leather vs duragrain

expectthebest · Aug 28, 2008

Anyone who has leather wish they had duragrain? Anyone with duragrain wish they had leather. I keep going back and forth in my search for a used DII. The duragrain just seems to look so much better for the wear then the leather.

BuyRovers · Aug 28, 2008

I like the look and feel of the leather seats but the duragrain is tougher.

Justin Kurosaki · Aug 28, 2008

Have an SD with the duragrain. For about 5 years I kept contemplating upgrading the duragrain seats to leather. There is no doubt the leather seats are gorgeous. Of course once I saw another leather truck that got as much abuse (dogs, pint of blood, spills, wear, etc) as mine I quickly changed my mind.

I'm sure if you take care of the leather seats and they see little abuse they will hold up for many years.

pdogg · Aug 29, 2008

I've got 50k miles on my duragrain with kids and spills ... still look like new.

gabriel · Aug 29, 2008

I like the black leather, looks great. The wife like the tan duragrain because she can use the magic eraser on it.

Roving Beetle · Aug 29, 2008

I want to recover my pleather inserts with a suede or rugged velour material - butt velcro - the seats are a little to slippery for me.

scottagnew101 · Aug 29, 2008

I just wish the person before me took care of the leather better. I like leather, but its not like anything else, it really needs attention. If you can give it the proper care, go for it; otherwise duragrain or something else.

Scott

04DiscoGA · Oct 18, 2008

I have 43K on my '04 DII. and I am experiencing several small splits in the duragrain on the driver seats similar to cheaper vinyl seats. Personally i am a little disappointed. I can't speak for the leather.

DeanBrown3D · Oct 18, 2008

if ((Off-road + mud) || kids.count >= 1)
duragrain;

If you regularly climb out of this (see avatar <- on left) and climb through your window, then duragrain.

Roving Beetle · Oct 18, 2008

I vote leather - keep it hydrated and clean and it's soooo nice on the ass.

Then have a set of even cheapie (or nicer) water proof seat covers and some big ass rubber mats for trail rides.

Best of both worlds - get home, hose off the mats, swab out the interior and throw the covers in the wash or just hose them off too. And day to day you have comfy seats.

CandiMan · Oct 18, 2008

WillTN · Oct 18, 2008

I've never done anything to my leather seats and after 8 years and 125K of family, dog, mud, and so on abuse they still look like they did the day we picked the truck up new from the dealer...

scottagnew101 · Oct 19, 2008

CandiMan said:
You can also consider re-conditioning your seats. For me my leather seats were abuse. So I decided to dye the leather.

Started with this
http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/2/web/3002000-3002999/3002336_8_full.jpg?360023-286
http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/2/web/3002000-3002999/3002336_7_full.jpg?360023-286
http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/2/web/3002000-3002999/3002336_255_full.jpg?030223-286

After cleaning and scuffing the leather I ended up with this
http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/2/web/3002000-3002999/3002336_256_full.jpg?480423-286

I wanted a different look so I did this
http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/2/web/3002000-3002999/3002336_257_full.jpg?401023-286
http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/2/web/3002000-3002999/3002336_258_full.jpg?401023-286

Then I ended up with this
http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/2/web/3002000-3002999/3002336_259_full.jpg?401023-286
http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/2/web/3002000-3002999/3002336_260_full.jpg?401023-286

Install pics
http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/2/web/3002000-3002999/3002336_262_full.jpg?351423-286
http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/2/web/3002000-3002999/3002336_261_full.jpg?351423-286

The rear seats are in much better condition, so I'm only planing on doing the black inserts
http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/2/web/3002000-3002999/3002336_268_full.jpg?351423-286

What did you use to clean the leather with when you say "after cleaning and scuffing the leather". Looks really good.

rcshauger · Oct 19, 2008

My driver seat duragrain is splitting, but other than that it is tip top. Trying to replace the headrests from the previous owner throwing them out was a chore, so I got some leather ones, they do not match, but I really wish I had the leather. The only things that do not come out of leather are colored crayon wax, oil, and ink. Other than that, leather is pretty durable. Candiman has some impressive leather work. Necessity is the mother of invention, and the annoying mother-in-law of frustration.

CandiMan · Oct 20, 2008

scottagnew101 said:
What did you use to clean the leather with when you say "after cleaning and scuffing the leather". Looks really good.

My seats were so dirty and soiled I used tire whitewall cleaner to clean them, and I had to do several application. Depending on the condition of the seats, nNormally a mild cleaner like glass cleaner or an upholstery foam cleaner would do.

After that I used a red scotch brite pad to "scuff" the leather. Scuffing the leather will remove a lot of the pigment from the leather and give it a faded appearance. That's what made it look good compared to when the seat was dirty.

Blue · Oct 20, 2008

pdogg said:
I've got 50k miles on my duragrain with kids and spills ... still look like new.

Same here.....a few weeks ago my little girl upchucked all over the back seats and all it took was a washcloth to take care of it. I had leather in my D1 and no amount of conditioning could keep it from splitting, cracking, and wearing thin.

BlackAndTan · Oct 20, 2008

I found a vinyl (not sure if that's same as duragrain) at the auto upholsterer's that's a pretty impressive color match for the tan leather. I used it to replace just the seat bottoms on my '96 Disco and left the leather backs (and the other seats are leather). I can probably dig up the color code number and manufacturer if you want (PM me if so). I saw so very many torn-up leather D1s before I bought this years ago. It really pays to keep them out of bright sun, and use some good conditioner. Love the look of the leather though.

I got really picky about the vinyl color match and I don't think most people would even be able to tell the difference in color at all. Most of the time except in just the right light I can't tell any difference at all.. in the right light it's a shade of a shade of a shade less green... a tenth of a tinge warmer like the door panels.

CandiMan · Oct 20, 2008

BlackAndTan said:
I found a vinyl (not sure if that's same as duragrain) at the auto upholsterer's that's a pretty impressive color match for the tan leather. I used it to replace just the seat bottoms on my '96 Disco and left the leather backs (and the other seats are leather). I can probably dig up the color code number and manufacturer if you want (PM me if so). I saw so very many torn-up leather D1s before I bought this years ago. It really pays to keep them out of bright sun, and use some good conditioner. Love the look of the leather though.
I got really picky about the vinyl color match and I don't think most people would even be able to tell the difference in color at all. Most of the time except in just the right light I can't tell any difference at all.. in the right light it's a shade of a shade of a shade less green... a tenth of a tinge warmer like the door panels.

If you do find the color code and manufacturer, post it here. That might be good info for those who are in need of re-upholster.

supertopher · Oct 23, 2008

Hey can you tell us what you used to to recondition and scuff the leather, and painting/dying the seats? thanks, it looks awesome btw

scottagnew101 · Oct 23, 2008

supertopher said:
Hey can you tell us what you used to to recondition and scuff the leather, and painting/dying the seats? thanks, it looks awesome btw

CandiMan said:
My seats were so dirty and soiled I used tire whitewall cleaner to clean them, and I had to do several application. Depending on the condition of the seats, nNormally a mild cleaner like glass cleaner or an upholstery foam cleaner would do.

After that I used a red scotch brite pad to "scuff" the leather. Scuffing the leather will remove a lot of the pigment from the leather and give it a faded appearance. That's what made it look good compared to when the seat was dirty.

I asked too

leather vs duragrain

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