Katzkin or Direct with Local Upholsterer?

I'm looking to change my truck over from it's cloth cement interior to leather. I've pretty much decided I want to go with an OEM style re-upholster rather than covers like Clazzio, but I'm wondering if a company like Katzkin or a local auto upholstery shop would be better? For those of you who have been through this, which way did you go? Thanks!

 

I did katskin in the GMC and it was first class, very pleased and will be upgrading my Taco next.

 

Your local upholstery shop is likely to be a katzkin dealer anyways, so I'd might as well order direct from their website and choose where/how to install.

Anyway, I'd trust Kat over a local custom since they already know how to do the stitching around the seat airbag.

 

Most all our local auto interior shops in my area install Alea leather, but Katzkin also has a very good reputation.

 

Katzkin will look OEM, local shop will look like........... well it will look like a local shop did the work.

 

I found out today after contacting Katzkin for a quote on my design that my local installer will not do the door panels or the center console because the current inserts are vinyl. The next closest installer who will do them is 90 miles away. Also, doing the door panels and center console would add an additional $550 to the $2,148 quote they had already given me. I think I will pass and find another source.

 

I had Katzkins in my 2017 when I bought it and they were legit. That truck was totaled and I have cloth in my 2022. I would also like to get leather, and as much as I want to like the Clazzios it's hard to not thing they don't look as good as the Katzkins. I know a lot of people on here have clazzios and love them but they just look so loose to me compared to the Katzkins. Now would I spend $2150 to have them installed like @FL_TRD Sport was quoted??? not so sure about that, I could live with the Clazzios to save $2k.

 

See if your local shop is a Katzkin installer. I'm enjoying mine installed at a custom shop.

 

Actually it was $2,698 when I added the door panels and center console cover, and they wanted me to drive 90 miles each way to have them installed because my local installer wouldn't work with the vinyl door panels. They offered a $150 discount for the inconvenience, about $100 of which would have been eaten up by fuel costs (2 round trips). Told them thanks but no thanks.

 

Found a local custom shop to do the conversion for a lot less that Katzkins was quoting. The guy had some very high end vehicles in his lot including work from the local Mercedes and Land Rover dealers. The only drawback is he can't get me in for another month, but I'm in no rush. He's also about 5 miles from my house.

 

There’s a member here who sells Katzkin kits. There’s a great 2 part YouTube install tutorial for our trucks too. Only tools you need are cheap hog ring pliers heavy duty wire/lock cutters to remove the original hog rings.

 

Get the katzkin and do it yourself. I did it on my 17, wasn't too bad. Turnout great

 

I went with Katzkin, and chose a local installer they install more than just Katzkin. Not cheap, full leather and heated ventilated seats for $3.5k

 

DIY Katzkins added seat heaters while I was in there.