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I Need Leather !

R

rclydly

GUEST
ok...my very first post. new proud owner of z71 AV.
but problem....it came with cloth seat....why didn't i just bought the one with leather you ask? well they didn have one with my color (black) but 3 days later i'm looking to add a leather. not just any leather ! North Face eddition (dark gray with graphite and a logo) any one can shine a light where to go to get this done? i asked the dealer and they said i can't just order a leather. it has to be made from the factory. true? if i can order just a cover and replace with the cloth one it will be awesome.
any info would be avalanchecious ! thank you
Lee..Leatherless in Seattle.
 
I too wanted leather, they had one truck equipped just like I wanted except for the leather. The dealer told me of a shop that he would take it to that would install better quality leather than the factory leather. The leather shop is in Shreveport LA.

He and I are taking the truck to get the leather installed in a couple of weeks. Therefore, a private leather shop may be an option. Good luck!
 
Hello Leatherless in Seattle. You can buy the covers from GM. Not sure what the part numbers are, but for the cost and quality you can get a lot better results from aftermarket. Katzkin is the top choice of most people and companies.
Check out their website Katzkin
as you can pretty much do any combination and color you want. They also sell them so you can install them yourself.
I'm all for the do-it-yourselfer and after taking my seats apart a few times, it's super easy.
Installed will run you about $1300-$1400. The kit itself runs around $750.
Their quality can't be matched. It beats the factory leather hands down. It will last longer and keep the high quality look a lot longer than the factory leather.
Plus, the factory leather will probably cost you that much or more.
When I change out my leather early next year, I'll be going with Katzkin.

Just my .02
 
i second jason's post...katzkins cant be beat and have gm truck specific products...
 
I to am looking for TNE seats. I found a pair on ebay, but I got bid at the last min. I contacted my dealter and said it is possilbe to get North Face, but he didn't say if it was new seats or covers.

I too would like to purchase TNE covers. If the exsist does anyone know the part number.

Thanks
 
(y) <-- (this is a thumbs up right?)
thanks everyone! i have contacted Katskinz and they directed me to the local office here in seattle....then they redirected me to the authorized dealer...then was redirected to the sales office.....then finally to the guy who actually orders and installs katskinz...most likely to go with them since i have ordered katskinz on my other vehicle before.
I'm learning so much on AV here i have not even bothered to read the owners manual ! .
 
easy said:
?The leather shop is in Shreveport LA.
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Hey Easy...how close to Shreveport are you? I'm in north Louisiana about an hour from there. I've heard of a shop in the Haughton area that several dealers use. What's the name of the shop? Let us know how things go.
 
Has anyone with the leather/cloth ?interior swapped out just the cloth inserts? I'm thinking maybe a lighter shade of suede.
 
I swapped-out w/Katzkin and can vouch for their quality.

Pro: Leather quality significantly better than stock. No comparison.

Con: Although a good installation (seams are straight, etc.), my install isn't "perfect" (i.e.: factory). There are 2-3 places where the leather's not drum-tight against the pad, as is the case w/a factory leather finish.

Net-net, though, I'm very pleased w/my seats. I have no connection w/Katzkin, other than having bought their product.

Frank
 
I'd still like to check out the NFE seat covers. Do they exsist? Does anyone know the part number? ???
 
I had the Katzkin installed at the dealer here in Phoenix. Cost was around $1200. I love it, not too hot in the summer, and not too cold in the winter. Seems to be wearing really well also. Heres a pic
 

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was watching TNN today. they did a Katzkin leather install to a Ford Explorer. :D: the install looked very easy. they took you through the whole install. front seat, back seats, and headrests. even went as far to say that if you have a hard time installing the covers use spray silicone on the seat foam to ease the process. the finished look was very nice. even on a Ford. almost makes me want some. :B:
 
Oooooohhhhhhh nnnnoooooooo - I've got bench seats! Why in the world can't you get leather for bench seats?? That's it, I'm putting together a rally of bench seat owners to march on Detroit! :8:
 
Frank_Atlanta said:
I swapped-out w/Katzkin and can vouch for their quality. ?

Pro: ?Leather quality significantly better than stock. ?No comparison.

Con: ?Although a good installation (seams are straight, etc.), my install isn't "perfect" (i.e.: ?factory). ?There are 2-3 places where the leather's not drum-tight against the pad, as is the case w/a factory leather finish.

Net-net, though, I'm very pleased w/my seats. ?I have no connection w/Katzkin, other than having bought their product.

Frank
Click to expand...

How was the install with the side airbags? What all did you have to do to make sure they didn;t go off when installing the covers?

Any tips on removing the seats?
 
Perp forced me re-visit this topic, wow, after looking at what Woodman's seats look like, I LIKE IT.

gettin ready to kiss some coin goodbye on Katzkin . . . .
 
My thought is ....once you go leather, you never go back to cloth. I want leather in all of my vehicles now.... ;D

 
You can with katzkin. Check out the link. They show the 40/20/40 bench seat. Now you have me thinking about leather.

http://www.katzkin.com/SITE/HTML/index.html

midlifecrisis said:
Oooooohhhhhhh ?nnnnoooooooo - I've got bench seats! ?Why in the world can't you get leather for bench seats?? ?That's it, I'm putting together a rally of bench seat owners to march on Detroit! ? ?:8:
Click to expand...
 
1busboy said:
My thought is ....once you go leather, you never go back to cloth. I want leather in all of my vehicles now.... ?;D
Click to expand...

:)

Not to be a PITA, but... ? This is my first leathered vehicle... I really don't like it, and I want cloth. ? ?:cautious: ?:-[

The leather itself looks great compared to cloth...when new and upkept well, But:

-They're not durable.
-They're cold.
-They're hot.
-They require lots of care.

-They don't allow you to comfortably wear shorts in the summer, or drive shirtless... (trips to/from the beach)

-My back and rear-end sweat like crazy in the summer, unless I set the AC to frigid... Which means putting the windows up, which NEVER happens when the weather allows. ;) ? Basically the seats just don't breathe like cloth ones do.

My drivers seat, after about 19K, have butt prints permanently formed into them, and creases along the door-side edge from sliding in an out. (and I treat them every month or so).

I have a 'snakebite' from folding down the back seats onto the ice-scraper part of my snowbrush for all of .39 seconds. ?Luckily it's in the armrest part, which looks junkyard replaceable.

I've considered swapping them out for cloth seats... but will probably just go with Wet Okole seat covers and hopefully save on the resale value of the truck. ?

As it is now, I want to buy a stock bottom section of leather for the drivers seat, to swap in place when the time comes to depart with the truck. ?:p
 
Factory leather can not be compared to aftermarket. I've seen factory leather seats after a year and a half of use and they looked terrible. The color was coming off and cracking. I couldn't believe it.
My aftermarket leather is perfect. I've had the truck almost three years and when I condition them, they look brand new. No cracking, no peeling, no discoloration. I love them.
I'm going to be upgrading to Katzkin this year and I can't wait. I just want a different color and two tone.

Installation is super easy, especially with our vehicles.

I noticed aftermarket leather breaths a lot better than the factory stuff. I never sweat in my seats. In the summer, when the truck is hot, you open the door and are hit with the smell of leather. AAAhhhhh that sweeeeeeeeet smell.
I've never smelt the leather in the factory seats.
While you're at it, add heat to the seats too. :0:
 
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