Mosley vs. LCH Leather Seat replacements

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I have been up to LCH in Hagerstown, MD and seen their work up close. I am no expert, but it seems to be a high quality operation. We would just leave the car with them as they are 45 miles away. Our alternative is:

www.rankinupholstery.com

rankinupholstery

Rankin offers top-notch upholstery services to Gaithersburg, MD & nearby areas. Our expertise covers a broad range of interiors including automotive, marine, & aircraft vehicles. We also specialize in custom projects for both local customers and commercial clients.
www.rankinupholstery.com www.rankinupholstery.com

I can't afford their custom work but they like Katzkin and would do Mosley. They are local to me. I can't see doing this myself, but I am reading the DIY's with interest. We are about 8k into a refresh getting a 90 year's '94 ready for his grand-daughter to take over.
 
FWIW, I got a set of Mosely leathers for my 40th in Feb of this year. I paid $1800+ shipped to me in TN. I have not installed them, but I did explore the pieces and the quality is very good.
 
FMC80 said:
FWIW, I got a set of Mosely leathers for my 40th in Feb of this year. I paid $1800+ shipped to me in TN. I have not installed them, but I did explore the pieces and the quality is very good.
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Thanks, that's reassuring,

I'm still tempted to put in new cushions and just install the canvas escape gear covers till I see more Mosley leather reports since they changed vendors.
 
FMC80 said:
FWIW, I got a set of Mosely leathers for my 40th in Feb of this year. I paid $1800+ shipped to me in TN. I have not installed them, but I did explore the pieces and the quality is very good.
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Are you installing them your self or paying someone? I am getting "quotes" of $300+ per seat surface plus a little more for the rear due to arm rests. I also need new foam up front, so it is getting pricey.
 
BTLSHP said:
Are you installing them your self or paying someone? I am getting "quotes" of $300+ per seat surface plus a little more for the rear due to arm rests. I also need new foam up front, so it is getting pricey.
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I normally do everything myself, seats can't be as hard as a motor rebuild or axle regear.
 
BTLSHP said:
Are you installing them your self or paying someone? I am getting "quotes" of $300+ per seat surface plus a little more for the rear due to arm rests. I also need new foam up front, so it is getting pricey.
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I planned to do them myself. Like @BillyGoatMTB said, it can’t be that hard. Just time consuming. I read hog rings are a pita but that can be overcome too.
 
If y'all come across any info using canvas seat covers over new cushions please let me know, if I don't find any info I might Guinea pig it for the community.

I'm kinda like why spend the coin on leather when I can get new cushions and heat for a fraction of the cost using my Escape gear seat covers.

The idea makes sense in my head, I'm an electrician not an upholstery specialist, I can't imagine the leather being needed to "hold" the form of the cushions.

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BTLSHP said:
I got a little antsy about seat heaters for our 80. My alternator is 80-amps and somewhere here I saw an analysis of power draw up at just over 55 amps. From that, I concluded 2 5-10 amp seat heaters were perhaps not a hot idea.
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I'd be interested to read that analysis. That seems too high, given the fact that seat heaters were available as a factory option, with the 80A alternator.
 
Malleus said:
I'd be interested to read that analysis. That seems too high, given the fact that seat heaters were available as a factory option, with the 80A alternator.
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I concur, I read that earlier and the numbers for amperage seemed off.

Just need the watts for the heating pads.
 
Ok, I give. I read it in a post by someone I thought was respectable here. It built off of 20 for the engine, 9-18 for lights, 5 for the blower, 5 for radio......

I recall the seat heaters were 5-10 and assumed (from experience) my daughter would use them on high all winter so 20.
 
BTLSHP said:
Ok, I give. I read it in a post by someone I thought was respectable here. It built off of 20 for the engine, 9-18 for lights, 5 for the blower, 5 for radio......

I recall the seat heaters were 5-10 and assumed (from experience) my daughter would use them on high all winter so 20.
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Uhhhh...not to confuse the issue with facts, but the entire EFI system is run off a 15 amp fuse, so the draw for a running engine is much less than that unless you decide to ignore the laws of physics.
Standard headlights are 55 watts, so 110/12=9 amps when the engine is off. 110/14=8 amps with the truck running. Where are the extra 10 amps coming from?

FWIW, I have seat heaters in my LX450 front seats and they get used all winter. It's a non-issue.
 
BillyGoatMTB said:
If y'all come across any info using canvas seat covers over new cushions please let me know, if I don't find any info I might Guinea pig it for the community.

I'm kinda like why spend the coin on leather when I can get new cushions and heat for a fraction of the cost using my Escape gear seat covers.

