Custom Interior In A 2007 Chevy Colorado - Custom Interior Made Easy

Part One: Making The Covers
Aptly named the Hall o' Death, Roadwire's leather-storage room is large enough to store multiple hides of the same color to ensure the seats have a uniform appearance. Roadwire only uses automotive-spec leather that meets or exceeds OEM standards.

1. Before being put into production, each hide is given a meticulous once-over to find any defects such as scars or holes.

2. To maximize usage, the hide is cut on a computer-controlled cutting machine. Each pattern is stored in the computer and brought up only when needed, removing the need for stacks of hard patterns.

3. Once all of the pieces are cut, they are bonded to special foam that helps install the cover later and keep it smooth. Also, the company uses a special glue gun that shoots non-VOC glue, helping the environment. The glue is applied to the edges only. This allows the material to lie flatter over uneven surfaces.

4. Besides being glued, the edges are also sewn to lock the two pieces together and also aid in sewing the pieces together later. This is where any detail stitching or piping is added to the seat. Roadwire offers 25-plus stitching colors and just about any piping color you can think of.

5. Once all of the pieces come together, the covers are given a compete inspection. If any defect is found, it is either fixed or replaced before being boxed up for shipping. With this kind of quality assurance, Roadwire offers a 3-year warranty on the interiors.

Part Two: The Teardown
1. To install the covers, the seats were removed from the truck and the backrest separated from the cushion. Starting with the backrest, the trimmer unsnapped the lower plastic J-hook strip and peeled back the cover, turning it inside out. The sides of the insert are held on with a hook-and-loop-type fastening system, so it's a good idea to stick your hand up inside the cover and tear it apart before trying to turn the cover inside out.

2. Toward the top of the cover, you'll run into hog rings, which need to come off. A set of side-cutting pliers and a twisting motion is the best way to remove the hog rings. This same process is repeated anywhere you run into a hog ring (like on the cushion).