This is the 3rd time I have pulled the stupid grab handle loose when I get in the truck. I have replaced the washer thing with a bigger washer and it still pulls out, any suggestions besides losing about 50 pounds.

 

The handle is pretty weak on these. All I can tell you is I never used mine while I had it. I have gauges there now.

The best thing to do is probably to put on some step/nerf bars or just a step and let that carry the weight as you get in and out. Adding W-T-W step bars was the second mod on my truck right after a liner.

 

Oh great my big a@@ does the same thing,so far so good but now that I read this it's going to break next time I get in the truck.

I was tooling around in a 03 1500 with the tube style bars and it seemed there was not much help from them, they seemed to close to the door sill to me,so I got the running boards from deezee.

I got running boards just not on yet waiting for my chicken lights to get here,be easyer to install them while the boards are off the truck.

Pav

 

Any type of step will help. My bars are the right distance from the truck to be useful (with the doors open). I did have bars on a Jeep that were a waste.

 

The first summer I had my truck the hot weather here helped me break the handle even with the Mopar steps. Got a new one from the dealer under warranty. Re-enforced it on the backside of the two mounting bolt areas with J-B Weld. Still holding 3 yrs. later, but I am cautious while using it when the summer heat is on.

 

Forgot to add - I also use the steering wheel to get in and out. Habit from all of the big 4x4 trucks I've had over the years. You will not pull it off no matter how hard you try.

 

Thanks guys...GOT THE STEP BARS. But I still need something to pull on to get my BIG A## up there. I think I will fix it one more time the start pulling on the steering wheel, now watch, I'll pull that sucker off too.

 

You must be a big guy, I run about 250 and could hang off the darn thing, I know...I tried. The steps really do help, maybe you could mount one of the semi type grab handles on the A-pillar instead of the little Mopar one?

 

Ditto for me. Must be a San Diego thing.

 

Nope, it's not a san diego thing. It's a common sense thing.

The only time I ever used that thing is when I tried it too see what all the hub-bub was about it breaking. None of the rig's I have owned ever had a grab handle for the driver, most had chicken bars for the pass. though.

By the way, I have a good low mileage drivers side chicken bar/grab handle looking for a good home.

 

My step bars are spaced down and away from the door sill to allow hands-free entry/exit:



... and I still use the grab handle with the gauges:



- but after the handle mounting boss broke the 2nd time, I fiberglassed the rear of the A-Pillar into a solid mass of structural rigidity!