The idea makes sense in my head, I'm an electrician not an upholstery specialist, I can't imagine the leather being needed to "hold" the form of the cushions.
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i've considered the same thing. currently have Escape gear in both rows, REALLY want heated seats, but can't prioritize putting new leather on when i'm only going to keep them covered.

i was thinking about just putting the heated mats on top of the existing leather and underneath the covers. they might slide around a bit, but maybe some sort of tape (gaffers?) could hold them in place.

what is the seat heater kit to get these days anyways

then if the leather debate gets solved, i'll save up and have them re-covered. wish i'd moved out on roadwire before katzkin consumed them. LCH isn't far from me, but the visible tag bothers me.
 
Delta VS said:
We put Mosley kit in rig we did a lot of work to, they were great. My understanding is he no longer offers those kits though unfortunately (was great to work with), but maybe that has changed in the last couple years.
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jcardona1 said:
Roadwire was the supplier for Mosley. Same leather, just more expensive and without installation. Not sure where he's sourcing it from now that Roadwire is no more.
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Leather is flowing! We had to pull the plug on sales several times during the Covid era due to mfr difficulties, but things have been running smoothly for several months.

Roadwire has been purchased by Katzkin. We do still have access to the same Roadwire product as before, made in the same facilities, with the original Roadwire leather (different material and colors than Katzkin) and have our same internal custom sales contacts to order from.
 
jonheld said:
Uhhhh...not to confuse the issue with facts, but the entire EFI system is run off a 15 amp fuse, so the draw for a running engine is much less than that unless you decide to ignore the laws of physics.
Standard headlights are 55 watts, so 110/12=9 amps when the engine is off. 110/14=8 amps with the truck running. Where are the extra 10 amps coming from?

FWIW, I have seat heaters in my LX450 front seats and they get used all winter. It's a non-issue.
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Ok, so I am back to thinking about seat heaters which would make me a popular dude with the future captain of this rig.
 
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Mosley’s product is the best available, in my opinion. I have the dark version (think single tone in the outer 40th color the last 2 images) in my second row which are a perfect enough match for my Sheel Mann fronts. Great quality and great fit, which likely enables you to DIY. If I went the Mosley route I would definitely spring for as many new cushions that are available from Toyota, especially if this is a DIY project. Do it once, do it right and make it last.

If I went Katzkin, LCH, or LSeat (first 2 images) I would likely get a shop to install AND rebuild the foam at that time or if DIY, use new foam from Toyota.

I personally think many of the poor experiences are related to average and less quality covers installed at home without experience or the ability to add material or make sewing adjustments (needed with both Katzkin and LSeat) placed over compromised foam which creates wear and stress in many areas where quality corners were cut, IE not long lasting.

Just my experience as I have done Mosley, Katzkin, and L Seat in different 80 series over the past 4 years. You definitely get a higher quality leather and better fit out of the box with Mosley’s leather.
 
desmocruiser said:
Mosley’s product is the best available, in my opinion. I have the dark version (think single tone in the outer 40th color the last 2 images) in my second row which are a perfect enough match for my Sheel Mann fronts. Great quality and great fit, which likely enables you to DIY. If I went the Mosley route I would definitely spring for as many new cushions that are available from Toyota, especially if this is a DIY project. Do it once, do it right and make it last.

If I went Katzkin, LCH, or LSeat (first 2 images) I would likely get a shop to install AND rebuild the foam at that time or if DIY, use new foam from Toyota.

I personally think many of the poor experiences are related to average and less quality covers installed at home without experience or the ability to add material or make sewing adjustments (needed with both Katzkin and LSeat) placed over compromised foam which creates wear and stress in many areas where quality corners were cut, IE not long lasting.

Just my experience as I have done Mosley, Katzkin, and L Seat in different 80 series over the past 4 years. You definitely get a higher quality leather and better fit out of the box with Mosley’s leather.
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Those look absolutely fantastic!
 
Done the leathers many years ago on our ‘93; leather source NLA nowadays. Came out real nice, but the new seat cushions were the real win. Took me 1 day per seat surface. Having straight as well as angled hog ring pliers available helped a lot. We have another set (cushions & leather) stashed for the ‘97, but I’m not feeling it to do this again.
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That was May 2014, and they look pretty much the same today.

However: I, for one do not like the seats in the 80/LX, nor those in the GX470 - as nice that vehicle is for long distance drives. Best seat in our fleet for me is the Mastercraft Pro suspension seat in my K5. All the others are not even close. My wife wants to keep things Toyota in the 80/LX - otherwise the 80 driver’s seat would be long gone.
 
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