Installed OEM Seat Covers

[stamonkey]

I completed my first major mod yesterday. I was planning on just biting the bullet and getting Katzkins installed by my local installer to match the factory 2014+ TEP interior, until a set of TEP seat covers popped up on eBay. They arrived in 2 days in perfect condition (they were pulled off of a new 2015 with zero miles and zero farts on them).

I had replaced some old beat up leather covers on a Saab that I had, so I had a little experience, but it was still a slow go. I started with the back seats and did one a night, every seat has a few unique tricks which take time to learn.

With patience I persevered, the OEM covers cost me $400 on eBay, and it took me probably 15-20 hours to properly. Katzkins run roughly $1500 including install.

You might be asking yourself "why didn't this guy just buy a TEP in first place?" I have two answers for that:
1.) I really didn't want a sunroof. I'm tall, my wife is tall, our families are tall. As the driver I could handle the loss of head room, but I could never find a comfortable seating position as a passenger, or in the back seat.
2.) I had actually given up searching and was planning on buying a new 2015 TEP. I scheduled a test drive, arrived at the dealer, and they had just gotten a 2014 TE in so I jumped on it.

Now for a some obligatory crappy cell garage pictures. Note that I still need to source the front and center headrests, any one have any ideas?

 

[Matteblack]

looks good! Was this simply an aesthetic choice? Are you selling the original TE covers?

 

[stamonkey]

looks good! Was this simply an aesthetic choice? Are you selling the original TE covers?

Aesthetics and some functionality. My wife and I hike a lot with our dog. The dog sheds more than any dog I have ever seen, pretty much year round. I would spend hours trying the get all the dog hair off the cloth seats on my previous FJ and now 4Runner cloth. Also my wife and I are planning on starting a family soon, I've read that kids puke all the time.

I've thought about selling the TE covers, but I want to wait a bit and make sure no issues crop up with the new covers. Are you interested? I think the cloth of the '10-'13 Trails looks better than the '14+ cloth.

 

[Matteblack]

Makes sense. I am slightly interested in some back up cloth but mine is still in good shape. I also like the softex.
MB

 

[Mistaken]

Looks great and way to save some $$$

 

[mc813]

Don't think I'd have the patience to tackle something like this, good job! When I first saw "seat covers" and "major mod" I thought WTF but when I saw the picture I realized what you meant ha. I hear you on the shedding dog, my heeler rides in the back on a moving blanket, have had him in the rear seat once or twice and the dog hair still haunts the seats to this day.

 

[Jai02]

Also my wife and I are planning on starting a family soon, I've read that kids puke all the time.

Milk stains are hard to get rid off with cloth. You'll do better with leather.

 

[stamonkey]

Don't think I'd have the patience to tackle something like this, good job! When I first saw "seat covers" and "major mod" I thought WTF but when I saw the picture I realized what you meant ha. I hear you on the shedding dog, my heeler rides in the back on a moving blanket, have had him in the rear seat once or twice and the dog hair still haunts the seats to this day.

My fingers/hands are still sore. I don't think its physically possible to do this entire job in one sitting.

 

[enapa]

My fingers/hands are still sore. I don't think its physically possible to do this entire job in one sitting.

For those of us who don't have any idea, what exactly is the process of changing the covers? Is there cutting/sewing involved? Or is it just straight pull off and fight back on? Thanks.

 

[Boardmember]

Encouragement: Kids don't puke ALL the time...it'll be ok, when its your kid it doesn't seem so bad...

Your seats look great. Is that leather or SofTex?

 

[stamonkey]

For those of us who don't have any idea, what exactly is the process of changing the covers? Is there cutting/sewing involved? Or is it just straight pull off and fight back on? Thanks.

Toyota uses hog rings on their seats, there are some decent videos on Youtube that I watched. Basically you remove the seat, remove all the trim, and start working the seat cover off cutting the hog rings off as you go (each seat has 25-50 rings). I used tin snips to cut the hog rings off. Put the new covers back on using hog rings or zip ties (I used zip ties), refit all the trim and reinstall seat.

A couple things to note: Disconnect your battery before removing the front seats due to the air bag. Every seat is different and requires its own "tricks" to remove the original cover. I used couple different sizes of needle nose pliers, they come in handy. This isn't a hard job, but takes patience. You can't rush or brute force this job.

I had to make a few cuts on the rear center seat, I suspect there are minor differences between the 2014 and 2015 seats. Other than that, no cutting or sewing required.

To make a comment on hog rings vs. zip ties, I think they should hold. An individual zip tie appears to have at least if not more the strength of a hog ring, just easier to install/remove if you mess up. I used zip ties on my Saab that I had in college, they held up for several years and hopefully still holding up (I sold it).

 

[stamonkey]

Encouragement: Kids don't puke ALL the time...it'll be ok, when its your kid it doesn't seem so bad...

Your seats look great. Is that leather or SofTex?

They are the factory SofTex. I'd put them on par with the leathette in my VW TDI, and a few steps below the leather in my Saab SPG.

If I could get a good deal on the Limited black leather, I'd jump all over it.

 

[enapa]

Toyota uses hog rings on their seats, there are some decent videos on Youtube that I watched. Basically you remove the seat, remove all the trim, and start working the seat cover off cutting the hog rings off as you go (each seat has 25-50 rings). I used tin snips to cut the hog rings off. Put the new covers back on using hog rings or zip ties (I used zip ties), refit all the trim and reinstall seat.

A couple things to note: Disconnect your battery before removing the front seats due to the air bag. Every seat is different and requires its own "tricks" to remove the original cover. I used couple different sizes of needle nose pliers, they come in handy. This isn't a hard job, but takes patience. You can't rush or brute force this job.

I had to make a few cuts on the rear center seat, I suspect there are minor differences between the 2014 and 2015 seats. Other than that, no cutting or sewing required.

To make a comment on hog rings vs. zip ties, I think they should hold. An individual zip tie appears to have at least if not more the strength of a hog ring, just easier to install/remove if you mess up. I used zip ties on my Saab that I had in college, they held up for several years and hopefully still holding up (I sold it).

Thank you. Looks good by the way. Maybe someday LOL

 

[Boardmember]

My wife's SR5P has SofTex and we like it so far. Very nice job.