The lack of a pillar grab handle makes me want to kick puppies

[TEQ.FZJ]

If you think that's bad, wait till you lift your truck and see how your passengers climb into the second row. My friends/family used to grab onto the front headrest or have someone pull them up from the other side. These help, but a handle on the B-pillar would be perfect.

Here's the link to that discussion:

www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/140868-rear-passenger-grab-handle.html

Nice! I like those, may consider picking up a set. If the mounts are under the A pillar, I may just go with a set of these and cut slots in the trim:

Jeep JK Rear Side Grab Handles (Pair)

 

[Rubberdown]

Christ! I don't mean to be disrespectful but how old are you guys? My 65 year old father in law with a bad heart and a big gut hops in and out with no issues. What's the deal?

 

[ryanbt]

Christ! I don't mean to be disrespectful but how old are you guys? My 65 year old father in law with a bad heart and a big gut hops in and out with no issues. What's the deal?

I may be 6'2" so it doesn't bother me, but I have some short friends around 5' that have a tough time getting in. My Limited 4x4 didn't come with running boards.

 

[TEQ.FZJ]

Christ! I don't mean to be disrespectful but how old are you guys? My 65 year old father in law with a bad heart and a big gut hops in and out with no issues. What's the deal?

You're exaggerating. Nobody is saying they physically can't get in the truck. It's annoying that they took out a convenience item for no reason besides profits.

It's a $40k truck. What's next, get rid of power windows and power door locks to save a few bucks? I mean, we don't need power windows. Why can't you roll each window up and down by hand?

 

[Rubberdown]

You might be exaggerating yourself. If the worst thing you have to complain about is that there isn't a pull handle... Life is pretty good wouldn't you say?

 

[1engineer]

You're exaggerating. Nobody is saying they physically can't get in the truck. It's annoying that they took out a convenience item for no reason besides profits.

It's a $40k truck. What's next, get rid of power windows and power door locks to save a few bucks? I mean, we don't need power windows. Why can't you roll each window up and down by hand?

I have heard this comment in other posts "It's a $40K truck." Guys, $40K is not an expensive vehicle anymore. As a matter of fact, the AVERAGE price of a new vehicle in the US in 2013 was $32.3K. We are driving an average priced SUV. $40K ain't special no more.

 

[TEQ.FZJ]

You might be exaggerating yourself. If the worst thing you have to complain about is that there isn't a pull handle... Life is pretty good wouldn't you say?

That's why I live in a first-world country.

And it's obvious I'm not the only one since people in Tundras are trying to retrofit this back in. You can defend Toyota all you want; I still say it's a stupid decision to remove it to save a few pennies.

 

[BobsTrail]

N-Fab steps and TrekArmour handles help a lot, I had mine made a little longer. I had one goofy passenger pull up on them instead of straight and the whole headrest came out. Guess they needed instructions.

 

[nevada]

Yeah, neither of which are comfortable positions to grab on to. The grab handles that folds up into the headliner is in a very awkward position. Would need to be contortionist to use that handle to climb in the truck. Steering wheel, just all wrong too.

I don't get it. Is it a cost savings issue? What about right-hand drive 4Runners of the world? Would that mean the bolt holes are already there to serve as a passenger side grab handle for those trucks?

I would GUESS the bolt holes are there.

but, if its true they no longer make it in a right hand drive, then maybe not...

I have heard this comment in other posts "It's a $40K truck." Guys, $40K is not an expensive vehicle anymore. As a matter of fact, the AVERAGE price of a new vehicle in the US in 2013 was $32.3K. We are driving an average priced SUV. $40K ain't special no more.

its still a damn lot of money. ive seen houses for cheaper. and, its still more than a full years worth of work for ME.

 

[eddiebx]

How'd you come up with this conclusion? I've never had any issues using the pillar grab handle on a daily basis in any other truck. And if you see the link posted above for a Tundra, you can see the mounts are still there underneath the trim. Toyota just decided not to include it in an attempt to maximize profits I'm assuming.

Those "oh-shit" bars are fastened into the body sheet metal via clips only...I think it's basically two square holes in the thin sheet metal then the base clips into it with a square anchor type thing...not strong at all. On the other hand the front passenger side pull handle is fastened into the pillar with bolts, and is much more sturdy.

 

[Rubberdown]

That's why I live in a first-world country.

And it's obvious I'm not the only one since people in Tundras are trying to retrofit this back in. You can defend Toyota all you want; I still say it's a stupid decision to remove it to save a few pennies.

LMAO I own a tundra too... Again no issues with it. AND I never defended Toyota, I just was implying your decrepitness. Jokingly I might add. Jeez you guys need to lighten up. You'd think I would get more high fives for living in a first-world country and taking my opportunity to josh folks on the internet.

 

[pimpsta]

Nice! I like those, may consider picking up a set. If the mounts are under the A pillar, I may just go with a set of these and cut slots in the trim:

Jeep JK Rear Side Grab Handles (Pair)

Which part of Cali are you at? If you're in the L.A. area, I can trade you a pair of these for a cup of coffee or something. The holes on these were too small for the headrest posts so they are useless to me.

