2025 Toyota Tacoma Owner Says, “I Would Rather Push-Mow a Hill In 105 Degree Heat with 2 Broken Legs, Than to Ever Install Seat Covers Again”

Imagine buying a new 2025 Toyota Tacoma pickup, and you dislike the factory seats so much that you have to install seat covers. More likely, she just wants to protect her new seats.

Jill Todd, who recently purchased a 2025 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport pickup, decided to put aftermarket seat covers on her new pickup. It turned out to be a nightmare. 

She says in a Toyota Tacoma Owners Facebook post,

"I would rather push mow a hill on a 105-degree day with two broken legs than EVER install seat covers in my new Toyota Tacoma by myself again."

Jill is a first-time Toyota Tacoma and first-time truck owner.

She says, "Last weekend, I made the practical decision to trade my 2023 4Runner in on a 2025 Tacoma TRD Sport. My 4Runner was beautiful but useless for my daily needs. I need a truck bed and the ability to pull a small camper." 

"After looking at several models, test driving, comparing, etc., I finally narrowed it down to the one I wanted."

Now, she has a new Tacoma and wants to install seat covers. 

She doesn't say why she installed the seat covers, but most people want to protect their original seats. She shows before and after pictures (below) of the 2025 Tacoma she installed with fabric seats. She likely wanted the leather seat look.

After extensive research and comparison, she chose the ERK Cover seat covers for their quality, price, and the leather-like appearance she desired.

So, she ordered the Coverdream fit Custom Leather seat covers online. The cost of the seat covers for her Tacoma was only $155.99 on sale (regular price is $359.99), and that is a complete set that includes front and rear seat covers, headrest covers, a manual tutorial (video tutorial), and installation tools.

ERK says, "These seat covers are made of high-quality leather-like material, designed to provide a snug fit and enhance the interior of the Tacoma."

That's an excellent price for a complete set of seat covers. 

Imagine your new seat covers arriving by UPS and then spending a Saturday installing your new Tacoma seat covers. 

The ERK Cover website says, "Our seat covers come with a 2-year after-sales service and are designed for DIY installation. While some effort may be required to achieve a snug fit, the included video tutorial and installation tools make the process straightforward."

However, it's never as easy as they say.

Jill has to work hard at installing them. It was more complicated than she thought. 

She says, "My directions said I could leave the factory ones on, but I did consider removing them because it was such a difficult and tight fit."

It's a good thing she didn't remove the original factory seat covers because then she would have had real problems. 

Jill says. "The hardest part was how tight the space is between the back of the seat and the seat itself." 

"I think having smaller hands than a man may have been to my advantage, but at one point, I was sitting on my knees facing the back of the seat, trying to use my entire body weight to create more space."

Now Jill wants feedback on her ERK seat cover installation. 

"Now that they are on, I'm not sure I even chose the best look. So someone, please tell me that they look good because it was a labor of love that required a great deal of acrobatic moves to complete, and I do not want to change them now," she says, a hint of relief in her voice.

Here are the before and after pics for comparison, she says. 

Before she installed seat covers

Jill's new seat covers

She says, "I chose these in hopes it would 'elevate' the interior."

She gets the feedback she wanted.

Danny Guebara - They don't look bad. It seems like something that should be in a high-end model. But I don't think you made a bad choice.

Marc Auster - They look good. If it makes you feel any better, mine took me FOREVER to put on. In fact, at one point, I almost gave up. I even invented a few new curse words, according to my wife. All of my cars have or had leather interiors. These are not leather, but I like the way they look compared to the material seats. And my material seats always showed some dirt. These don't show much dirt and are super easy to clean, and they do look nice. You'll like how easy they are to keep clean.

What Do You Think?

Should Jill leave them on or take them off? Did she accomplish her mission of "elevating the 2025 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport interior? 

"It's the first upgrade that I've made to my 2025 TRD Sport. I already like how easily they clean up, and they are super comfortable, too," she concludes. 

Next, Jill is going to install a brake controller so she can pull a small camper. 

"But now I realize my TRD Sport doesn't come with the brake controller. I feel so silly that I didn't notice that and just assumed that it was included." 

"The Toyota dealership doesn't have a part number, and the 1-800 number was answered by a useless human who had zero answers or advice." 

"The manual warns against anything aftermarket, but I need a brake controller."

In The End

Hopefully, Jill will have a new brake controller installed on her 2025 Tacoma TRD Sport by the Toyota dealer and not try to make it a DIY project. 

How About You?

Have you ever installed seat covers on your Tacoma? We'd like to hear about your experience. Would you do it again? If so, click the red Add New Comment link below and let us know. 

Check out my Toyota Tacoma story: Only 148 Miles In, My 2024 Toyota Tacoma Blew a Front Tire, the Dealer In a Rush, Didn’t Check the Tire Pressure Off the Transport Truck

I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Reporter since 2012. My 30+ year tenure in the automotive industry, initially in a consulting role with every major car brand and later as a freelance journalist test-driving new vehicles, has equipped me with a wealth of knowledge. I specialize in reporting the latest automotive news, covering owner stories, and providing expert analysis, ensuring that you are always well-informed and up-to-date. Follow me on X @DenisFlierl, @WorldsCoolestRides, Facebook, and Instagram

Photo credit: Denis Flierl, Jill Todd