When I purchased Project WorkHorse, it was not equipped with many of the niceties that come with today’s high-end trucks. There was no 12-inch screen to control the radio, navigation, and temperature. In fact, it had the small 5-inch base radio. There was no fancy chrome trim, nor did it have a leather interior. I was fine with the lack of these items because I knew that interior upgrade tasks were easy and in the truck’s future.

I recently upgraded the radio to an 8.4-inch screen with the help of infotainment and now it is time to take care of the bargain-basement cloth seats with the help of Katzkin Leather. The OE Diesel Grey seats are okay if you like cloth. They looked fine, but they were nothing that caused anyone to say, “Wow, cool interior.” Bland looks aside, my main concern was durability as this is a WorkHorse, and the light-colored seats would not stand a chance. By upgrading with Katzkin I was able to choose premium leather for their upholstery that will last exponentially longer. What’s more, I could choose how I want them to look.

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It’s no secret that checking the box to get a factory-installed leather interior will set you back quite a bit more than a Katzkin upgrade. Let’s face it, you can’t simply check a box for leather anymore. That box has 12 other added-cost features that have to be ordered as well. Saving a little money upfront is never a bad thing. Thanks to Katzkin, you can easily upgrade your cloth seats to leather after you purchase the truck. Or, if you already have a truck with cloth seats, here’s your chance to upgrade at an affordable price.

A Better-Than-OE Interior Upgrade

I knew this interior upgrade with Katzkin would help the truck look great for many years because I installed their products in a previous truck I owned in 2009. Those seats are still in the truck and look great. How’s that for a testament to quality? Although I chose a simple design for my new seat skins, Katzkin offers more custom options than any other manufacturer with 3,000 interiors, available in 120 colors and materials. Yep, the choices are virtually limitless.

While I will say this reupholstering of your truck seats can be done at home—I did them in my driveway—it does rate high on my “how hard is it” meter. That is why Katzkin interiors are only installed through authorized installation centers. The nationwide network of over 2,500 installation centers has been carefully selected and is staffed with professionals who are trained by Katzkin. They have the tools, equipment, and know-how to perform a true factory-fit installation, ensuring proper seat handling, including all associated electronics.

Whether you have your local Ram, Chevy, or Ford dealer handle this interior upgrade or you contact Katzkin, when the installation is completed, it will transform the look and feel of your truck’s interior. While I only replaced the seat skins in Project WorkHorse, Katzkin does offer door panels and center console coverings as well.  I am told that as a rule, if it has cloth on it, Katzkin can replace it!

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With the front seat out (top left) and the side plastic removed, it's easy to undo the seat-bottom seat skin by unclipping the material from underneath the seat (top right). Once the clips are unhooked, the hog rings under the middle of the cushion can be removed (bottom left) and then the airbags can be removed from the seat skin (bottom right).

What Makes Katzkin A Great Upgrade

Today, Katzkin is the largest provider of aftermarket leather seat covers in the United States and uses the latest state-of-the-art CNC equipment, along with a staff of hundreds of highly skilled leather craftsmen to create a set of seat skins and have them shipped out to a qualified installer in less than 24 hours. The Katzkin catalog covers more than 2,500 models, which includes nearly every pickup and SUV built in the last decade. In case you were wondering, the typical two-row-seating truck can have its interior trimmed by Katzkin for around $2,000. If you do your research, you’ll find this is typically far less than it would have cost from the factory.

When you are ready for an interior upgrade in your truck, there are two ways you can add Katzkin leather to your rig. First is through your local Ford, Chevy, or Ram dealer. Katzkin has teamed up with many new truck dealers across the country to offer leather seat skins as a dealer-installed option for new or used vehicles. The second option is to order through the Katzkin website. To do the second option, begin by entering the year, make, and model of your vehicle on the Choose Your Design starting page. From there, choose any design from the Design Selector page and complete the simple contact form. You will be contacted by a Katzkin interior specialist to go over pricing and design details, and to schedule your appointment if you choose to proceed.

Customizing Your Katzkin Interior Upgrade

• How many options are available in terms of colors and materials?
  Katzkin offers an extensive range of options for colors and materials. They have 3,000 interiors available in 120 colors and materials, providing customers with virtually limitless choices for their seat skins.
• Can customers opt for a factory match, Katzkin design, or choose their own colors and patterns?
  Yes, customers can choose from a variety of customization options. They can opt for a factory match, select from Katzkin designs, or even choose their own color and patterns for a personalized touch.
• What customization options are available
  The leather being installed on Ford F-150 seats can feature red stitching and Katzkin’s Barracuda perforated two-tone leather inserts. Customers have the option to choose these specific customization options for their Ford F-150 seats.
• Can the restyler increase the padding if needed?
  Absolutely, the restyler doing the installation can always increase the padding if customers want a bit more cushion or if their seat foam has broken down from years of abuse.
• Does Katzkin leather come with the same amount of foam backing as the factory cloth covers?
  Yes, Katzkin leather comes with the same amount of foam backing as the factory cloth covers, ensuring the same level of cushioning.

Getting The Interior Upgrade Done

As I said, I did the installation myself, but Katzkin and I both recommend you have a shop handle the installation to ensure you get a top-notch interior. Since I did the installation myself, I can safely say that the job is best left to the professionals as I spent the better part of a full day to complete the two front seats, the folding jump seat between them, and the rear seat. The only reason I attempted it was I have previous experience with a shop helping me on my last truck.

Since I mentioned the rear seat, a few of you astute Ram owners might be questioning how a Big Horn managed to get a 60/40 rear seat with the armrest. From the factory, it didn’t. My Big Horn was shipped with the one-piece fold-up rear seat. There are times when this is sufficient, but most times, when I need to fold the seat up, I still need at least some available seat area.