takes a beating. This leather seems soft, and I am afraid that they will tear it, so the dogs ride in the back. I have the Walky Guard pet barrier up so they can't jump onto the seats. Right now, the dog hair sticks really bad to the carpet on the back of the second row seats and to the cargo floor mat. And the dogs have scratched the plastic in a few spots. All these dog issues should be solved soon when I get the Hamilton Ultimate Pet Liner for the cargo area (it ships Friday - can't wait!). You might want to check it out: Cargoliner :: Ultimate Pet Liner™ :: Full Liners

 

[EL7]

I have an SR5 with leather and two dogs. I have always had leather (in sedans) with dogs - and it definitely takes a beating. This leather seems soft, and I am afraid that they will tear it, so the dogs ride in the back. I have the Walky Guard pet barrier up so they can't jump onto the seats. Right now, the dog hair sticks really bad to the carpet on the back of the second row seats and to the cargo floor mat. And the dogs have scratched the plastic in a few spots. All these dog issues should be solved soon when I get the Hamilton Ultimate Pet Liner for the cargo area (it ships Friday - can't wait!). You might want to check it out: Cargoliner*::*Ultimate Pet Liner™*::*Full Liners

AMRose, I can't tell from the pic but does that mat simply cover the pull out tray? Looks like you can just flip it back if you want to roll out the tray.

 

[AMRose]

Yes, the liner will cover the sliding cargo tray. It sounds like it will be able to flip back if you want to use the tray, but not entirely sure (I've talked to the company several times about how it might work - they were having trouble locating a 4R with the cargo tray to work from/make a pattern). I'll be sure to post pictures and let everyone know how it works when I get it.

Oh, and I am getting a flap that will flip down to cover the bumper from scratches when the dogs jump in & a piece for under the rear window.

 

[croatiangirl74]

OK I do not have a 5th Gen but I still have a suggestion.
In both my vehicles (4runner and VW Golf Station wagon) we have a dog kennel.
In Germany it is Law that you have to have your pets safely secured by either pet seat belt or kennel. Ours hates the seat belt and prefers his kennel. We spent a lot of money and bought a special type of Kennel handmade here in Germany. It adjusts in length so you can have it in just about any vehicle. Wish they had them in the States they are really nice.
It is cleaner and a lot safer for him and me. He might only be a Beagle but if he gets catapulted through the car he will still break my neck
Have you thought about buying two kennels and having them in the truck like that? It would really save your interior and be a lot less clean up.
I have the big kennel in the VW since that is my daily driver and for the truck I bought a Vari kennel. My Husband built a wood box to raise the box but also to screw the box tightly to something so it does not move. The boxes for your dogs would be like $50/60 or so a pop and since you have two large dogs they should fit side by side. Put a blankie in each and your golden
Plus...when the weather is nasty and the dogs are dirty you will be happy they are contained
Ok enough rambling just my thoughts.

 

[ciaz]

I have a 90lb chocolate lab. I have the beige leather. My lab stays in the far back 100% of the time. He loves it back there with the rear window rolled down. Since he stays back there, there's no chance of him scratching my leather, so that's not a concern of mine.

One thing that I should point out is this: After long hikes or trips to the park, my dog (like many others) starts drooling and panting. I live in AZ & supposedly dogs don't sweat. Anyway -- he likes to stick his head between the headrests to catch the A/C when we're on our way back home. Obviously some drool ends up dripping on the leather, but it wipes right off without any visible residue. I'm not sure how a cloth interior would stand up to repeated drooling/washing on the same areas. Figured I'd mention that...