peeling leather wrapped steering wheel??

[Cummins Cowboy]

my '06 has about 60k on it and the steering wheel leather is already peeling and getting ruff, same thing my old '02 did, I think dodge uses the cheapest leather they can find, I already think the wheel is too thick so to me adding a padded cover isn't an option. are you guys seeing this?? and is there any type of refurbishment available

 

[champspa]

one of the things on mine that has lasted longer than my expectations . none of the other stuff did

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

It has taken over 400,000 miles for the leather to get rough on the '96. The leather wrap from Geno's looked pretty good in the catalog but they don't have a very good picture here WHEELSKINS - LEATHER STEERING WHEEL COVER ('05-'09 DODGE)-Dodge Cummins and Ford Power Stroke Diesel Truck Accessories - Geno's Garage

 

[Shelby Griggs]

I put a Wheelskin on my 2001 when new just to avoid the problem, next owner will still have a new looking OEM wheel. I am not sure if there is any fix once it goes bad, short of replacing the wheel.



SHG

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Lots of guys sorta tend to regard the leather on their steering wheels in the same category as a pair of leather work gloves, or a football! I tend to regard and treat mine like a fine leather jacket - or at least like the steering wheel in a Mercedes or Rolls Royce...



I've applied "Tanner's Choice" leather treatment and preservative MANY times to my leather covered steering wheel - at least twice a year, more often if it looks to need it. I keep greasy/dirty hands off of it, I don't wear a ring, or hold tools in my hands while driving. In return, my steering wheel still looks like new...



I had a leather covered wheel and seat upholstery in both my 'vette, and the '98 Camaro SS - and both received the same sort of respect and care - and looked it!

 

[HBarlow]

In my experience OEM quality has been excellent. Service life probably results from use and care or lack of. The OEM leather wheel on my '01 Ram with 350k is still fine and in the family and the '06 wheel was fine with 230k when I sold it.

 

[ENafziger]

I think it all comes down to how you use the truck. I have to work out of my truck frequently, cutting trees, hauling firewood, doing dirtwork, etc. Even when you're careful, it's just not feasible to stop and wash your hands everytime you jump in the truck.

That being said, I've applied leather cleaner and conditioner to my steering wheel about every 3 months since new, and still had evidence of flaking/pitting.

I ordered a Wheelskins cover, with the two tone charcoal/gray color scheme, and it turned out amazing!

--Eric

 

[Cummins Cowboy]

I don't see why they insist on putting leather on the wheels, my truck is only 2. 5 yrs old and has 60k on it, the leather peeling this early under any condition is stupid, I will never buy another dodge with a leather wrapped wheel. the wheel is too think anyways as it is

 

[Bill Stockard]

In my experience OEM quality has been excellent. Service life probably results from use and care or lack of. The OEM leather wheel on my '01 Ram with 350k is still fine and in the family and the '06 wheel was fine with 230k when I sold it.

And the leather wheel matches the leather seats. I've owned three Dodge trucks with leather covered steering wheels and leather seats. The previous two, when sold, the leather wheels and seats still looked like new. I regularly clean and condition the leather wheel and the seats.



However, Dodge should offer non-leather steering wheels for those who don't want them. I don't think leather steering wheels belong in a work truck.



Bill

 

[Cummins Cowboy]

I would gladly trade the cheap leather on the steering wheel for some decent cloth on the seats instead of the recycled canvas they are using these days that stains with anything on it

 

[HBarlow]

I would gladly trade the cheap leather on the steering wheel for some decent cloth on the seats instead of the recycled canvas they are using these days that stains with anything on it

The seat fabric is worn thin but not failed on the outside edge of the driver's seat of my formerly owned '01 Dodge with 350k after eight years and thousands of slide-in, slide-out cycles of my rear end on the seat but overall the entire interior still looks great. All the gauges and electrics still work like new as well. My '06 with 230k still looked like showroom new when I sold it.

Your experiences with your Dodge are very different than my own.

Maybe you should have ordered your Dodge with the cast iron trim option for extra hard use and abuse.

 

[Cummins Cowboy]

The seat fabric is worn thin but not failed on the outside edge of the driver's seat of my formerly owned '01 Dodge with 350k after eight years and thousands of slide-in, slide-out cycles of my rear end on the seat but overall the entire interior still looks great. All the gauges and electrics still work like new as well. My '06 with 230k still looked like showroom new when I sold it.



