Truck Transformations: 2015 Ram 1500 Tradesman
There are a few dramatic changes you can make to transform your pickup truck's personality: a new paint job, new wheels and tires, power modifications or replacing cloth seats with custom-fit leather. Or you can do it all.
We are using a two-wheel-drive 2015 Ram 1500 Tradesman with a Hemi V-8 to highlight how simple it is to improve the look and capability of a used pickup with some simple modifications. Our projects won't be wild or excessive, and they will allow us to report on the results of each improvement along with each improvement's relative value.
For this first of a series of stories about how we transform our 2015 Ram 1500, we took the Tradesman with a standard cloth interior and brought it to Katzkin Automotive Leather for a quick interior upgrade. In just a few short hours we completely changed the look, feel and overall personality of the truck, at least from inside.
We had front and rear seats, as well as the center console, completely restyled in leather. The process is pretty simple and will work for any pickup; the seat-cover replacement kits can be ordered in just about any color and combination you could want; in fact, you can have your favorite logo, sports team or even your own name stitched right into the seat covers.
We wanted to see how easy leather replacement seats would be to install, so we watched the entire process — done with steam guns and only a few tools — at Katzkin headquarters in Montebello, Calif. We ordered the color and style we wanted ahead of time at Katzkin's website and received an email telling us the order was finished a few days later. Seat-replacement kits vary in price depending on complexity and material choices, but expect to pay somewhere between $1,300 and $1,800.
For more information, call Katzkin at 888-528-9546 or visit www.katzkin.com.
Here's how it went:
Cars.com photos by Mark Williams
Removing Bolts
Unlike some smaller cars, removing the seats in a full-size pickup is pretty simple; just locate and take out the four large bolts that hold each of the front seats, and the two overlapping bolts for the center console. The rear seats have even fewer bolts to remove since the Ram's seat bottom folds up and floats above the under-seat storage bins. Once the bolts are removed, it will take two people (one on each side) to lift the rear seatback off the bulkhead loops.
Removing the Cloth
With the seats out of their cab housings, our Katzkin experts stripped the factory cloth covers from the front and rear seats, being careful not to tear or damage the frame and foam core.
Front-Seat Substructure (Airbags)
Depending on what kind of front-seat setup you have (dependent on trim level), you could be dealing with one or two seat-mounted side airbags. Our Tradesman seats had an outer airbag to protect the driver and passenger in case of side impact or rollover crashes. The airbag needs to be disconnected and removed, then reinstalled before the leather outers can be wrapped.
Stretching the Material
The leather has to be wrapped around the substructure and foam padding in a specific order and precise manner to prevent wrinkles and lumps from forming. Once in place, the material is stretch-fitted with special flat-nosed tools.
Rear-Seat Material
The biggest pieces of material in a leather kit are for the backseats. After dismantling the bottom from the seatback, the material is stretched and smoothed over the foam. Our installers found and located the indent seams first, then stretched the rest of the material to the outer edges.
Rear Seats
The rear seats are relatively simple to cover because they require just two big pieces of custom-fit leather and a few headrest wraps. Katzkin has templates for just about every pickup interior trim level from just about every model year. The fit is surprisingly tight.
Head Restraints
In order to get the right fit for the head restraints, our installers had to heat up the leather material and vacuum-shrink the head-restraint foam to slip the new plastic liner and leather wrap over the foam.
Center Console
Although it was one of the smallest parts getting a new look, the center console had the most moving pieces so it took the most time to transform. The package we ordered uses soft, black leather with red stitching, and it looks pretty good.
Console Hinges
Our Ram 1500 did not have hidden storage underneath the center seat bottom, so that was one less hinged door to worry about. Katzkin distinguishes the center console with hidden storage as a three-piece part; our non-hidden storage unit was a two-piece part. This information is important when ordering a kit.
Front Seats on Side
The final step, once the material is stretched around the back and bottom of the seat, is to make sure all the seams are hidden and properly connected.
Holes for Head Restraints
One of the trickier parts of the front-seat install was correctly locating the head-restraint holes. The seat covers are made without any pre-cut holes, so the installer must poke through the leather and wrap the material around the adjustment slots.
