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Lonky Leather Steering Wheel Cover, 12 month update.

Discussion in 'General Tundra Discussion' started by bvia, Jan 15, 2020.

  1. Jan 15, 2020 at 6:30 PM
    #1
    bvia

    bvia [OP] New Member

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    A little over 12 months (installed in December 2018) and through a north Texas summer and the cover is holding up perfectly with no visible wear and no rips, tears, frays, etc. Best value for the money AFAIC.
    2020-01-09 (1).jpg 2020-01-09 (2).jpg 2020-01-09 (3).jpg 2020-01-09 (4).jpg 2020-01-09 (5).jpg

    Again, best money spent to upgrade the feel behind the wheel of your OEM non-leather steering wheel.
    B

    p.s. Here's a link to my original post from December 2018.
    https://www.tundras.com/threads/wha...r-2nd-gen-tundra-today.68/page-94#post-928591
     
    Last edited: Jan 15, 2020
    rebmo, KarmaKannon, Mcoop and 5 others like this.
  2. Jan 15, 2020 at 6:40 PM
    #2
    Jrharvey02

    Jrharvey02 New Member

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    How’d you get one for a 2nd gen? Looking at Loncky’s website, they only have 2014+ covers...
     
  3. Jan 15, 2020 at 6:46 PM
    #3
    bvia

    bvia [OP] New Member

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  4. Jan 15, 2020 at 6:58 PM
    #4
    SouthWestGA

    SouthWestGA New Member

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    How long did it take to sew on??
     
  5. Jan 15, 2020 at 6:59 PM
    #5
    MotoTundra

    MotoTundra The Ocho

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    -TRS Mini D2S Retrofit on TRD Pro Headlights (Apollo 2.0 Shrouds, 35w XB Ballasts, 5500k Bulbs) -Baja Designs Squadron R Sport Aux lights. -TRD Pro Grill -TRD Rear Sway Bar -BakFlip VP Tonneau w/BakBox -Dipped wheels & bumpers -Iron Cross HD steps -Undercover Swingcase -SunTek Paint Protection film -Tinted glass -Bedmat -OEM Towing Mirrors
    Looks great!
     
  6. Jan 15, 2020 at 7:00 PM
    #6
    bvia

    bvia [OP] New Member

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    Total time about 4 hours including removing and replacing steering wheel. Easily done in a day.
     
  7. Jan 15, 2020 at 7:01 PM
    #7
    vhstejskal

    vhstejskal New Member

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    That looks really good. :cool:
     
  8. Jan 15, 2020 at 7:17 PM
    #8
    Beau

    Beau De gustibus non est disputandum

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    They also do custom colors via their website. I'm extremely happy with mine as well and glad to see that it will hold up!IMG_5535.jpgIMG_6804.jpgIMG_4565.jpg
     
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  9. Jan 15, 2020 at 8:19 PM
    #9
    SouthWestGA

    SouthWestGA New Member

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    Maybe somebody needs to start a side business where they sew these things on for people who can’t sew on a steering wheel all day haha
     
    Beau likes this.
  10. Jan 15, 2020 at 8:34 PM
    #10
    Beau

    Beau De gustibus non est disputandum

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    I'll do it....$50 an hour. Oh, it's a 8hr job....lol. Really though, just put on your favorite tunes or video and get at it. It's not too hard, just tedious.....and your fingers will be sore for a few days.
     
    TheBeast likes this.
  11. Jan 16, 2020 at 6:10 AM
    #11
    bvia

    bvia [OP] New Member

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    Technically your lacing the covering onto the wheel, not sewing...;-)> Pretty simple if you follow the instructions (see their YouTube channel!).
    hth,
    B
     
  12. Jan 16, 2020 at 2:25 PM
    #12
    Jrharvey02

    Jrharvey02 New Member

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    any advice for those that will be attempting this when their package arrives in a couple weeks:anonymous:?

    I’ve seen to not use tape in certain areas?
    You used glue on the “spoke”(?) areas whereas their video shows a dude cramming the excess material into the crack with a plastic tool? Did you have to trim material?
    I’m assuming the warmer the better for temperature, did you do anything drastic like use hot water or hair dryer, etc?
    Any useful additional supplies besides glue?
    Thanks for the info, yours looks great.
    I’m going off this video...
    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uQQulN1n7S4
     
  13. Jan 16, 2020 at 5:50 PM
    #13
    KarmaKannon

    KarmaKannon Master of None

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    I did a different chinesium wrap on my 1st gen and what I learned about 2 hours in is that I should have removed the wheel. What a pain it was to try and do the area around the spokes without having a great angle or lighting. I need to redo it and I'm expecting now I can have the whole thing done in 3 hours with removal of the wheel. Maybe that's optimistic, but at least I know I'll make it look better with the freaking wheel off the vehicle this time.
     
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  14. Jan 16, 2020 at 6:19 PM
    #14
    Beau

    Beau De gustibus non est disputandum

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    I left my wheel on and used a lot of the double sided tape that it came with all over it. What I didn't do was use it enough on the backside of the spokes. This is probably why the OP used glue there, which is what I thought about after the fact. Possibly injecting some glue in that area to help hold the leather tighter on the back of the spokes (this may damage the leather underneath though). Overall, I am happy with the product. No need for any trimming, it's sized just right. No drastic tools or techniques...besides time. I think you guys are psyching yourselves out a little bit about the job, it's not too difficult. BTW, that video is the one I watched and followed. Good luck:)
     
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  15. Jan 16, 2020 at 6:38 PM
    #15
    Jrharvey02

    Jrharvey02 New Member

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    Are you gonna throw the wheel in a vice or what?
     
