What happens when you buy a brand-new 2025 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport and decide to install new seat covers to protect the interior? We’ll tell you: your worst nightmare. That’s exactly what Jill Todd found out, a first-time owner who never imagined her first upgrade would require acrobatics, brute force, and a good sense of humor to keep going. Her story has gone viral among fans of the model, precisely because no one expected something so simple to turn out so complicated.
Jill wanted to protect the fabric seats in her new Tacoma and upgrade the interior look with synthetic leather covers. She found an attractive and affordable model, the ERK Coverdream Custom Leather, and decided to install them herself. But what seemed like a straightforward process turned into a full-on wrestling match with the interior of the vehicle. Now her experience serves as a warning (or comfort) to other owners thinking about doing the same.
Buying a Tacoma and wanting to upgrade it… at what cost?
The switch from the 4Runner to the Tacoma
Jill says she traded her 2023 Toyota 4Runner, which she thought was beautiful but not practical, for a 2025 Tacoma TRD Sport. She needed a truck with a bed and towing capacity to haul a small camper, and after comparing several models, she found the perfect Tacoma. Like many people, her first step was to protect the new seats with durable, easy-to-clean covers.
A seemingly smart choice
The ERK Coverdream covers seemed like a great option: synthetic leather, nice design, reasonable price ($155 on sale), and a complete kit with instructions, tools, and a video tutorial. The manufacturer promised a perfect fit and an easy installation. Nothing suggested what was coming. When something that looks easy becomes a mission impossible…
The installation that nearly ended in disaster
From the moment she started, Jill realized it wasn’t going to be that easy. The instructions said she could leave the original seats in, but the fit was so tight that she briefly considered removing them. Soon she found herself kneeling on the seats, pushing down with all her weight to create a little room.
“I’d rather mow a lawn on a hill in 104°F heat with two broken legs than install these covers alone again” Jill wrote in a Tacoma owners group, earning applause, laughter, and instant sympathy.
Was the result worth it?
Once installed, Jill wasn’t entirely sure about the aesthetic result. She asked for opinions, exhausted and hoping the effort had been worth it. And yes, the community responded. Many agreed they looked good, even high-end, and pointed out how much easier they are to clean compared to the original fabric seats.
Beyond the covers: what’s next for Jill and her Tacoma
The story doesn’t end there. Jill wants to install a brake controller for her trailer, but she’s hit more roadblocks. Her TRD Sport doesn’t come with one, and neither the dealership nor Toyota’s phone support have been able to help. The manual discourages third-party parts, but Jill doesn’t have many other options.
Will she install it herself too?
After the seat cover ordeal, it’s clear Jill would rather avoid another DIY project. The lesson seems obvious: some upgrades are better left to professionals, if only for the sake of your back… and your patience.
A story that mirrors many others
Jill’s case isn’t unique. More and more pickup and SUV owners are opting for at-home upgrades, relying on online tutorials. But what seems easy in a video can get complicated in real life. And without the right tools or experience, the process becomes a true test of endurance.