Drivers side entry grab handle?

I am curious if anyone has done this? Let's see those pics. I did a few searches on this forum and Google and didn't get any results for these trucks or for a drivers grab handle at all besides the Ford trucks that have them. I have seen some somewhere before and I am looking for some ideas as I am tired of grabbing the steering wheel to get into my truck and sliding out down the side of my seat.

On the A-pillar like 95-up passenger side would be a little bit of work, because you'd have to hack up the plastic trim. The bracing for it is actually fairly easy to take care of, though. Go to the boneyard with a battery Sawzall and cut the passenger A-pillar right out of a junk truck; that's the only way you can make it accessible to drill out the welds because otherwise the windshield is in your way.

Be sure to make a good template on paper measuring from places in the sheetmetal before cutting it out. Note the oblong trim clip hole above it, and round "positioning tab" type hole below it; very easy to use these to get your positioning correct.

Here's one freshly welded into place on a 1994 cab during conversion to the newer interior:


A couple of carefully cut holes into your A-pillar trim and the handle should cover up most of it, making it look reasonably factory.

Or, you could do a roof-mount one like some of the earlier 4x4 trucks had on the passenger side but I think that would be tougher to create a reinforced area and get your fasteners etc. in place without screwing up the exterior sheetmetal.

Richard

someotherguy said:

On the A-pillar like 95-up passenger side would be a little bit of work, because you'd have to hack up the plastic trim. The bracing for it is actually fairly easy to take care of, though. Go to the boneyard with a battery Sawzall and cut the passenger A-pillar right out of a junk truck; that's the only way you can make it accessible to drill out the welds because otherwise the windshield is in your way.

Be sure to make a good template on paper measuring from places in the sheetmetal before cutting it out. Note the oblong trim clip hole above it, and round "positioning tab" type hole below it; very easy to use these to get your positioning correct.

Here's one freshly welded into place on a 1994 cab during conversion to the newer interior:

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A couple of carefully cut holes into your A-pillar trim and the handle should cover up most of it, making it look reasonably factory.

Or, you could do a roof-mount one like some of the earlier 4x4 trucks had on the passenger side but I think that would be tougher to create a reinforced area and get your fasteners etc. in place without screwing up the exterior sheetmetal.

Richard

Click to expand...

Thank you someotherguy there is some good info. there. Still curious to see some other ideas but a factory look would probably be the cleanest.

Making something strong enough is the key so that's why I suggested the approach with factory parts. That passenger A-pillar grab handle is pretty stout, IMO. Just be sure you get good welds when you slap that bracket on the driver A-pillar. When we did my passenger side one on the '94 I masked the windshield carefully with moving blankets and ground the spots clean so we could go nice and hot to get good penetration. Last thing you want is to haul yourself up holding onto that thing and it pop loose!

Richard

Have you considered side steps? My 98 K1500 is at stock height and I do also use either the steering wheel to pull myself in, or I grab the exterior A-Pillar. That leaves unsightly fingerprints on the paint though.

Adding some sidesteps to the truck may help as you would simply step up on to it, then sit down on the seat.

1997-Z71 said:

I am curious if anyone has done this? Let's see those pics. I did a few searches on this forum and Google and didn't get any results for these trucks or for a drivers grab handle at all besides the Ford trucks that have them. I have seen some somewhere before and I am looking for some ideas as I am tired of grabbing the steering wheel to get into my truck and sliding out down the side of my seat.

Click to expand...

What about placing it over the door? Is there a place for one mirroring the "oh ****" handle over the passenger door in some earlier high trim models? If many were exported to right hand drive countries would there not be a spot over the driver door where a handle could be attached? I freely admit ignorance here as I have never looked into it, but someone should know. I think I have seen handles over the door somewhere maybe in a suburban.

PeteyG708 said:

Have you considered side steps? My 98 K1500 is at stock height and I do also use either the steering wheel to pull myself in, or I grab the exterior A-Pillar. That leaves unsightly fingerprints on the paint though.

Adding some sidesteps to the truck may help as you would simply step up on to it, then sit down on the seat.

Click to expand...

you should never use your steering wheel to pull your self into your vehicle

There are several styles of GM O/H grab handles.
Different divisions seem to have their own variants. Different colors, too.
The fancy ones with the lights are in the higher end 80's/90's full-size vehicles. Usually the 4-doors. Good thing about them being in 4-door vehicles is that there are 4 grab handles in each.
The factory uses sheet metal screws to attach them into the roof, although some are screwed into a plastic insert.
When they are grabbed, the pull is to the side of the screws & not directly against the direction that they are screwed in.
The handles are spring-loaded so that they automatically flip up when let go of.
For the ones with the lights, a small hole has to be made in the metal inner roof skin so as to allow clearance for the bulb/socket. I wired mine into a constant power source so they'll work anytime with or without the key on.

Basic version.



Slightly longer. With a light.
IIRC, they use the same mounting hole width as the smaller ones. Could be wrong on that, though.



With a light & a flip-down coat hook. Probably best used in an extended or crew cab, on the rear driver's side



Size of the hole required for the light.



The one on the passenger side in my '98. There's a matching one on the driver side.

Excellent thoughts