Buyer Beware: KTJO 4X4 Driver's Side Grab Handles w/ A Pillars, HUD, and Bowl Lights

It was before my time here. What's up with Pelfrey.

They came up as one of the few that did a nice hidden winch mount, which I want badly, and their site was dead. Then I saw some shenanigans mentioned but no details. Were they the KTJO 4X4 of the fabrication market?

 

Much worse. They screwed over a lot of people who had paid for orders. Most got no refund or parts when the company filed for bankruptcy.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/ch-7-bankruptcy-filed-9-6-18.567324/
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/pelfrey-informational-thread-one-post-condensed-version.567463/

 

I think you might have? Regardless, it is a good refresher of the arena that KTJO 4x4 is playing in. Some might say that Demello might not be far behind? Mobtown certain didn't go out in any great style for some folks.

 

I have to admit, I designed that sticker for her and she orders them through me...

 

How did you do that? And, how do you keep driving in a straight line with no stabilizing fin on the roof?

 

Well the sticker was well made, die cut, and released cleanly from the backing. Should have guessed that someone else was behind it since it worked so well.

 

Hmmmmm. Completing some of the circle here.

 

Straight line, wut's that?

Here are some details on the shark fin removed, because of my truck camper and our low gate (garage door height)

 

Thanks, Ryan. Looks like a lot of work. Glad I don't need to relocate mine. It is, after all, a vertical stabilizer.

 

Well, it's not like there isn't 300 pages of advice to stay away... I might chuckle a little, but like I said, I ordered the grab handle mainly to aid my physical disability. If it didn't work, I would have counted it as a loss and ghetto rigged a home Depot handle or something, lol. Wouldn't have even bothered trying to contact. I knew what I was getting myself into.

But the fact remains, I found out about it through this thread. Therefore giving her business. I'm a realist. Without the information here, very very very few would know they exist. That's all. I admit I ignored the warnings. I'm not special here, I'm just trying to save others the heartache. They offer nothing unique for our Tacoma's anymore anyways.

 

Ermergerd!!

It's HERE! I should have waited till today to reroute my dash cam wire last night. I had the A-pillar trim off. Oh well, that's an easy removal.

Maybe tonight I'll give it a go and see how it all works out.

....also...thanks for the info on Pelfrey! Glad I wasn't here for that because I would have dropped the money on the winch mount. Those are tough to come by.

 

Make sure you have some whiskey handy

 

I was thinking ahead. I bought a 5th of Jack and a dime bag of meth.

 

WOW! I overspent on my mood altering agents.

15 minutes and this is what I got.

Top bolt was a little cattywompus at first but I threaded the bolts in their respective locations before putting any of it together and got a good idea of their appropriate angle when threaded in. Once i matched that on install, the top bolt threaded into place and everything sucked up nicely.

The only issue I can see is the lower bolt cover wanted to cheat out of place a little bit, revealing its edge. A little massaging of the latches on its back and it seems to want to stay in alignment, now. When comparing to the passenger grab, fit and finish is pretty much identical.

So....what's been the big rhubarb over this thing? I hadn't looked into the threads about it.

 

Send the meth to @tonered... I'll take the Jack.

 

The grab handle, per se, is not the problem. The “big rhubarb” is
KTJO 4x4 customer service and how the early investors were treated once the product was in stock. Doesn’t help that it’s not exactly plug and play on all models, but that’s another story.

 

That makes perfect sense.

I do recall lots of comments regarding issues installing these grabs but they were in passing. Clearly, I REALLY lucked out since I got a great deal and bought 2nd hand from someone that had to deal with circus act of ordering/shipping. This was pretty painless.

 

This is the gospel!

 

Well Fuck a Duck! I may have to roll the dice!

 

I doubt that. I bet a shit ton of Taco owners who don't participate in discussion forums on teh interwebs google and buy her products.