  16. Jan 16, 2020 at 6:49 PM
    #16
    KarmaKannon

    KarmaKannon Master of None

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    Maybe, but I bet I can get it done just sitting on a table.
     
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  17. Jan 16, 2020 at 6:50 PM
    #17
    Jrharvey02

    Jrharvey02 New Member

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    Would you have used the glue mid-install and then just waited a bit for it to cure?
     
  18. Jan 16, 2020 at 6:51 PM
    #18
    Jrharvey02

    Jrharvey02 New Member

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    On my table in my warm house sounds much better than in my garage in February. Think it’s possible?
     
  19. Jan 16, 2020 at 6:54 PM
    #19
    KarmaKannon

    KarmaKannon Master of None

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    For lighting alone I'd say yes. I had a couple lights in my truck going and I still had a hard time seeing around my spokes. The issue wasn't a bad lighting angle, the issue was that I needed ambient light. Not to mention trying to weave around spokes with only so many angle available was a pita. The flats areas were easy.
     
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  20. Jan 16, 2020 at 7:06 PM
    #20
    Beau

    Beau De gustibus non est disputandum

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    I wouldn't have used glue at all since it is too permanent. The double sided tape is more than enough, I just neglected to put it all over the back side of the spokes. The spokes have a bit of an indent on the back and without using some sort of adhesive or double sided tape it will be a little saggy....not bad though. Out of 10, I give my install a solid 8.
     
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  21. Jan 16, 2020 at 7:12 PM
    #21
    Jrharvey02

    Jrharvey02 New Member

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    Are you given more than enough tape or would some extra 3m be worth it?
     
  22. Jan 16, 2020 at 7:20 PM
    #22
    Beau

    Beau De gustibus non est disputandum

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    I had plenty of tape and thread left over. The tape is crucial on the spokes (front, back, and sides) and anywhere else that will sag despite tension (areas with a recess or indent). The rest of the wheel doesn't "need" tape but it is very helpful in maintaining proper placement as you are stitching. Hope this is clear....as mud;)
     
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  23. Jan 16, 2020 at 7:30 PM
    #23
    bvia

    bvia [OP] New Member

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    Take your time and have fun! It's cheap enough that if you totally screw things up you can just buy a second cover and begin again. Remember to degrease the wheel thoroughly before beginning. I used contact cement instead of any tape. Coat both sides of the part you want to glue down in small sections, wait for it to get tacky (read the directions on your bottle of contact cement) and then press the two surfaces together, rolling the leather down towards the inside of the spoke. I used no adhesive of any kind on the rim of my wheel. I utilized an old and dull bone folder (google) to help manipulate the leather into crevices and smooth as many wrinkles as I could (a facsimile of the plastic tool used in the video...you could use a plastic trim removal tool). I cut excess material that wouldn't be seen from under the airbag, after gluing. Mark the center of your steering wheel at the top and bottom and on the cover and pay attention to how your wheel's spokes orientate with the spoke "tabs" on the cover. Other than that, follow the Loncky video on how to lace the wheel on and have fun! I used no heat.
    hth,
    B

    p.s. cechaflo on YouTube has some great auto upholstery videos showing tools and techniques
     
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  24. Jan 16, 2020 at 8:05 PM
    #24
    Taco-Blender

    Taco-Blender Old Guys Rule

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    I put mine on almost 2 years ago (March 18) and 30k miles ago. I use Griot's leather cleaner/conditioner on it a few times a year and it looks pretty much the same today as it did then.

    The only tip I have that hasn't already been mentioned is to use a spring clamp on the stitching as you go along. This really helped to keep the stitching tight during the install.
    I just used the tape provided, no glue.

    Overall, it's a great addition and well worth the effort it takes to install.

    Here it is when I installed it. I'll take another pic tomorrow to show how it looks now.
    IMG_20180330_175949_01.jpg

    Edit: Here's a pic from this morning. Other than the thread fading a little I'd say it's holding up pretty good.

    IMG_20200117_090116612.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jan 17, 2020
    bvia[OP] and Jrharvey02 like this.
  25. Feb 3, 2020 at 11:34 AM
    #25
    Jrharvey02

    Jrharvey02 New Member

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    Thanks for the pointers guys, really was an easy job, especially with the tips. I taped the crap out of the spoke areas. So much so I ran low on tape near the end, but just on the flat parts that really don’t even need taped. Couple imperfections, my fault, but I’m super impressed with it. Feels just as nice as the wife’s qx80 steering wheel, looks waaaay better and more proportional (being fatter) in the enormous belly of the beast (interior). If we only had 2 chances to do this, my next will be perfect but that better be a long time down the road.
    23EAF506-F7D2-4941-B47E-40F59E3DD59E.jpg C732D8FA-696A-4968-A95F-0801F90DC8A8.jpg
     
    bvia[OP] and Beau like this.
  26. Feb 3, 2020 at 11:37 AM
    #26
    GravityGear

    GravityGear Parking Lot Prerunner

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    Mine is polished on the left side where i spin the wheel with my palm. Not too happy. I realize it's not factory leather, but it's only been a year... I've never had this happen on factory leather wheels before.
     
  27. Feb 3, 2020 at 11:39 AM
    #27
    Beau

    Beau De gustibus non est disputandum

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    Looks stock, great job! Huge upgrade!!
     
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