Leather Seats: Quality & Durability

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Any of you have the leather seats, especially Camel? I may be close to ordering a new truck and one last "issue" I'm having is weighing pro/con of leather seats. I want leather because of how it feels, and also the climate here is hot & dry (dust, sand, weeds, grass) and I think keeping a clean interior is easier with leather (just wipe down vs. persistent vacuuming). But I know little about upkeep & durability (plan to keep my baby a LONG time!) I remember some old CDW posts owners with Camel Leather discussing strange fading problems. Camel is my first color choice but would opt for the gray if fading is a problem. And gray may look better with Intense Blue anyway. What are your opinions? Thanks much,

Vaughn

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Future Rammer coming with Intense Blue 2000 QC 4x4 SWB, 6-spd, 3. 54 LSD, Leather & Loaded; adding RV Injectors, 4" Jannetty exhaust, Scotty/K&N Cone intake, 295/75/16 BFG A/Ts on M/T Classic 16x8s, Northwest Custom flaps

 

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Vaughn;
I have the leather interior in my 98 ram. I love the leather. It is the second time I have had leather and to me it is much easier to take care of. When I ordered my truck a couple of other options I was going to order came as part of the leather package. My truck is 17 months old now and I can still faintly smell that great leather aroma when I first get into the truck after its been closed up all night. Here's something funny. I had been smoking off and on, quitting then smoking again. When I got my truck and climbed into it. No more cigarettes. To great a smell to foul. Just my opinion. Intense Blue/ Gray Leather. Go for it.
Arlan

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1998. 5 QC 3500 4X4 3. 54 Auto ISB with all options. TST PowerMax1 BD/TC and Valve Body. RV Injectors, 9000 LB Warn Winch, Ultra Board Running Boards, Westach Combo Boost/EGT and Transmission Temperature gauges, GPS etc. etc.
1946 Mercury Coupe Street Rod
1955 Willys Station Wagon
1995 Lexus SC400

 

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Going on 3 yrs, 80,000 miles on my camel leather, still looks good, I just wipe it off if I spill a little coffee or Coke on it, used a leather treatment a couple of times, sure wish I had the heated leather though. I had it in an Olds Aurora & loved it... ... ..... DDG.

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Dennis Garrett, Eudora, KS.
Locomotive Engineer/Red Ram driver!
1997 2500, 2WD, Auto, 3:54, 230 HP TST kit, K&N air filter, Aux. trans filter, Westach Combo Boost & EGT, Trans & Engine oil temp gauges. 3-Pos. TC lock up switch.

 

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I also loved Leather interiors... . Had them in other vehicles. .
However I went without on this truck.

You see... . if you look at the backs of my legs you'll see the scars that PROVE I had a nice dark leather interior.

That's what happend when the vehicle sat in the sun all afternoon at the beach... My wife and I hopped in with shorts on and actually levitated out of the seats. .
(I'm not certain, but I could of sworn that I heard a SIZZLE sound and caught the faint smell of Barbeque... #ad


The Cold on the other hand was easier to handle as you usually have a couple of layers of clothing between you and the seat.

I guess it comes down to individual preferance.

Later
Larry

 

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Love that Camel leather!!!

Coming up on 3 years and 60,000+ miles sitting out in the hot Texas sun and no problems. I don't wear shorts, but that is a problem with my wife. I keep a towel in the back seat for her and Annie our minature Dachshund when the truck has been sitting out in the sun. It doesn't take long for it to cool off. I also don't like the fabric seats pulling my shirt tails out. If you live in real cold weather, they would be a bit cold the first thing in the morning.

I have cleaned and treated them twice and going to do it again when I get time. I use the Lexol products from Geno's Garage.

Go ahead and get them and enjoy.
Bill

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97,3500,CC,4x2, Auto, 4. 10, All Options incl Leather, PacBrake, 3 Pos Lockup Switch, PrimeLoc,80% Towing 12,000+LB 5th Wheel, Mag-Hytec Covers on the way!!

 

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Thanks for your input everyone. During summer months I can throw a cloth or seatcover over the seats when parked outside for sun protection & to keep 'em cooler. I always use a sunshade by habit as well. Any favorites as far as a good leather protectants go? I've seen the Lexol and it looks like a good product.

Vaughn

[This message has been edited by Vaughn MacKenzie (edited 08-31-1999). ]

 

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I ordered my '98. 5 QC 4x4 with cloth seats as I don't like the slip/sliding effect associated with the leather seats when cornering or off-road. Now... if they could get the cloth seats to smell like leather... heh,heh,heh

With an Intense Blue exterior, I would order the Mist gray or Agate interior. I don't think blue and tan goes togeter too well. Just my opinion.

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'98. 5 2500 QC 4x4, (black) SLT Sport, ISB, LWB, 3. 54 LSD, auto. , 275 hp. injectors, Glasstite Vision II "canopy", 285 BFG A/Ts on 16x8 M/T Challengers, Warn 4X Boards, Mopar fender flares, front and rear NW Custom stainless steel/rubber mud flaps, Mag-Hytec diff. cover and trans. pan, Edelbrock IAS shocks, VDO Vision gauges, BD exhaust brake and TorqLoc.