Smittybilt Part 769311 - Jeep JK Wrangler Grab Handle - - 4 Wheel Parts

 

[dekeman]

Perhaps you'd like to rethink your hyberbolic headline....

<iframe frameborder="0" width="480" height="270" src="http://www.dailymotion.com/embed/video/xf9y7x" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xf9y7x_man-kicking-puppy-caught-on-camera_news" target="_blank">Man kicking puppy caught on camera</a> <i>by <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/itnnews" target="_blank">itnnews</a></i>

 

[TEQ.FZJ]

I have heard this comment in other posts "It's a $40K truck." Guys, $40K is not an expensive vehicle anymore. As a matter of fact, the AVERAGE price of a new vehicle in the US in 2013 was $32.3K. We are driving an average priced SUV. $40K ain't special no more.

Well yeah, but $40k for a SUV is still A LOT of money. Maybe not $84k like a Land Cruiser, but it's still a nice chunk of change. It's not like I'm demanding air-cooled and massage seats or refrigerator, it's just a simple piece of plastic.

Those "oh-shit" bars are fastened into the body sheet metal via clips only...I think it's basically two square holes in the thin sheet metal then the base clips into it with a square anchor type thing...not strong at all. On the other hand the front passenger side pull handle is fastened into the pillar with bolts, and is much more sturdy.

See and that's what's strange. Why the oh-shit bars and not a pillar grab handle? It seems like the oh-shit bar that's spring-loaded and folds back up costs more than a solid plastic grab handle on the pillar. Weird.

LMAO I own a tundra too... Again no issues with it. AND I never defended Toyota, I just was implying your decrepitness. Jokingly I might add. Jeez you guys need to lighten up. You'd think I would get more high fives for living in a first-world country and taking my opportunity to josh folks on the internet.

Oh I'm not getting hurt ha! If anything more people got their panties in a bunch because I dared to complain about the lack of grab handle on their sacred 4Runner. How dare I second guess anything Mr. T does! I posted this to see if there was an easy solution to it. While it may seem like a rant thread, it's not. I'm here seeking info. The rest of the forum needs to lighten up.

Which part of Cali are you at? If you're in the L.A. area, I can trade you a pair of these for a cup of coffee or something. The holes on these were too small for the headrest posts so they are useless to me.

Smittybilt Part 769311 - Jeep JK Wrangler Grab Handle - - 4 Wheel Parts

Norcal actually. How 'bout I mail you a K-cup?

 

[1engineer]

Well yeah, but $40k for a SUV is still A LOT of money. Maybe not $84k like a Land Cruiser, but it's still a nice chunk of change. It's not like I'm demanding air-cooled and massage seats or refrigerator, it's just a simple piece of plastic.

Yes, it's a lot of money generally speaking. No, it's not a lot of money for a new vehicle of this type. Go price a BOF vehicle of any type like a F150, Chevy Tahoe, Lexus GX, Cadillac, Ram 1500 or any of them and to get something like the 4Runner LE equipment you are getting into the $50-$60K range. Even the unibody SUV's are priced way up there in the mid size range. Forget about the Land Cruiser or the Range Rover or even a Denali. Now you are in the $70-$80K range. All just to get a grab handle lol.

There are several things I don't like about my 4Runner. I have yet to kick a puppy though!

 

[TEQ.FZJ]

There are several things I don't like about my 4Runner. I have yet to kick a puppy though!

Yeah you're right. Kicking puppies is kinda extreme. Now punching a kitten on the other hand...

 

[Rubberdown]

Yeah you're right. Kicking puppies is kinda extreme. Now punching a kitten on the other hand...

Way to go. I just spit out a little coke. In a house with four dogs in it, cat is a three letter word around here. I even try to run them down with the car. But they are always to quick for me. (It's just to make the dogs think I'm on their side)

 

[MidwestJ]

Seriously, this enrages me. Why would Toyota put a pillar grab handle on the passenger side but not the driver's side? Is this same on older models too (I have a 2014)? I don't get it, both sides have the curtain air bags so why did they skip on a grab handle, something that almost every truck and SUV on the planet has.

Forgive my ignorance but this is the first car I've had with curtain air bags. Can I remove the pillar trim without having to worry about the airbags? What's underneath? Are the bolt holes even there? Is it possible to retrofit the handle from another truck? I wouldn't mind having to cut the plastic moulding if I had to, but I'm not sure what happens with the airbag.

This is the only thread I could find, but nothing conclusive came out of it
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/82275-front-driver-side-pillar-grab-handle.html

I totally agree

 

[Izlu]

There are grab handles on both sides of 4th Gen Hilux Surf, right hand drive 4Runner basically. I'm not tall at 5'7 but never felt a need for grab handle until I swapped suspension with TT FJ Cruiser suspension last summer.

Can't tell for 5th Gen as Hilux Surf is discontinued.

 

[Lord lost]

I agree it's actually really lame that there is no grab handle on the left front A-pillar, I use to love having that handle on my 96 tacoma 4x4.