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I put a passenger side grab handle in my pillar from a 2003 F150. I grabbed the handle and the bracket at Pick-n-Pull. I think it is the same handle in my 2004 Expedition.
I didn't take any pictures of the install, but it actually fit the pillar fairly well. I think I used 2 or 3 screws (yes sheet metal screws) to hold it in and I think I had to predrill one or 2.
Then I drilled the plastic to match the holes for the bolts to go from the handle to the bracket. Yeah, I didn't line them up very well.
You might be able to bend the bracket some to move the handle from the windshield.
Does it look pretty? No.
Does the bottom of the handle stick out unlike on the F150? Yes.
Can a 200 Lb person hang on it? No.
Does it assist my 70 year old dad to get in the truck? Yes.
I took handles from an ExploreC, IIRC, and used self drilling hex heads. They were plenty strong for the 4 years I had the truck. I'll see if I can find a photo.
I bought handles for a 05 super duty from the dealership and used them. I pulled the trim off to figure out where to mount them. (There is a hump in the pillar that I wanted to put the screws in so the handles woudn't tilt to one side. Put the trim back on and drilled small locator holes. Took a punch and enlarged the holes so to leave as much metal as possible. Hot glued flat washers on back of the trim piece so as not to distort it when tightening the screws (filled the space between the two) installed it and done.
I used handles from late 90's early 2000's Ford Escape. I didn't put them on the pillar but above the door. I got slightly larger thread tapping screws than what came on the handles. Been good for about a year now. Color matched also.
Great ideas guys! I'm commenting so I can follow this thread. I need a grab handle on my drivers side so I'm not pulling the steering wheel or door panel to get into my truck
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.
