Steering wheel controls
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Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 6,096
Likes: 27
From: Mesa AZ
Steering wheel controls
I love my truck, glad I bought it and would probably never buy another brand again. The only real complaint I have is that my steering wheel controls for the cruise control are practically useless. Cruise Control switches are about the most rarely used buttons in the whole cab! And when I do use it, I set it and forget it for quite a while. I would rather have radio controls or climate control buttons on the steering wheel instead. Especially since my truck is so bouncy that it's hard to adjust the radio without hitting the wrong button or turning the radio up too loud.
My question:
Do any Super Duty Pickups come with radio or AC controls on the wheel? If so, how hard would it be to retrofit the steering column to my truck.
Option B. Don't Excursions come with steering wheel radio controls? Could I use one of those columns in my truck? Has anybody else tried this? Maybe it's much harder than I realize....but then again, maybe not. Any thoughts out there?
Thanks in advance for your input.
My question:
Do any Super Duty Pickups come with radio or AC controls on the wheel? If so, how hard would it be to retrofit the steering column to my truck.
Option B. Don't Excursions come with steering wheel radio controls? Could I use one of those columns in my truck? Has anybody else tried this? Maybe it's much harder than I realize....but then again, maybe not. Any thoughts out there?
Thanks in advance for your input.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 12,253
Likes: 763
From: Houston, Texas
Yes, the Excursions do have that lovely feature you need. But I don't think they ever decided to put it on any of the F-250s or F-350s. I went to a dealership about 2 or 3 weeks ago and test drove a 2003 F-250. The salesman I rode with said that they never offered the option for the F-250 or the F-350. You could probably retrofit, but I'm not sure if that's even an option.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 6,096
Likes: 27
From: Mesa AZ
Cool! Thanks Toreador....
At least now I know that Ford does have a steering wheel with the stuff I want. The Excursions must be farily heavy duty like the Super Duty pickups, right? I would think that Ford would use the same type of steeing column for both vehicles. When you test drove the F250....did you notice if the radio was about the same size and were the AC/Heater controls about the same as well? Here is my thinking.....
I might be able to find a wrecked Excursion at a local salvage yard. Of course the airbag will need to be replaced....but maybe the steering wheel, controls, wiring harness, radio and AC/Heater controls would swap over with not too many modifications. I gues my next concern would be where to put my cruise control? Do the Excursions have the cruise control buttons on the steering wheel also? Or do they put is on the turn signal stock or some other location?
One more question.....
Do you know which years the Excursions were offered with these wheels?
Thanks again....this sounds like a very interesting project!
At least now I know that Ford does have a steering wheel with the stuff I want. The Excursions must be farily heavy duty like the Super Duty pickups, right? I would think that Ford would use the same type of steeing column for both vehicles. When you test drove the F250....did you notice if the radio was about the same size and were the AC/Heater controls about the same as well? Here is my thinking.....
I might be able to find a wrecked Excursion at a local salvage yard. Of course the airbag will need to be replaced....but maybe the steering wheel, controls, wiring harness, radio and AC/Heater controls would swap over with not too many modifications. I gues my next concern would be where to put my cruise control? Do the Excursions have the cruise control buttons on the steering wheel also? Or do they put is on the turn signal stock or some other location?
One more question.....
Do you know which years the Excursions were offered with these wheels?
Thanks again....this sounds like a very interesting project!
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 12,253
Likes: 763
From: Houston, Texas
It sounds like you have a good idea. They steering wheels were first offered on the 2002 line of Excursions. As far as things being the same inside the cab, it appears to be the same. But I could be wrong, check around if you can. The cruise control was located on the steering wheel, but all of the controls where on the left side of the steering wheel instead of on the right. The radio as well as the A/C controls were located on the right side. I think that the 2002 steering wheel will probably work with a little re-wiring. Best of luck to ya.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 6,096
Likes: 27
From: Mesa AZ
I'm going to do some salvage yard searching this weekend if it doesn't rain all the time. I'll repost the results if I move forward. My next move is to talk to my uncle, since he works for Ford he can probably wiring schematics as well as parts for employee cost. I think I'm going to try it. 2002 Excursions and forward....got it! Thanks again.
Greg
Greg
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