Leather OEM Steering Wheel Swap

[CRYA]

Hi guys, new to this forum but not to the 4R. About ready to pull the trigger on a TE and wanted to see if there's anyone out there since the last posts that actually swapped in an OE leather steering wheel for the Trail's rubber unit.
I've searched and haven't seen anything definitive. I'm looking for confirmation that it is possible because my local stealer is giving me the "no you can't, liability blah blah blah." I'm actually coming from an Audi wagon where the Audi guys pay top dollar for limited edition leather flat-bottom wheels sold on higher end Audis and those units were all plug-and-play.
I'm assuming it's the same for the 4R. Remove airbag, remove controls, reinstall, bingo!

I appreciate any help, and please don't hijack the thread and turn it into why not just wrap the rubber. I'd like to keep it OE and for now am exploring a full swap.

THANKS!

C

 

[TOYSTRY]

Nobody on the forum has done it yet from memory......I know it's been asked a couple times, but to my knowledge nobody has done it.

Being a LTD owner, I can tell you that the steering wheel leather looks very cheap and IMO not worth the swap. If I were in the market, I'd have it hand wrapped by someone out in town vice swapping it.

My .02 cents.

 

[CookieRoe]

I did a swap on my 3rd gen..........

Hello,

When I had my SURFs, I went with a company similar to this one.
TrimStop - Leather Steering Wheels, Wood Steering and Custom Steering Wheels
The leather was of high quality, back then (around 2005) it was about $600 to do. Apparently it costs about $250 (2010 4Runner with a core exchange).

Hope this helps

PS: I would stay away from OEM steering wheels, like some have said, the quality is so-so.

 

[CRYA]

Cool. I appreciate the input thus far!

 

[Koz]

The GX wheel is sweet! It comes with/without wood, even heated if you want.

Koz