King Ranch seats have always been some of the nicest seats that Ford has produced. On day one the seats were bright, soft, and had a natural feel. Fast forward 10 or 15 years and the seats have begun their unsightly exquisite aging process losing their original appeal. After years of use the seats can become quite seasoned, and without proper care the seats are sure to become worthless. Check out these photos below showing what CAN happen to King Ranch leather if it's left untreated.
Whether you are a current owner, or if you're just looking into doing a King Ranch Conversion, there are a few basics to King Ranch Care that you need to know.
- The product you use matters. There's a big difference between the Brands you find at Walmart and the specialty products you can find online. King Ranch even sells their own special King Ranch Leather Conditioner, we tried it but it is over priced and didn't give us the expected results.
- Our recommendation: Chemical Guys Leather Care Products. The Cleaner & Conditioner are used first, and then use the Protective Serum to finalize the job.
- This isn't a once a year deal. We recommend a good cleaning every 3-6 months depending on use and climate.
- While you're conditioning your seats, they may change color. 1999-2007 Super Duty and 1997-2008 Ford F-150 King Ranch leather will turn almost black. This is normal until they dry.
- If your leather has a red hue to it, as seen in the 2008-2011 Super Duty, it will darken but it won't turn black.
For more reading and product suggestions on this topic, see this forum post on AutoGeek.
Here is an actual excerpt from a 2005 F250 King Ranch Owners Guide:
LEATHER SEATS FOR THE KING RANCH F-250 AND F-350
CREWCAB ONLY (IF EQUIPPED)
Your vehicle is equipped with seating covered in premium, top-grain
leather which is extremely durable, but still requires special care and
maintenance in order to ensure longevity and comfort.
2005 F250/350/450/550 (f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA_English (fus)
Cleaning
244
Regular cleaning and conditioning will maintain the appearance of the
leather. Failure to care for the leather can result in drying out and fading
of the material.
For dirt, use a vacuum cleaner then use a clean, damp cloth or soft
brush.
First use a damp cloth then wipe with a dry cloth. Allow the area to dry,
then apply conditioner.
• Clean spills as quickly as possible.
• Test any cleaner or stain remover on an inconspicuous part of the
leather as cleaners may darken the leather. For more specific cleaning
information, contact the King Ranch Saddle Shop at 1–800–282–KING
(5464).
• Do not spill coffee, ketchup, mustard, orange juice or oil-based
products on the leather as they may permanently stain the leather.
• Do not use household cleaning products, alcohol solutions, solvents or
cleaners intended for rubber, vinyl or plastics.
Scratches
In order to lessen the appearance of certain scratches and other wear
marks, apply conditioner on the affected area following the same
instructions as in the Conditioning section.
Conditioning
Bottles of King Ranch Leather Conditioner are available at the King
Ranch Saddle Shop. If you are unable to obtain King Ranch Leather Conditioner, use another premium leather conditioner.
• Apply your first conditioning treatment within six months of taking
delivery of your vehicle. Condition twice yearly in order to replenish
lost oils and revitalize the aroma, suppleness and resilience of the
leather.
• Clean the surfaces using the steps outlined in the Cleaning section.
• Ensure the leather is dry then apply a nickel-sized amount of
conditioner to a clean, dry cloth
• Rub the conditioner into leather until it disappears. Allow the
conditioner to dry and repeat the process for the entire interior. If a
film appears, wipe off film with a dry, clean cloth.
2005 F250/350/450/550 (f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA_English (fus)
Cleaning
245
How that's some time consuming maintenance.