 

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I was going to get leather seats on my 98 and would love to get them on my next truck. But I have one thing holding me back. I have a medium/large dog. An English Setter/Lab. And I just don't know how they will hold up with her being all over them. Anyone else have larger dogs and leather seats to let me know? I don't want to get them and then have to cover them with seat covers.

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1998 3500 12V. Over 300,000 miles. Too many add-ons to even think about.

 

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I have the camel leather in my truck and I had it treated through Dodge when I took delivery. I found that the leather was discoloring in different areas... I assumed it was sweating and leaving the color of my jeans on the leather and it would wash off. Well, it did not wash off and I had the dealer look at it. DC said have it professionally cleaned and then retreat the entire interior. I will opt to go to some oils for the leather as opposed to the chemicals due to some advice from an interior shop and leather specialist. DC also said if the areas do not clean that they will replace the leather. Covered under warranty. The dealer feels that the employee that did the leather treatment didn't do it good enough. Otherwise I love the leather seats. Just a human error causing yet another glitch.

SCOTT

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Lift it, flip it or...
RAMIT!

 

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I've got gray leather with intense blue exterior and I'd say it's a good color combination. I get lots of comments about the outside color (boy, that's a bright blue truck isn't it!) but nobody seems to notice the interior... . for what that's worth.

After 55k miles, the leather appears brand new with no discoloration or scratches. And I have 5 regular passenger dogs ranging from 25 to 110 lbs. I have 3 kids and a bad habit of putting screwdrivers in my backpocket too!
And remember, the rear seat (club cab,quad cab) and console aren't leather anyway.

Mike B.

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'98 RAM 2500 4x4 CC LWB Auto 12v 4. 10s Intense Blue, Sport, TST Power Kit, TCS Converter,
TransGo Diesel Shift Kit, M/T 16x8 Classics, BFG AT LT295/75R16, PIAA 90 Pro, ISSPRO Boost,Pyro,Trans Temp
'98 Texas Bragg 20' 12,000# GVW Tandem Axle Utility Trailer
'97 Jeep Wrangler Sahara

 

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I think you're right that the Gray matches up better with Intense Blue. Mike, do you have the Mist Gray or Agate? The darker Agate would probably look better, but I think I'll drive all the way to Kellogg ID. and take a look for myself and see the colors in person. I've NEVER seen a leather-interior Ram on the lot at my local dealer so it's hard to judge how it would go with exterior colors!

 

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I have a 98. 5 that I just bought with the camel leather interior. The only discoloration on my truck is on the leather between the 60/40 seats where the leather meets the other leather. It's not very noticable (darker brown spots) and I haven't yet attempted to clean it off so I don't know if it will or not. Someone mentioned that the back seat and console aren't leather - the console I can believe but the back seat sure feels like leather to me.


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-Steve St. Laurent
'98 Quad Cab Long Bed, 4x4, ISB, 5sp, 4. 10 LSD, Prime-loc remote fuel filter,
boost & pyro gauges, Permatech spray in liner, Grizzly stainless nerf bars

 

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I think it says in the order book and the brochures... Leather seating surface on front seats. Something like that. The sides and rear areas [where there isn't any carpet] of the two front seats are vinyl and the center console and rear seat are all vinyl. Its not the best quality and its split leather not the whole hide. the whole hide would have some imperfections from scarring from barb wire etc and be more porous. Too bad they didn't use whole hide imported Italian leather... no barb wire there and much much more supple and durable. Add another 3K to the price to do all of the seats front and back. I think the leather option is the same price on a reg cab or clubs and quads cuz the rear is vinyl.

SCOTT

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Lift it, flip it or...
RAMIT!

 

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Camel leather seats here. First leather I have had and glad I ordered it. After almost 30,000 miles still excellent shape and still has some leather smell. My back seat is not leather, just the fronts.

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'98. 5 Forest Green 2500HD, QC, LB, Cummins ISB, Auto Trans, SLT, Aux. Rear
Suspension, Trailer Tow package, 4. 10 w/ LSD, HD Transfer Case, Keyless
entry, Camel Leather, ICI Stainless steel Nerf Bars, Bed rail caps, fender
trims and rocker panels, Twin Firestik Firefly antennas & Cobra 29LTD
Classic CB.

Junction City, Oregon

 

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Well everybody I went by my local dealership and (WOW!) there was a leather-trimmed Cummins Ram on the lot. White with Agate, I really like the color. Seats feel good, vinyl portions (rear seat, center console) seem to be decent quality. I took 'er for a test drive to get the real-world feel, and it was an enjoyable driving experience. One negative on this truck was the engine noise was more pronounced than in the 2 cloth-trimmed trucks I drove. Could be the cloth interior absorbs noise intruding the cabin better. It also had noticeably less oomph so maybe engine wasn't 100% there or the fuel wasn't good quality. Nonetheless, leather is nice!