Back in 2008 I replaced the plastic steering wheel in our 2003 VW Westfalia camper with a leather one  and really liked the difference.   When I hopped in our RAM Promaster-based 2017 Pleasure-Way Lexor TS and put my hands on its plastic steering wheel I knew I would want to make the same change.

The option wasn’t available from RAM so I turned to eBay.  I eventually found a shop in Germany that offered a “Leder Lenkrad für ein Fiat Ducato, Peugeot Boxer,  Citroën Jumper “for a reasonable fee and a core charge.  I confirmed that it included the steering wheel audio controls and placed the order.  The steering wheel arrived in about two weeks.  Its appearance and quality were excellent.

Removing the old steering wheel was fairly easy.   The first step was to disconnect the negative battery cable from the chassis battery for about an hour to discharge the air bag mechanism.   I then took a long  #2 flathead screwdriver and inserted it in each of the three holes on the rear of the steering wheel.   Once the screwdriver bottomed out in each hole I just gave it a slight twist and each clip popped loose.  I was then able to disconnect and remove the air bag, remove the steering column nut  and remove the steering wheel.   I then installed the new steering wheel and replaced and tightened the steering column nut.

The RAM emblem in the middle of the airbag was the last original branding item left on the vehicle.  It was time for it to join the pile of other branding items that I had previously removed.  I unclipped the airbag from the rear of the cover and removed the two small plastic clips that were holding it in place.

I then clipped the the air bag back into the cover, reattached the electric connections and popped it back on to the steering wheel with a little push at each clip point.  It was now time to install the resin-covered “Limited Edition” emblem for a Dodge Challenger that I had purchased on eBay. It fit perfectly.

The whole process took about 90 minutes. The new steering wheel looks great and feels much more comfortable.

I put my original steering wheel back in the box and sent it on its way to Germany.  The core charge was returned in a few weeks.  Hopefully my original has found a new life as a  “Leder Lenkrad ” in another Promaster, Ducato, Boxer or Jumper!