Steering Wheel Extension / Spacer? Anyone found one or made one?

[ihatetrucks]

I posted another thread about tall driver comfort. I think I'm almost there for solutions and ideas.

One I haven't found or seen is a steering wheel extension. It telescopes decently, but come up just a tad short for me still. An inch or two would be glorious for getting me into the right spot.

There is one available for the Tacoma/many Toyotas (they get all the cool mods): https://www.949racing.com/product/steering-spacer-55mm-tacoma-4runner-fj-cruiser/
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/949-racing-steering-wheel-spacer-factory-wheel.733189/

In theory I could make one, but it feels like it's really pushing my skills especially given my available fabrication equipment.

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[Grandaccess]

I do not believe you should make your own, that would be a highway safety issue and a controlled area (by NTSB?), they probably had to go through heavy safety testing before selling it to the public...
Just Nope, I personally would not 3D print my own LOL

 

[subquark]

I posted another thread about tall driver comfort. I think I'm almost there for solutions and ideas.

One I haven't found or seen is a steering wheel extension. It telescopes decently, but come up just a tad short for me still. An inch or two would be glorious for getting me into the right spot.

There is one available for the Tacoma/many Toyotas (they get all the cool mods): https://www.949racing.com/product/steering-spacer-55mm-tacoma-4runner-fj-cruiser/
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/949-racing-steering-wheel-spacer-factory-wheel.733189/

In theory I could make one, but it feels like it's really pushing my skills especially given my available fabrication equipment.

That's a pretty nifty extension for the Tacoma.

I added a suicide knob to make it easier on my shoulders but if I mounted it lower on the wheel, it could work as a bit of an extension for long straight stretches of road and keep from reaching as far. It wouldn't help in city driving but for long stretches where your hands aren't moving much and you only make small corrections, that could provide some relief.

Of course, a suicide knob is a different thing from actually having the entire wheel closer.

pic from this post

 

[Jason B]

That's a pretty nifty extension for the Tacoma.

I added a suicide knob to make it easier on my shoulders but if I mounted it lower on the wheel, it could work as a bit of an extension for long straight stretches of road and keep from reaching as far. It wouldn't help in city driving but for long stretches where your hands aren't moving much and you only make small corrections, that could provide some relief.

Of course, a suicide knob is a different thing from actually having the entire wheel closer.

pic from this post

Before you add the suicide knob, be sure it isn't illegal in your state.
Some states prohibit the use because it 'hinders the driver's view' or is 'a distraction'. Never mind the 10–12-inch screen being a distraction.

 

[subquark]

Before you add the suicide knob, be sure it isn't illegal in your state.
Some states prohibit the use because it 'hinders the driver's view' or is 'a distraction'. Never mind the 10–12-inch screen being a distraction.

Good tip and they are legal in all states. And, as you said, anything that blocks your view, dash cam, burrito, etc. is illegal.

LOL, I love your reference to the screen and that is so true nowadays!

but officer, I can't be expected to look at the road and do my social media at the same time

 

[got3fords]

I added a suicide knob to make it easier on my shoulders but if I mounted it lower on the wheel, it could work as a bit of an extension for long straight stretches of road and keep from reaching as far. It wouldn't help in city driving but for long stretches where your hands aren't moving much and you only make small corrections, that could provide some relief.

Of course, a suicide knob is a different thing from actually having the entire wheel closer.

I wonder if the airbag will clear that thing if deployed and not puncture it.

 

[pbethel]

I wonder if the airbag will clear that thing if deployed and not puncture it.

Not much punctures air bags.
They can be hard to cut when you want to.

 

[subquark]

I wonder if the airbag will clear that thing if deployed and not puncture it.

Live Free or Die baby! Woohoo New Hampshire! =p

I don't have to wear a seat belt, I can ride in the back of the truck (boy, is that hard to steer and reach the pedals), and I don't need no stinkin' helmet on a motorcycle. =D

And since poor Soupie barely sees the highway (only 4,000 miles since new in May 2022), my 25 mph and 1.6 miles dump run is pretty safe.

And it's a '22, the air bags were probably de-contented!

