Steering Wheel Cover
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Joined: Apr 2002
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,022
Likes: 79
From: A dirty little town in OR
Mine is (reportedly) in the mailbox as of today. I'll get it put on this weekend.
I've done the same thing as @BigBlue2 said, ie; put a nicer-looking (and feeling) leather cover over a cheaper, padded vinyl one. That was because the wheel itself was too skinny to allow proper lacing... the edges overlapped too much. Depending on the fit of this new one, l may have to do it again but I'd rather not... l like the skinny wheel.
I've done the same thing as @BigBlue2 said, ie; put a nicer-looking (and feeling) leather cover over a cheaper, padded vinyl one. That was because the wheel itself was too skinny to allow proper lacing... the edges overlapped too much. Depending on the fit of this new one, l may have to do it again but I'd rather not... l like the skinny wheel.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,022
Likes: 79
From: A dirty little town in OR
The only advantage l have is that the PO didn't care about the truck enough to paint the dash, so the usable bits are the factory color... it'll be a little easier to clean and possiby paint to match the new bits.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,363
Likes: 1,258
Mine is (reportedly) in the mailbox as of today. I'll get it put on this weekend.
I've done the same thing as @BigBlue2 said, ie; put a nicer-looking (and feeling) leather cover over a cheaper, padded vinyl one. That was because the wheel itself was too skinny to allow proper lacing... the edges overlapped too much. Depending on the fit of this new one, l may have to do it again but I'd rather not... l like the skinny wheel.
I've done the same thing as @BigBlue2 said, ie; put a nicer-looking (and feeling) leather cover over a cheaper, padded vinyl one. That was because the wheel itself was too skinny to allow proper lacing... the edges overlapped too much. Depending on the fit of this new one, l may have to do it again but I'd rather not... l like the skinny wheel.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,022
Likes: 79
From: A dirty little town in OR
Mine showed up too. It fits (diameter), but I'm going to need to pad the wheel in order to get it stitched-up... gotta build some girth so the edges don't overlap so much.
It looks like a nice cover, plenty supple, not too shiny. I may get a second one to to have around when this one wears out.
It looks like a nice cover, plenty supple, not too shiny. I may get a second one to to have around when this one wears out.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,363
Likes: 1,258
My width is just about perfect for the wrap around the now double covered wheel so I didn't want to remove a cover to make the diameter around the wheel a bit easier to get on. Hence the prestretch on the 12.5 ton jack! I gave it a pretty good stretch over night and I was almost able to get it on. So back on the "rack" as uncle Festus used to say. I'm paying attention to the sewn seam while stretching. I'm putting tension on the cover till the seam begins to separate a bit and no more. You don't want to breach the seam! I'll leave it under tension for another 24 hours before trying again. It's gonna be a good tight fit for me all around. If you get the amazon one there is a chart with wheel diameter and girth. So measure both before ordering.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,022
Likes: 79
From: A dirty little town in OR
My width is just about perfect for the wrap around the now double covered wheel so I didn't want to remove a cover to make the diameter around the wheel a bit easier to get on. Hence the prestretch on the 12.5 ton jack! I gave it a pretty good stretch over night and I was almost able to get it on. So back on the "rack" as uncle Festus used to say. I'm paying attention to the sewn seam while stretching. I'm putting tension on the cover till the seam begins to separate a bit and no more. You don't want to breach the seam! I'll leave it under tension for another 24 hours before trying again. It's gonna be a good tight fit for me all around. If you get the amazon one there is a chart with wheel diameter and girth. So measure both before ordering.
I like the stretching rack you put together. Looks medieval.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2002
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Did you use any kind of leather conditioner to loosen it up? Neatsfoot oil can help loosen up the leather, but you have to be careful w that stuff... l never use it on formed or molded leather (like a holster or gunbelt) because it breaks down the fibers and can ruin the piece by making it TOO soft. But on something like this it should be fine. If l have a problem with fit after the initial wrap (cover) I'll try it or some other leather conditioner goo that l have around.
I like the stretching rack you put together. Looks medieval.
I like the stretching rack you put together. Looks medieval.
I decided not to use conditioners as it might make the cover slippery and I'm having issues pulling the cover on so my grip might slip. I'm opting for the rack for now. Igor, give it another knotch!
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2002
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Using the "rack" and putting some tension on the cover was gaining me ground on getting the cover on but still I couldn't get it on easily. So I decided to get scientific and measure the the stretched length on the rack and then stretched it until it was about an inch longer than my wheel circumference. Took it off the rack and immediately tried to install it. It does spring back so even though I got it on there it still took some effort.
With the stretching longitudinal there is a corresponding shrinkage transversely so now I'm concerned about the width being adequate to close the gap! Maybe I should have removed one layer of covers after all!
I'm thinking of going with the baseball style of stitching in hopes that I can get the gap closed. But maybe straight stitching can get it just as tight? I'll have to experiment with it today and see if I can get it stitched up!
With the stretching longitudinal there is a corresponding shrinkage transversely so now I'm concerned about the width being adequate to close the gap! Maybe I should have removed one layer of covers after all!
I'm thinking of going with the baseball style of stitching in hopes that I can get the gap closed. But maybe straight stitching can get it just as tight? I'll have to experiment with it today and see if I can get it stitched up!
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2002
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WARNING!!!!!!
Before installing your steering wheel cover be sure to check that all the holes are punched through! Otherwise you can find out the hard way that some on the backside of the cover are not punched through and you can stand on your head like I'm doing now trying to punch holes through with a sharp tool. You can't push the blunt needle included through those spots.
SO CHECK THE HOLES ARE THROUGH FIRST!!!
Before installing your steering wheel cover be sure to check that all the holes are punched through! Otherwise you can find out the hard way that some on the backside of the cover are not punched through and you can stand on your head like I'm doing now trying to punch holes through with a sharp tool. You can't push the blunt needle included through those spots.
SO CHECK THE HOLES ARE THROUGH FIRST!!!
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2002
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Got it done today. Took longer than I expected, who said 20 minutes?
That cover is over the faux leather plus a real leather cover. The wheel definitely is fatter now. Feels good and looks good too. I used a different waxed thread than what came with the cover. The thread is thicker and stronger because I broke the rules and pulled like a madman to get the cover to close! Those of you that got the amazon cover will know what I'm talking about.
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
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From: Angier, NC
Wow, Dave... you're interior used to be about as jacked as mine is currently. What's it look like now?
The only advantage l have is that the PO didn't care about the truck enough to paint the dash, so the usable bits are the factory color... it'll be a little easier to clean and possiby paint to match the new bits.
The only advantage l have is that the PO didn't care about the truck enough to paint the dash, so the usable bits are the factory color... it'll be a little easier to clean and possiby paint to match the new bits.
Dave ----