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Agile offroad a-pillar grab handle install

cdsvt

Grenadier Owner
Local time
10:36 AM
Joined
Nov 10, 2022
Messages
65
Location
Vermont, USA
I'm sure this has been posted before, but just to add to the collective knowledge base.

I was frustrated by the lack of a driver's side a-pillar grab handle on my new grenadier. I poked around and found that the oem setup was pretty pricy.

So I searched around and found some really nice aluminum replacements from Agile offroad.


The passenger side was too easy, use a tiny screwdriver to pop open the two plastic covers, remove the original equipment grab handle with a T30 socket, and reinstall the Agile grab handle with the provided bolts using the same T30 socket.

Note that there is an airbag under the a-pillar plastic cover, so you want to remove the trim before drilling or cutting to avoid airbag damage.

On the drivers side, you need to cut some holes. Flip open the plastic cover over the mounting bolt, then remove the T30 bolt, and pry from the top, maneuvering the rear from under the door seal.

Once removed, tape the cardboard template provided from agile, mark and cut the holes using your preferred method.

For me, that involved using painters tape, marking with a sharpie, drilling the corners, and cutting the straight lines with a razor knife, cleaning up with files.

Then, reinstall the trim, put the factory T30 bolt in, pop the plastic cover on, install the new handle with the two provided T30 bolts.

Done!

This is a huge improvement.

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Nice write up and very helpful instructions. Curious if the Agile handle when installed on the passenger side covers the holes in the trim panel left behind by the OEM handle completely or are there some small gaps left uncovered?

I want to do the same mod and install both handles but want to make sure it will look nice when finished. Also, I don’t suppose the Agile ones have cover plates to hide the exposed screws?
 
Great questions.

The Agile handles didn't come with screw covers. The screws do have a coating on the heads that blends in with the handle.

There is a tiny bit of hole visible on the passenger handle.

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I bought this thing without realizing the interference with the air bag. It's pretty darn hefty. It's sitting on the shelf. Not sure I'll be installing it.

If INEOS sold the OEM right hand drive truck version, perhaps it's plug and play?

Great instructions in case I do. Thanks!
 
It doesn't interfere with with the airbags any more than the factory US passenger side handle does.

The a-pillar, as you might suspect, already has the threaded holes for the handle. The mounting holes are forward of the airbag. Ineos clearly installs them on other country models.

As I looked at the airbag, it appeared that it is designed to deploy rearward between the a-pillar trim and the rubber door seal. This is consistent with the idea of a curtain airbag, deployed between the occupant and the window.

As with any modification, we all take responsibility for the consequences. Of all of the things I've done to modify vehicles over the years, this is pretty low on my list of concern for adverse impact.
 
Not including a driver side handle was a decision dictated by stupid legal accountability worry. Apparently in certain accident/collision scenarios, UNRESTRAINED drivers (dumbasses not wearing their seatbelts) were at greater likelihood of sustaining injuries. Otherwise, IA would have probably included one.
 
I'm glad to have a handle now. I use it to get into the driver seat without sliding hard over the outside seat bolster. Maybe because I'm not super tall, or maybe because my rigs are usually lifted, but I find an a-pillar grab handle essential.
 
If the factory handle was reasonably priced and readily available, I probably would have done the same as you did.

It's a little hard to see, but the AO one is that is has a slightly smaller footprint and doesn't stick as far into the center of the vehicle.

The other feature that I will likely use is the rail mount. I can attach my Garmin InReach and other devices to them.

I'm not shilling for AO, just sharing my experience.

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I have the factory grab handle. Got mine from a RHD market. Warner ineos stocks them. Looks perfect!
I'm going this route. Do they happen to sell the actual pillar plastic trim piece as well so it's plug and play? I miss Toyota parts e-commerce. lol

I have an unused, uninstalled Agile one fs locally in LA. Thanks!
 
I guess the ultimate verification is to see if the left side airbag uses the same part in the US and UK/Australia. If it does then the handle and the airbag are compatible with each other. Someone told me they looked it up but I haven't verified myself. I'll check it once I get the tech manual... ☺️
 
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