Besides, this is how I roll (screw Takata):

 

[ihatetrucks]

I do not believe you should make your own, that would be a highway safety issue and a controlled area (by NTSB?), they probably had to go through heavy safety testing before selling it to the public...
Just Nope, I personally would not 3D print my own LOL

I didn't say anything about 3d printing. I can fabricate metal just fine if I can access a mill and lathe. I can basically copy their design of off pictures, it isn't hard to figure out precise enough measurements based on a photo of such a simple part since I already a have a few dimensions in the specs and adapt them to the application. As to the safety, I doubt this other shop is going through rigorous testing, it is very niche and it appears very overbuilt. If I'm hitting the steering wheel hard enough for this thing to possibly fail, I doubt I stood a chance anyway. This is not impeding any safety features, whether the airbags or the collapsible steering column, and looks plenty overbuilt. Aftermarket heavy duty steel bumpers and brush bars are probably more dangerous and in a very obvious fashion because they partially subvert crash structures and mess pedestrians up.

I'm safety freak and this really raises a yellow flag at most just for being worthy of some serious thought due to the application.

That's a pretty nifty extension for the Tacoma.

I added a suicide knob to make it easier on my shoulders but if I mounted it lower on the wheel, it could work as a bit of an extension for long straight stretches of road and keep from reaching as far. It wouldn't help in city driving but for long stretches where your hands aren't moving much and you only make small corrections, that could provide some relief.

Of course, a suicide knob is a different thing from actually having the entire wheel closer.

pic from this post

Well, I have thought about them, but... its in the name. Having a big piece of anything sticking out the steering wheel like that makes me too nervous, even if modern airbags are strong enough to not be damaged by this during deployment. I just can't override the part of me that's looking at one seeing a big ol' divot in my skull.

 

[got3fords]

I guess bringing the seat back forward a little is out of the question?

 

[ihatetrucks]

I guess bringing the seat back forward a little is out of the question?

Of course I have messed with the seat settings A LOT to try and find a comfortable position. I made a recent thread where a decent number of people similarly proportioned had similar feelings. I drive a lot due to where I live being so rural, so 300 bucks and the joy of a little wrenching to make a vehicle genuinely comfortable for another 150k miles is just very worth it.

 

[subquark]

I didn't say anything about 3d printing. I can fabricate metal just fine if I can access a mill and lathe. I can basically copy their design of off pictures, it isn't hard to figure out precise enough measurements based on a photo of such a simple part since I already a have a few dimensions in the specs and adapt them to the application. As to the safety, I doubt this other shop is going through rigorous testing, it is very niche and it appears very overbuilt. If I'm hitting the steering wheel hard enough for this thing to possibly fail, I doubt I stood a chance anyway. This is not impeding any safety features, whether the airbags or the collapsible steering column, and looks plenty overbuilt. Aftermarket heavy duty steel bumpers and brush bars are probably more dangerous and in a very obvious fashion because they partially subvert crash structures and mess pedestrians up.

I'm safety freak and this really raises a yellow flag at most just for being worthy of some serious thought due to the application.

Well, I have thought about them, but... its in the name. Having a big piece of anything sticking out the steering wheel like that makes me too nervous, even if modern airbags are strong enough to not be damaged by this during deployment. I just can't override the part of me that's looking at one seeing a big ol' divot in my skull.

I used to have access to a nice metal fab shop and made many things for my old FJ40 and Evan made a tandem axle trailer for my John Deere tractor using mobile home axles (with surge brakes). I never second guessed my work and over engineered it all (I'd tow that tractor at 70 mph on that 16' trailer).

I have no doubt you could fabricate what I saw in the Tacoma link you provided, and like you said, it wouldn't be hard to get the proper dimensions, it's not a camshaft.

The extension would work better than the Brody knob I have and certainly make a more comfortable ride for people like me. I installed SeatJackers, which are just overpriced spacers and a longer bolt (extending the leverage force on that point). One could certainly argue that it affects safety just as much as a steering column extension because of the force on seat mounting points during an accident.

At the end of the day, only you can determine what you can and can't do (but the rest of us sure like to pipe in!). =D

All of that said, here's a tidbit that someone here shared regarding steering. It won't help with the reach aspect but may alleviate the stress on your arms and shoulders of the "over reach".

Evidently, the steering force can be adjusted. I'm not sure what that's called - steering input? But I guess I can see that as possible since it's electric steering.

I'll eventually dig into that but don't have a FORScan cable. My shoulders would benefit from a little less steering resistance (they are so shot and so easily aggravated).

I've never used a CNC machine, only stick welding, a giant brake, drill press, lathe, etc.. I bet a CNC or mill would really be fun to use and unlock so many possibilities!

Good luck with finding a solution, I looked at that Tacoma one again and that thing's solid!

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