Drivers Side “A” Pillar Grip Handle Installed on 2014 -2025 T4R

[Saker]

Hello all,

I am glad this mod has been this successful so far. I’m so glad I found [MENTION=154554]Jasontamu[/MENTION] contact info and reached out to him.
Anytime any one of us helps the T4R community with an improvement, we should feel blessed. TOYOTA should take note.

Thanks again Jason for making this mod!
I hope the orders keep rolling in.

 

[sclui56]

Thanks to Jason my daughter now has a handle to grab. I feel like Toyota has been nickel & diming by shaving pennies here & there. This should have been standard equipment, something they saw fit to leave in on the LX. At any rate, glad Jason provided this and it is now done. Just take your time on shaving the trim piece, a bit tedious though.

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[ElectroBoy]

Thanks, Jason for a sorely needed mod. I just installed mine today. It took me a good amount of time due to my paranoia about cutting into my A pillar cover. After many measurements and many test fittings I got it done.

I did make a few tweaks to your excellent instructions to satisfy my OCD.
It’s always good to protect your dash surfaces and A pillar cover with masking tape and put down a towel on the dash to avoid scratches while working with tools. I also taped all around the hole drill locations to create a “bucket” with the tape sticky side up in order to catch the metal shavings.

I found that the pointed blade end on the sheet metal screws wasn’t sharp enough to enlarge the initial 1/8 inch pilot hole. So I drilled progressively larger holes, up to 3/16 I believe, to get to the proper size for the sheet metal screws to take hold and tap a few turns for the threads. I then backed out the screw and cut off the blade ends with a dremel cutting disc. On my A pillar the screws seemed too long, there was some kind of plastic backing in there that would have been pierced with the screw blade ends.

I used blue loctite on the threads and snugged up the bracket to the pillar. With the cover installed I found that the white nylon base on the lower attachment point of the handle needed to be shaved down to make it fit flush with the surface of the cover.

It looks great and feels just as sturdy as the passenger-side handle.
Thanks to [MENTION=154554]Jasontamu[/MENTION] and [MENTION=103267]Saker[/MENTION].

 

[Jasontamu]

ElectroBoy, great feedback thank you!

-J

 

[Jasontamu]

Ill be out of town tomorrow 6/6 until next Monday 6/10. I have all orders shipping out today if you catch me today/paid orders as I have them all boxed ready to go.

 

[DarkPassenger]

Thanks, Jason for a sorely needed mod. I just installed mine today. It took me a good amount of time due to my paranoia about cutting into my A pillar cover. After many measurements and many test fittings I got it done.

I did make a few tweaks to your excellent instructions to satisfy my OCD.
It’s always good to protect your dash surfaces and A pillar cover with masking tape and put down a towel on the dash to avoid scratches while working with tools. I also taped all around the hole drill locations to create a “bucket” with the tape sticky side up in order to catch the metal shavings.

I found that the pointed blade end on the sheet metal screws wasn’t sharp enough to enlarge the initial 1/8 inch pilot hole. So I drilled progressively larger holes, up to 3/16 I believe, to get to the proper size for the sheet metal screws to take hold and tap a few turns for the threads. I then backed out the screw and cut off the blade ends with a dremel cutting disc. On my A pillar the screws seemed too long, there was some kind of plastic backing in there that would have been pierced with the screw blade ends.

I used blue loctite on the threads and snugged up the bracket to the pillar. With the cover installed I found that the white nylon base on the lower attachment point of the handle needed to be shaved down to make it fit flush with the surface of the cover.

It looks great and feels just as sturdy as the passenger-side handle.
Thanks to [MENTION=154554]Jasontamu[/MENTION] and [MENTION=103267]Saker[/MENTION].

I'm about to start my install. Thanks for the additional tips.

 

[Saker]

Thanks, Jason for a sorely needed mod. I just installed mine today. It took me a good amount of time due to my paranoia about cutting into my A pillar cover. After many measurements and many test fittings I got it done.

I did make a few tweaks to your excellent instructions to satisfy my OCD.
It’s always good to protect your dash surfaces and A pillar cover with masking tape and put down a towel on the dash to avoid scratches while working with tools. I also taped all around the hole drill locations to create a “bucket” with the tape sticky side up in order to catch the metal shavings.

I found that the pointed blade end on the sheet metal screws wasn’t sharp enough to enlarge the initial 1/8 inch pilot hole. So I drilled progressively larger holes, up to 3/16 I believe, to get to the proper size for the sheet metal screws to take hold and tap a few turns for the threads. I then backed out the screw and cut off the blade ends with a dremel cutting disc. On my A pillar the screws seemed too long, there was some kind of plastic backing in there that would have been pierced with the screw blade ends.

I used blue loctite on the threads and snugged up the bracket to the pillar. With the cover installed I found that the white nylon base on the lower attachment point of the handle needed to be shaved down to make it fit flush with the surface of the cover.

It looks great and feels just as sturdy as the passenger-side handle.
Thanks to [MENTION=154554]Jasontamu[/MENTION] and [MENTION=103267]Saker[/MENTION].

Thanks for the additional info on the mod.
This will surely help others and maybe Jason will make a change or two to his instructions for future installations.
Sometimes it’s the small additions to a mod that helps!

 

[slprciv]

Another mod added to the list :thumb:

 

[RoadWarrior]

Pmed Jason, I'm very excited about this Mod! I can't believe Toyota added one for the passenger but not the drivers side!

 

[Okusputokus]

Just installed mine today! Pretty easy install. When you drill out the lower pilot for the bracket I found it easy to pull the airbag out of the way just a little bit so I can see better.

