Heated Steering Wheel

The last couple weeks of -30degC has made me look deeper into options for a heated steering wheel. I always considered this a "nice to have" until a rental vehicle for work had this feature... and boy, it felt nice to not have frozen paws.

Been following a couple threads here and here as far as a DIY goes. It seems like the Tacoma clock spring is not wired for a heating steering option and trying to retrofit the OEM clock spring for a heating circuit seems potentially unsafe. Would another model Toyota OEM (or other brand) clock spring pre-wired for a heated steering wheel be swappable with the one on the Tacoma?

Within those threads, this is available:
https://cartrimhome.com/Heated-Stee...XlG4r7y7yGJS1z8PFUL4ho3ejj9k5w51QlgTnFbwhJkTW
Has anyone purchased from them and care to review?

 

can't help with a DIY fix but Road & Track just published an article yesterday on heated steering wheel covers

https://www.roadandtrack.com/gear/g46341536/best-heated-steering-wheel-covers/

not as elegant but probably cheaper

 

Putting on a pair of gloves would be even cheaper,
but neither are as slick as pushing a button for a toasty-warm-wheel!

I had this feature on my last truck and embersingly, one of the only things I miss about it.

(Still unlikely to spend the ~$500 for it though)

 

I'd rather pull out the mitts and gloves. The thought of having to set up the wheel cover before I leave and taking it off before I drive is such a hassle lol .

This is the way for now unfortunately. Even when the ambient temperature warms up to something tolerable and your butt is nice and toasty from the seat warmers, the wheel is still frozen. Keeping my fingers crossed for someone who is as keen as me to get this done

 

My 23 Tundra has heated wheel. I forget to turn it on until the truck is warm.

 

Just another mod needed. Interested in this for the wife when she drives the truck.

 

I turn the vents to blow directly on to my hands. It takes exactly 1.2 miles of driving to get warm air from a cold start. I leave the house at 5:55 a.m. all winter, cold and dark ;-)
That said, We just bought a new car for my wife. while looking, if there were no heated wheel and seats, there was no amount of money that would clinch a deal.

 

https://cartrimhome.com/Heated-Stee...XlG4r7y7yGJS1z8PFUL4ho3ejj9k5w51QlgTnFbwhJkTW
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VukSy2MoCFc&t=224s

 

The wheel itself is of exceptional quality, but IMO for the price they took the lazy way out when it comes to the switch. The backlighting is tied to the on/off function on the switch, so both the backlight and LED light up only when the switch is on. It's easy to improve, just de-pin the ILL+ and ILL- wires from the connector and tie them into a breakout harness (available from multiple sources). That'll allow the switch to illuminate and dim with the rest of your switches. Mine is ready to install, just haven't had a chance yet. Let us know how it goes, the new Tacoma-specific clock spring they provide includes the steering angle sensor already installed which is a nice bonus compared their 4Runner version. Did yours ship with the plastic switch bezels included? Mine was the wheel only, the bezels had to transfer over from the existing wheel.

 

I plan on doing the same thing with dash light for the switch. Those steering bezels are from MESO. Was just testing the fitment. Using this wire harness for switch.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09VQZW61R?ie=UTF8

Here are the steering wheels bezels in question.
https://mesocustoms.com/collections...heel-blackout-surround?variant=40380392013937

 

Just an update and review. I bought the heated wheel and got it installed it a couple weeks ago.
The wheel gets to a gentle warm which is good enough to prevent your hand and fingers from freezing any further. I do wish it got a more toasty but I only had it on the 15-20mins drive to work. The wheel does get heated all around with the warmest spot between 10 and 2.

Something that I'm trying to get used to is feel of the wheel. The wrap is less grippy than stock. The description says it's leather but the quality is not on par with OEM. I wouldn't be surprised if it was suede but having that said, it feels decent and time will tell if this will last. It is a noticeably beefier wheel, enough to be feel quite different. There's also a ridge/groove starting at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions down to the plastic bezels which I'm trying to get used to.

Overall, I'm satisfied. Drives will be much more enjoyable this winter season. A couple of nit-picky items but it accomplishes the purpose.

 

Here’s mine installed and comparison. The heated steering wheel has a small flat on bottom.

 

Bunch of pansies. I grew up in Cincinnati in the days before heated seats, steering wheels, and remote start.

Somehow survived it. I have sat in my car with the heat going while gassing up my car thou.

Been in Florida since 2001. A friend gave me a ride in his new Dodge pickup to pick up my new bike in 2015. We were driving along and I noticed a cool breeze on my ass. He had some kinda airflow seats. Been days I wished my Tacom had that option, but the AC cools things off alright.