Final Results
We were surprised by how much better the interior looked after the leather seat installation. The seats look like they were factory installed. One of Katzkin's secrets is that installers put fabric fasteners on all the seams to make sure the leather maintains the factory contour of the seat, and they add some extra seat and back-support padding to give the seats a sportier or more comfortable feel.
Before and After
This just might be the upgrade that provides the most significant reward for pickup truck owners since every time they drive it they'll reap the benefits of this quick-hit truck transformation.
Comments
Beats paying for factory leather. My dad really wanted leather in his new f150 but didn't want to pay extra for all the garbage that comes with lariat like blind spot monitors. So he got an xlt and then did this. Totally custom leather and overall cost is much less. he ended up saving like two thousand dollars overall. If you're selling a used truck putting in these leather seats can sometimes more than pay itself in resale value. A local used car dealer does it all the time with low mileage used trucks. A lot of people will gladly pay an extra couple thousand for a truck with nice leather and I imagine sells faster too.
Wow. Excellent quality of workmanship.
(Not my colors, though.)
But can I justify driving from the Midwest to LA to get this done?
Any leather people closer?
===============
May as well buy a heated seat kit for about $120 and put that on too. Looks very nice.
As the prices for the top trim levels continue to grow into the ridiculous range, you'll see a lot more people opting for this route in the near future... a base or one-above-base trim truck with customer upgrades, instead of a top-trim truck with 500 electronic sensors (any one of which can put you in limp mode). In some brands, the base trim is the only way to get something as simple as a floor-mounted transfer case shifter. My dually has a power driver's seat that I paid extra for in order to get a few other things, but I wouldn't miss it if my next truck doesn't have it. No one else drives my truck, so the seat never moves. The dealer can add and program the upgraded factory head/tail lights without needing to spend $5-10K for the trim level that offers them as standard equipment or a regular factory option.
Hate someone is doing this to you LMAO. No need in posting crap under your name. Must be school kids.
Hope you got heated leather if not heated and cooled seats, so you rear does not sweat of freeze....
Looks good, with 2 wheel drive are you going to raise or lower it 2 inches? Either way is only a couple hundred bucks, unless you hire it done.
Hate someone is doing this to you LMAO. No need in posting crap under your name. Must be school kids.
Posted by: Fed up. | Mar 26, 2016 2:55:21 PM
Yes, these are the people LMAO migrates towards when he is cruising in his white E-Series.
Great story about upgrading the RAM 1500 interior.
Next week the Part 2 of this story is replacing the crappy looking exterior with a complete skin from a GMC Sierra or a Silverado.
The tricky part is the square wheel wells. But it's worth it, once you're finished you have a great looking truck inside and out and only your family and the guys at the shop know you still drive a RAM.
Next week the Part 2 of this story is replacing the crappy looking exterior with a complete skin from a GMC Sierra or a Silverado.
Posted by: papa jim | Mar 26, 2016 7:41:35 PM
There are vinyl wraps available for one to simple apply over the entire truck exterior to make it look like a GMC. These vinyl wraps would serve a dual purpose for a Ford owner, it would improve the looks and help hold the body panels in place. HAHAHA!
There are vinyl wraps available for one to simple apply over the entire truck exterior to make it look like a GMC. These vinyl wraps would serve a dual purpose for a Ford owner, it would improve the looks and help hold the body panels in place. HAHAHA!
Posted by: GMSRGREAT | Mar 26, 2016 8:03:03 PM
Not only do these wraps make a Ford look better, it will actually make your cockkkkk bigger because it is a GMC wrap. Good news for Ford girly men.
***** THIS JUST IN ******"
GM files patent for square Wheels and Tires for their Silverado , Sierra to fit their square wheel wells. A Senior GM exec who wishes to remain anonymous tells us. " We still haven't figured out how to make them go around smoothly, butt are moving ahead with the project anyway because Upper Mgmt feels it could potentially save the Co. hundreds of billions of dollars in warranty claims if their customers can't drive their Silverado \ Sierra's".
*** THIS JUST IN ******"
GM files patent for square Wheels and Tires for their Silverado , Sierra to fit their square wheel wells. A Senior GM exec who wishes to remain anonymous tells us. " We still haven't figured out how to make them go around smoothly, butt are moving ahead with the project anyway because Upper Mgmt feels it could potentially save the Co. hundreds of billions of dollars in warranty claims if their customers can't drive their Silverado \ Sierra's".