The mark on the upper bolt cover is a reflection off the windshield

 

[9405t4r]

Pm'd Jason, loved this!

now just have to see where to get the rest of the parts

 

[ElectroBoy]

now just have to see where to get the rest of the parts

McGeorge Toyota Online Parts.
Toyota Parts | Toyota Online Parts | Genuine Toyota Parts | Toyota Parts Online

 

[Jasontamu]

I found that using the local Toyota dealer is the same price or cheaper given shipping cost at times, plus you can ensure you get the gray/tan etc and not open a box from a online vendor and end up getting tan when you ordered gray, etc.

That happened to me. My first install was with tan bolt covers due to ordering online and getting tan covers sent , the handle was gray...lol..:smashputer:

Thanks,
-J

 

[Jasontamu]

More in stock!

so pleased to announced I finally got some more made from my welder. my welder is a machine shop owner/operator and so my "lil job" is not high on his priority list and so he gets to them when he can.

I usually have to do a drop by and help him and get them done....etc..

so I made 18..some are already accounted for...I made a bit because I'm being sent out of town again for work and will be out for a few weeks...

so, once im out, im out until I get back. first come first serve like always.

just fyi for all...thanks so much for the positive feedback everyone! im glad everyone loves it.

thanks,
-J

 

[<<<<]

Just ordered mine. Nice product, well worth of time and material.

 

[Jasontamu]

I can’t order this from Jason (e-mails and PMs unresponsive) Stand by...

hi, I see I did miss your pm. I thought I replied as I do with my phone and your screen name is no longer BOLD showing its been read my me...sooo hummm??? - I copy/paste my blanket message to everyone, but maybe something happened and my phone didn't send. sometimes using the forum PM on the phone is goofy as the site loads weird on your phone. I'm responding now....

sorry about that. as for email, what email as I cant tell with just your screen name <<<<

EDIT: i realized what happened as it happened again today - the forum forces you to wait 60 sec before another reply can happen! when responding i may have missed others as i would hit send, see the forum page flash/reload and never scrolled down and saw that ADMIN message that says you must wait 60 sec to respond!! ahh, so if anyone out there has missed a reply please pm me again...i went back an i dont see anyone i missed but still....


thanks,
-J

 

[Jasontamu]

anyone, if I don't respond right away - which I always try to do with my cell phone as I don't log into the site often please message me again as im sorry if I missed anyone else??

-J

 

[cb1111]

Driver Side "A" Pillar Grip Handle Install on a 2014+ T4R...

Drivers Side "A" Pillar Grip Handle Bracket

Great write up/Mod and something I would like to have on my 2019. My 2004 4R had the pillar handle but not a handle above the door. However, I just have to ask, in regards to the A pillar air bag, does anyone know how the air bag deploys? The only reason I can see for Toyota not putting the handle on the pillar is due to a possible risk. Is there a chance that adding the handle will imped the airbag? I removed the cover when I installed my phone mic, and I couldn't figure out how it all worked (but I didn't really care too much at that point). I know most people don't know the answer, just thought I would put it out there.

I understand there is a video on YouTube of the 4Runner air bag deployment.

The airbag on the passenger side is in the same location as the drivers side location. The handle locates in the same configuration but with a kit instead of the welded brackets from the TOYOTA factory. Do yourself a favor and pull both trim pieces off and take a look!

I stated before that I think it should have been a factory grip handle located there like the FJ Cruisers have.

Yes, it is odd that Toyota doesn't have a handle there. Accordingly, we have to ask ourselves "why not?"

It may not be a cost saving measure.

While both "A" pillars may have side curtain airbags in a similar position, this does not mean that they deploy in an identical manner. In addition, there may be other crash testing reasons why that handle isn't there.

Finally, I'm a bit concerned about the clip that the screw goes into (see picture above) as it has a sharp edge right next to the curtain airbag. Can that clip be reversed to move the sharp edge away from the curtain.

Has anyone with this mod had a side curtain deployment?

EDIT: I think this is a great mod and something that Toyota should have engineered in. Props to the design an execution. I just hope it doesn't interfere with the airbag operation - unfortunately there is only one way to find out...

 

[ElectroBoy]

I also had concerns about the sharp edges of that clip. I could not quite remove it to reverse the installation without deforming it. So I took a file and rounded off the sharp points.

Finally, I'm a bit concerned about the clip that the screw goes into (see picture above) as it has a sharp edge right next to the curtain airbag. Can that clip be reversed to move the sharp edge away from the curtain.

 

[FZRunner]

Yes, it is odd that Toyota doesn't have a handle there. Accordingly, we have to ask ourselves "why not?"

It may not be a cost saving measure.

While both "A" pillars may have side curtain airbags in a similar position, this does not mean that they deploy in an identical manner. In addition, there may be other crash testing reasons why that handle isn't there.

Finally, I'm a bit concerned about the clip that the screw goes into (see picture above) as it has a sharp edge right next to the curtain airbag. Can that clip be reversed to move the sharp edge away from the curtain.

Has anyone with this mod had a side curtain deployment?

EDIT: I think this is a great mod and something that Toyota should have engineered in. Props to the design an execution. I just hope it doesn't interfere with the airbag operation - unfortunately there is only one way to find out...

Ask 4th gen owners about airbag deployment. The handles were on all 4 entry points. 3 were removed for 5th gen models. Maybe there was something to it, but I've never read about issues regarding deployment in those model years. I personally couldn't live without it. Saves on seat wear/tear in my lifted 4th gen. Plus I'm old...anything that helps me get in, and my daughter uses the rear one for entry help. Never understood why they ditched them. Love this new mod.