Heated Seats in 2010+ Tacoma while maintaining cloth seats

Does any have any experience with installing heating seats in their 2010+ Tacoma without upgrading to leather? I'm not really big on leather seats personally and thought this would be a reasonable upgrade for around $100.

I'm looking at this model specifically:
http://rostra.com/comfortheat-automotive-seat-heater-by-rostra.php

And I've seen this website, but she seems to be using an older-model Tacoma. No airbags or occupant sensors. I don't know if there are any other changes as well.
http://www.lieblweb.com/heatedseat.html

A few questions for those with experience:
-How long does this usually take? I've never taken a seat apart/put it back -together before.
-Are there any big issues I need to watch out for?
-Is there anything negative about putting your seat covers back on with zip ties? (what they recommend)
-Are there any safety concerns they're not telling me about? Getting too hot and catching on fire or getting damaged over time as I sit on them and get in and out of the truck?

Wiring I'm not too worried about - I've got enough experience with that that it shouldn't be an issue.

 

No one has done this without leather seats?

 

Search more. Been covered a lot. These seem to be the same ones with free shipping.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Carbon-Fiber-Universal-Heated-Seat-Heater-Kit-2-Seats-/251004563025

and video here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YY9-7k04E3E

 

I have searched quite a bit - seems everyone on here does it while putting leather on the seats. I'd like to know about re-using your current seat covers on a Tacoma.

I appreciate the video, but it answered exactly zero of the questions I asked.

 

okayyy. Yes they can be installed in any seat. Most of the time you dont need to even take the seats out if you can get to all the area to release the clips mentioned. For the seat back youll release the clips then fold up the cloth cover like a banana and put the heating element in, then slide the cover back down. There is tons of information available by googling.

http://www.heatedseatkits.com/installation.pdf

 

Hi Poolstick, I just saw your post and just yesterday finished my seats so I thought i'd give ya a shout.
I got heaters and wasn't ready to install leather so i put em under my stock, cloth upholstery.
Now I haven't hooked up the electrical yet, so can't say if they're going to get too hot etc... but I doubt it, they're made for this.
re. your questions:
1. I was surprised how easy they went in, bit of a learning curve on the first one but it's very straight forward, after i got them on the bench each one took me a couple hours, but i'm kind of slow and meticulous and i screwed up in a step, worth a heads up. (which leads to)
2. Yes there are a couple minor issues to watch out for: There are 2 long listing wires which form the vertical parts of the back, they go thru a fabric sleeve but feel around for an imbedded wire which is horizontal in the seat behind your neck area, the vertical listing wire slides under that, important to get otherwise it pokes out hard against the fabric and is real obvious that it shouldn't be that way. (I had to pull out the first one i did to fix it, hence the pita) Also, careful with the plastic trims, I broke a couple of small tabs on mine, but it doesn't seem to effect it when it's back together.
3. Spoke with tech support at Champion, in Minnesota and zip ties are what you want! no metal around that carbon fiber. I just used a good size and after snipping off excess rotated the chunky part into the foam.
4. A installing tip that worked great is get a pair of curved forceps. It's tough getting zip ties run thru the foam etc, these really helped.




I took a bunch of pictures, but they aren't up yet, and haven't finished like i said but it should be awesome! If you haven't already dug into this or have other questions or want pics, let me know, and i'll do what I can.

Good Luck! River

A few questions for those with experience:
-How long does this usually take? I've never taken a seat apart/put it back -together before.
-Are there any big issues I need to watch out for?
-Is there anything negative about putting your seat covers back on with zip ties? (what they recommend)
-Are there any safety concerns they're not telling me about? Getting too hot and catching on fire or getting damaged over time as I sit on them and get in and out of the truck?

 

why do they cut the holes in the middle for the cracks>? is that just so it fits better?

also how do they make them stick to the seat?

 

Gordi, there is sticky tape on the back side of the heating pads and that helps stick it to the foam.
They cut small holes , and i just poked a couple of very small holes, to thread your zip ties to. The zip ties go under a rod in the foam, then thread thru the heating pad, and then a listing wire (very stiff wire that holds down the upholstery) the zip ties then go around that and cinch the listing wire down into the slot of the foam, holding the upholstery in place. River

 

thanks! ya i was wondering how they kept them there forever alot of these extra kits dont even show the zipties being done and i dont think the tape would hold for long. Do they cut those slits in them for the pins that give the cushion those dips in the seat ?

 

they make the slits , or poke the little holes because the ends of the zip ties need to poke up thru, and then wrap around the listing wire which then get "sucked" back down into the creases in the foam. Search this site for seat heaters, there's lots of descriptions with great photos!

Best, River

 

ya i have since figured it out. thanks!~