Posted by: Todd | Mar 26, 2016 11:30:08 PM
Actually, FORD has the patent for square wheels. GM passed on it and went with the more practical and stylish square wheel openings.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QF7odK55gkI
I don't understand why anybody would spend money on the interior when the Ram desperately needs ball joints, front axles and broken driveshaft repairs, fuel pumps also are a problem with Ram
Hey Lou, go to any of the truck forums, whether it be GM/Ford/Ram/Toyota, someone is always having issues with what you posted...these are guys who actually use their trucks as trucks
Very nice now it is high time Ram redesign their truck
it is getting stale
Interesting. My rear seat headrest ('15 Quadcab) refuse to come off, regardless of what I do.
Dave
$1800 to upgrade the interior on any truck is the same as flushing that money down the toilet.
I spend $2000 on a brake job once a year
Tires worn out at 12K miles that's another $1200
Now my transmission is acting up, they said "don't worry they all do that" $4000 for a new transmission.
I say what's the use of spending that money on what the truck doesn't need?
I say spend the money to keep it on the road legally and safe
@Rick you have to admit that any Sierra made during the last 15 years looks better than any RAM in the history of the universe. That's why I wrote it that way.
If I was looking to write a story like the one here at PUTC I would have picked a 2012 F150 and when you're done you have a nice V8 six speed truck with great looks inside and out.
The RAM is past its prime
The red leather look awful. I would be ashamed to have those seats in my truck. I wouldn't take them even if they were free!
Nice! The before and after results are truly incredible.
At least you'll be comfortable while you wait for the tow truck.
Was watching an old recording of a race on tv today and one of the commercials was from 2001. It was a Ram commercial and my Son asked me if that was a new Ram and I said no. They aint changed the basic look since 1994. He couldn't believe it. Interior upgrades are fine but my gosh aint it time for a new look?? Hell, back in 94 weren't they still called a Dodge??
^Yup, they looked good in 94, they look some different, but still look good.
Lol, all the folks spending thousands on their trucks for mods, when it gets wrecked, insurance only pays for how it was built.
They should offer leather in all trims, without all the other stuff.
But I am good with Outdoorsman trim.
No, it ain't time for a new look. Think a new design would sell more? Not when the factory is maxed out already. The dodge looks just fine. Don't like it, but something else. Or you can be a grumpy old codger like Jim and complained about it
Dave, Lou_DC is right buy a Ford and the problem will take care of itself....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czyaZmYz9FQ
Posted by: rodando lata de cerveza | Mar 27, 2016 2:25:13 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgOb2v_jH8Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zWCR1VnaRY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUG6nEsm1VM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S--pFx5svBs&ebc=ANyPxKreSZD2nBMHr-gzy0qet4LbVjl0mR7MqlgyGN_xZGIbTO5rHiWBRLiDxpBmQbgWkya4Zp9xdIzxGe3VRjUkSpX3IxKmnQ
Not being a grumpy old man about anything. Just let Ram come out with something different and it will be the best thing since sliced bread to you Ram guys. Past time for a change. If they are maxed out then getting better than 3rd place will never happen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqeNdBop5QI
Always been 3rd. Not a big deal.
I prefer quality over quantity as well. Whats the point to have #1 truck in sale numbers, if you have to be scarred driving your truck every morning , to think of the failing brakes ? Or walking back to the parking lot and wondering if your truck is burn down this time already or not ? I wouldn't mind to buy Toyota or Nissan, but will never buy Ford or GM.
In 93 Dodge had what, an 8% market share? I say they're doing pretty good. I'd take a 94 over a new one any day.
Maybe Depends Adult Diapers should market a "Depends Seat" for pickup truck owners with leakage problems.
You know? A special seat that soaks it up when you soil yourself or have an out of control wet fart.
Are you speaking from experience?
Actually, they are gonna ramp up production in the states, and move around a few car/truck lines.
I can see why they use the Ram as the example...the only truck to have seat material wear out in three years and dealers are advised to tell customers they abused their seats...no warranty ...lol
packets the leather
The comments to this entry are closed.