Your experiences with your Dodge are very different than my own.



Maybe you should have ordered your Dodge with the cast iron trim option for extra hard use and abuse.

if you put that many miles on an '06 by now, it must see a bunch of highway use, I loved the seat material and plastic that was in my '02 however, this '06 just seems cheap, can anyone honestly say the seat fabric that comes in the '06 and later trucks is something that has a place in a truck that cost well over 30k?? the material looks like its out of the base ST model, the velvety material that was used for years worked just fine and also cleans up well.



the plastic on my '06 scratches with your fingernail, or anything that does much more than touch it, the seat belt doesn't retract, the ball joints went out, they put known crappy ball joints in all the trucks, maybe this is why chrysler is about to fold, the products they made in the past, even the earlier 3rd gens where alot more quality

 

[HBarlow]

Yes, I did put 230k miles on the '06 in less than two years, almost all were loaded to overloaded highway miles.

All three of my Dodge Rams have been SLT with the upgraded seating option. I've been very well pleased with the appearance and wearability of all three.

Some folks are harder on trucks than I am.

 

[VLopresti]

My issue was/is my obsession with anti-bacterial gel (Purell). I used to keep a bottle in the dash and use it constantly. I think the alcohol in the gel was ate the leather on my wheel. I now have a black Wheelskins cover from Geno's. Like an earlier poster, I like how it looks on the gray wheel..... plus I no longer carry Purell in the truck.....

 

[Buffalo]

I have an '03 that was purchased on 12/31/02 & has the leather wrapped wheel. I live in Phoenix, AZ. (desert conditions) & the truck has to be parked outside at all times. Since day one, I have covered the steering wheel with a cover made of the same material used to make dash covers & I use it whenever the truck is not being driven. The windows are tinted, also.

I, regularly, apply Obenauf's Heavy Duty Leather Preservative to the wheel that I got from White's Boots in Spokane, WA. White's makes custom, hand-made boots & recommends the Obenauf's for leather treatment. Seriously, I don't know what else to do to extend the live expectancy of the leather cover.



Not long after purchasing the truck, the outer skin of the leather cover started coming/peeling off exposing a textured leather that looks like the cover of a football. It's mostly in the area where my hands contact the wheel. I wonder if I have more acids in my skin than others? Not sure if that's the problem, or not.



My '91. 5 W-250, which, I purchased new in 8/91 has the vinyl/plastic wheel & it still looks good with 183,000 miles on it & not one day in the garage. It gets covered, also, when not in use. I doubt the '03's wheel will last nearly as long judging from the way it looks now. Sure wish I had the plastic wheel in the '03!!!!!



What is the advantage of the leather wheel, anyway? Seems to me that it is just something more to prematurely wear out. I worry about the longevity of this wheel everytime I look at it. Never did that with the '91's wheel.



Joe F.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

While the leather covered wheel on my truck is still in excellent condition, I have to agree that leather covered steering wheels primarily intended or used for serious work is not the best choice - better installed in upper class passenger vehicles. The best wheels in my vehicle past, have been the vinyl covered ones - great "grip" and texture - and never have had any wear issues with them - OR felt they needed any special care or treatment...

 

[RHestand]

I have worn through the leather steering whl. covers on two consecutive new 1990s trucks (ferds) within the first two years of purchase.

My wife's leather covers on all her various cars, over past 35+ yrs. , always look almost new.

She has nice soft ladies hands.

I have rough, calloused, sand paper rough, carpenter hands.

Do I think trucks just use cheap leather? Maybe?

Solution:I just buy cheap covers from Auto Zone, and throw them away, when worn out.

Last two new trucks? No problem.

Fat steering wheel? I get used to it.

Ray

 

[Jack in Alaska]

I recently installed a black wheel skin from Geno's on my truck. Aside from taking a long time to lace it up properly it looks great and I like it alot after getting used to the larger feel of it.

That was a relatively cheap solution to a really minor problem.

I would suggest that if you don't like much about your truck that would be the time to buy another brand so you can have a direct comparison. Just a suggestion.

 

[R.Taylor]

I replaced the wheel on my 06, The previous owner has some rubber type of cover over it which made the leather kind of gooey / mushy and very stained. $327 from the dealership... Took 25 minutes from start to finish... No puller needed.