Drivers Side Grab Handle (Strap)

I posted about this in the other thread we were just mentioning. In the crash test vids w the small overlap the driver's head gets torqued to the side twoards the handle. If u look at the airbag, it's only a "tieback" that comes out of the pillar. My suspicion is the deleted the handle to score better on the overlap

 

I would buy the crap out of that

 

The driver side A pillar already has 2 holes for a handle. One of them is not threaded but easy to fix. I believe seeing on a different forum someone having a 2nd gen handle on a 3rd gen. I'm VERY impressed that someone on this forum hasn't figured this out yet.

 

I am guessing that no one wants to mess with the liability involved, since an airbag lives there. I wouldn't mind having a handle though...

 

I really want a Meso handle....!

It’s on my to-do list to add a handle on the pillar, but I wouldn’t want an exposed bolt head that could shear and go flying upon impact. I was thinking about trying to Dremel a slot into the existing plate covering on the upper mounting point.

 

Which means we might lose the passenger side handle down the line too. At least they could put handles in the headliner area...my Prius has those! Maybe a Prius handle mod in the headliner is in my future. I can finally get the hybrid Tacoma I wanted...

 

I know someone who has a driver side grab handle...... @upTOPoverland

 

The airbag deploys to the side of the window just like the one on the passenger side. It will not effect in anyway having a handle on the driver side.

 

Honestly that strap looks ridiculous

 

I did make a change to mine. That strap now goes from the upper A piller to one of the visor mount holes so it is not in that tight loop.
With a bad hip and knee that strap really does help with getting in and out of my Taco.

 

Can you post some pictures?

 

I’m actually thinking about it. But it would be a complete 2part kit. Handle plus matching A-pillar with Molded holes. Basically a mirror of the passenger.
The only problem is it is a huge mold, and very costly.

 

The visor mount hole is threaded into metal.

 

I want this every time I get in the Taco in my garage where the door can barely be opened to the first notch.

That said since we are already asymmetric, I would be totally okay with somewhat similar handle that uses the existing pillar trim. V1 and V2 kits?

 

Would def buy.

 

I feel your pain brother...

 

ME 2!!!

 

Too right! If it was a problem in the small overlap test, just use a softer material.

Of course, who cares about the passenger side.

 

For me, I wouldn't mind if it were lower profile. I was thinking about finding a color matched handle with the same bolt spacing. This is $10 at Home Depot:

Does anyone know the distance between the bolts?

 

I believe it is the same as on the passenger side, but you need to install a rivnut on the lower left side. The pillar trim comes out very easily, just the one 10mm bolt under the SRS label.