Leather??

hamish22

Well-Known Member
May 12, 2013
742
641
93
West of Newcastle
www.grmotorsport.com.au
Love to see one of the bunk bolster. All we are asking for is the main dinette chairs and the top bunk bolster. We are having the bottom bunk built in. If you could take a pic of the bunk bolster I would really appreciate it and I would have some ammunition for when they try and tell me that they don't do it. I was told I has never been done.
Bunk bolster pics sent to you!
 

S&k

Member
Jan 27, 2014
113
22
18
50
Cairns
Got the responses this morning they can now do it. Thanks for all you assistance hamish22.
 

Simon

Active Member
Dec 28, 2013
148
137
43
Melbourne
If you want leather, do it aftermarket. You get heaps of choices in colour, style, stitching and grade of leather.

I haven't got quoted yet, but I got quote for my Prado, all rows, white stitching on dark grey, including door sides and centre console was around $2,800. Was told it could be $600 cheaper, if I used vinyl type on back of chairs. Toyota wanted to charge me $3,000 with no choice in anything and with vinyl backs!

I suspect that to do the dinette would be really easy to do and I reckon should be no more than $1,000 in my opinion. Not sure what the pelmets (aka bolsters) would cost but 2014 vans don't have curtains.
 
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hamish22

Well-Known Member
May 12, 2013
742
641
93
West of Newcastle
www.grmotorsport.com.au
If you want leather, do it aftermarket. You get heaps of choices in colour, style, stitching and grade of leather.

I haven't got quoted yet, but I got quote for my Prado, all rows, white stitching on dark grey, including door sides and centre console was around $2,800. Was told it could be $600 cheaper, if I used vinyl type on back of chairs. Toyota wanted to charge me $3,000 with no choice in anything and with vinyl backs!

I suspect that to do the dinette would be really easy to do and I reckon should be no more than $1,000 in my opinion. Not sure what the pelmets (aka bolsters) would cost but 2014 vans don't have curtains.

Agree with what you say Simon but being the average Aussie Joe Worker on a middle class wage i would rather the van roll up with the leather included so that the price of the leather would be incorporated into my van loan where you wouldn't notice it!

Taking 1000 to 2000 dollars out of the bank on top of a new van loan would certainly stretch my budget and my 26th wedding anniversary! :becky:
 

Simon

Active Member
Dec 28, 2013
148
137
43
Melbourne
Agree with what you say Simon but being the average Aussie Joe Worker on a middle class wage i would rather the van roll up with the leather included so that the price of the leather would be incorporated into my van loan where you wouldn't notice it!

Taking 1000 to 2000 dollars out of the bank on top of a new van loan would certainly stretch my budget and my 26th wedding anniversary! :becky:

Average or not, I'd prefer the spare money in my pocket, but I hear what you are saying.
 

crustt

Well-Known Member
Apr 17, 2013
298
407
63
64
If you want leather, do it aftermarket. You get heaps of choices in colour, style, stitching and grade of leather.

I haven't got quoted yet, but I got quote for my Prado, all rows, white stitching on dark grey, including door sides and centre console was around $2,800. Was told it could be $600 cheaper, if I used vinyl type on back of chairs. Toyota wanted to charge me $3,000 with no choice in anything and with vinyl backs!

I suspect that to do the dinette would be really easy to do and I reckon should be no more than $1,000 in my opinion. Not sure what the pelmets (aka bolsters) would cost but 2014 vans don't have curtains.

Simon, the price you got for you Prado is pretty cheap. I just finished a statesman, buckets, back bench armrests and console, $1950 just for the leather.
Jaycos price is reasonable, I would expect you would be paying the same from an upholsterer or more using a cheaper domestic leather, covering big cushions in leather eats into a hide, to do a cafe style seat I would be ordering 3 to 4 hides, minimum $200 each .
Having said that, there is nothing like making your van a bit different from the rest.
 

Simon

Active Member
Dec 28, 2013
148
137
43
Melbourne
Simon, the price you got for you Prado is pretty cheap. I just finished a statesman, buckets, back bench armrests and console, $1950 just for the leather.
Jaycos price is reasonable, I would expect you would be paying the same from an upholsterer or more using a cheaper domestic leather, covering big cushions in leather eats into a hide, to do a cafe style seat I would be ordering 3 to 4 hides, minimum $200 each .
Having said that, there is nothing like making your van a bit different from the rest.

Thought the labour time and cost would be less as the dinette cushions would be easier to cut and stitch than car seats. You sound like you are in the trade? If so are you able to explain how leather is graded and what to ask for?
 

crustt

Well-Known Member
Apr 17, 2013
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Hi Simon, I am not an expert in leather. I do a couple of jobs in leather a year and I get advise from my supplier Leffler in Kensington and if possible I get the customer to go there as there is more choice and they are happy as they are talking to an expert.
Of course the labour time on caravan dinnete will be less than a Prado, but the amount of leather will be over 4x's as they are hig panels with no joins so there is a lot of waste, a car seat is made up of small panels so you are able to use every inch of the hide.
Comparing the price of what it costs to do a car verses a caravan is apples to oranges, a bit like comparing wiring a car verses a house.
I was fairly impressed with the quality of the leather that I have seen in Jayco's and $1500 sounds reasonable for an upgrade, the last hide I bought was $570 I would have just managed to get two seat cushions out of it.
If I wanted leather in my van I would order it with the van, unless there was another colour that I wanted, which I doubt as we aren't that fussy.
Anyway, get a couple of quotes and post them up, but beware the cheapest isn't always the best. You screw them on price and they'll screw you on quality, but it'll be okay cause you wont realize it.;)
 
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Simon

Active Member
Dec 28, 2013
148
137
43
Melbourne
@crustt - thanks for the info and advice - btw my intention isn't to screw anyone down on price, I don't mind paying for quality but as you say how would I know which makes me sceptical. My preference is to deal with someone who specialises in this and inform myself rather than go through a middle man and trust them. Toyota was recently warned by the ACCC and had to issue an apology for misleading consumers about the quality of leather in their cars, both as standard and as an upgrade item. I'm glad to hear Jayco provide high quality, cause not all do.
 

Macropod

Member
Sep 5, 2013
76
89
18
57
Cordeaux Heights, NSW
Coming in a bit late in this thread - but... we ordered our 20.63.1 with full leather (having had fabric in our previous 16.49.1) and its great. When you have kids - wipeable leather beats absorbing fabric every time. One thing though - make sure that ALL the covered items in the van are covered with the same leather. Our van had every item covered except the panel under the bunk bed ladder - this was still fabric. When we asked why - it was because the bunks were modular and thats just how they come. Our Jayco dealer went out of his way to give us a warraty reject lounge cushion in the same leather and we covered it oursleves. He offered to get it done for us - but we wanted to make some adjustments and it was easier to do it ourselves.
 
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