OEM Cloth to Leather Conversion

[DHW]

Did a search on this but couldn't find what I was looking for.

Has anyone successfully removed the OEM cloth seat covers and replaced them with OEM leather seat covers? Someone local is selling a set of OEM leather seat covers from a Sahara and I was considering a swap with my Rubi cloth seats. This has lead me to a few questions:

1) Has anyone successfully done this? I'm sure someone has, but wondering what the difficulty level is if I try to tackle it myself. I've heard swapping OEM seat covers is a pain in the ass.

2) Are the front seats structurally the same between all models (including Gladiators) and all years (2018 - current)? For example, will front leather seat covers from a 2022 Overland Gladiator fit my 2018 Rubi seats?

Sponsored

 

[Deleted member 59498]

Katskins? I looked into their system is really nice. Looks like a lot of work for someone who doesn't do it often though. But lots of shops to do it from Katskins website.

https://katzkin.com/locations/car-upholstery-atlanta/

 

[DHW]

Katskins? I looked into their system is really nice.

Not Katskins, I'm talking about OEM Mopar leather covers from a Sahara, with "Sahara" stitched on.

 

[Deleted member 59498]

I know I am saying they have guys who do it with their system that may not charge you first born.

I have looked and it is not something I would want to do replacing the cloth with the leather or the other way around.

 

[DHW]

I know I am saying they have guys who do it with their system that may not charge you first born.

I have looked and it is not something I would want to do replacing the cloth with the leather or the other way around.

Oh, gotcha. Yea, I'm thinking its more trouble than its worth to attempt it myself.

 

[Punkn89]

Haven't seen anyone do OEM leather, but Katzkin I would highly recommend - plus you can have actual AC cooling implemented into the design, using Degreez.

 

[lashlee]

I've not done an OEM swap, but I've done more than a few Katzkin kits over the years. The shop I used to work for did them for many of the local dealerships, in many different models. If you take your time, it might not be bad (depending on how mechanically inclined you are), but plan for a weekend. Get a good set of hog ring pliers and some hog rings. It's slow and tedious but it can be done.

 

[At Risk Ute]

Katzkin is great. You just don’t get the leather armrests, parking brake handle, and top of the dash.

 

[badge171]

I have done it on my 2021 Willy's , JLU, Full day . and couple hours next morning. Mine had the heated seats , which makes no difference on the install. My job came out real nice ,pay attention to detail !

 

[jav_eee]

Katskinz will be real leather while the OEM version is more plastic than leather.

 

[Resin Addict]

I did something very similar…replaced used Rubicon black leather with brand new tan leather from a Sahara…I had zero experience, but am quite mechanically inclined…I watched one video on YouTube where a guy replaced his front seat covers and that taught me the basics of how to do it, then basically did one seat a night for the next 4 nights. One thing no one’s mentioned is the Molle seat backs on the Rubicon, you’ll have to trim the backs of the Sahara leather if you want to reuse them. Also, as stated above, you’ll need a set of good hog ring plier.
if you’re mechanically inclined, you should be able to do it.

 

[rcadden]

Note that the rear cloth seat is designed differently than the rear leather seat. The leather has the pull-down armrest with cupholders, the cloth doesn't.

So while you can probably swap the fronts, the rear OEM leather will not fit on a rear OEM cloth seat.

As others have stated, you'd be better off just getting Katskinz. If you order through a dealership, you can even get the Sahara logo embroidered.

 

[rdfact]

In the thread about the Trail Recon video at the Jeep factory, at 18:48 they show stacks of Katzkin boxes in the customization department.
https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...rangler-assembly-plant-by-trail-recon.117016/

Sponsored