Grab handles

[Walter Clark]

I found a couple grab handles and installed them this week. Since there are none specifically for the Sprinter, I thought I would share what I found and how they came out.

I began looking for a handle that I could mount to the lower passenger side A-pillar to make getting easier for my wife (and any other front seat passenger).

The first handle I picked up came from eBay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/110849763907...84.m1423.l2649. It is a heavy steel core black rubber handle but unfortunately I could not come up with a way to mount it and still use the A-pillar cover. However I ddi realize I could use a grab handle at the right rear door so I added it there to make boarding from the rear easier. I installed 4 #10-24 Rivnuts in the door jamb and used 5/8" hex socket screws to attach it. You cant see the screws because the handle comes with plugs. It is the first and second attachments.

I went back to eBay looking for something else to use on the A-pillar. The next one I decided to try is a grab handle from the right A-pillar of a Ford Expedition. It happened to be gray and when it arrived it was obvious that when new it was a perfect match - however over time it has yellowed some. I was able to clean it enough to get a fairly close to new color. It is fairly flat, compared to the first one. I decided to mount it directly to the A-pillar but using 2 1/4-20 Rivnuts as this handle has only 2 attachment holes. The Rivnuts were installed on the trailing edge of the raised part of the stamping for the A-pillar, the same surface as the snap rivets that hold the pillar cover in place go into. I trimmed the rubber covering from the handle around the mounting points as it would not be seen and I wanted to mount the handle as solidly and close to the door jamb as possible so all I needed to do with the pillar cover was trim a couple U shaped pieces from the trailing edge to fit it. The trimming took the most time...mark, trim, fit, repeat, until I had just enough off.

Both handles are solid as rocks and a very nice addition.

[gjohnson427]

Just ordered a black one for the back. Thank you.

[danthewolf007]

in the newer cargo sprinters they have handles that are pointed in to the van where as mine are more like yours on the rear. i do like the ones you mounted both front and back and will be telling a few non-fourm members about it so thanks a bunch!

[Walter Clark]

You are all most welcome. By the way, the Expedition handles come up fairly regularly on eBay. Here is a pic of one recently available:


At: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-Expedit...-/300547885925

[kmessinger]

Originally Posted by Walter Clark

I found a couple grab handles and installed them this week. Since there are none specifically for the Sprinter,

I got them from Dodge and they got them from Mercedes so at least for the 08, there are specific handles for the back doors.

http://www.ourexcellentadventures.co...g-was-missing/

Regards,

Keith