Sac State

My '03 Sport has handles everywhere, over every door. Except the drivers side door. The area where the handle should fit is covered by color coded plugs/caps. Do any of you have a handle over the drivers door? How much are they? How easy are they to install?

BT17R

So easy even I can do it. Order a passenger side handle. Remove plug covers on driver's side. Remove those screws and plugs. Fit up new handle and re-use screws. Install new form fitting plugs over screws. Done!

Note: I've not done this yet, but did the same thing on my last 'Runner. Looks the same to me.

Sac State

But do you have a handle? The cost is irrelevant, just curious. I can finally use my Toys-R-Us tool set my wife got me last Christmas!

EDGE

Maybe Toyota just thinks if someone needs a grab handle to get in the truck then they should not be driving it

BT17R

No handle.

03_4x4Runner

I'm curious if the normal driving position for most people would cause it to affect getting in and out, Although seems like it wouldn't be too big of a deal.


Take one your other handles off and see how it works.

JGage

Nobody in the US does... the plug is there because on right hand drive cars, that is the passenger side and they get one.

jharris2

No handle. Just grab the steering wheel on the way in.

Sac State

Thanks everyone, not that I needed it....

I thought maybe it was a build oversite or a safety hazard. I wouldn't want that handle that close to my head in a side collision.

The caps look kinda cheezy, there are handles everywhere else, a couple grab handles by the center console would be cool similar to the new Cayenne and Tourag(sp). But to Toyota's credit, what else could have been placed there to not be so noticeable and cheap looking? Hooks?:pat:

Woodbert

We don't have it here in the motherland either with RHD:pat: .

I had one in my 93 and I loved it.

I noticed it immediately and the I asked the dealer and he said nope, only the PRADO (Lexus) has it.

Now that I'm thinking about it, I need to order one.

tom4416

Toyota must have made a running change because mine (mfg 06/03) has the handle there. Was this part of the appearance package since that is now a no cost option (?).

03_4x4Runner

nope, mine was built 6/03, and has the AP, and no handle for the driver, unless it was a late 6/03 change (although mine could have been a late one for when i bought it)

EDGE

I noticed that my passenger side has 2 grab handles, 1 on the A-Pillar and then overhead and on the driver side just on the A-Pilar nothin overhead

jharris2

And you should have the same setup for the rear seat passengers, too. When running errands this afternoon, I noticed that mine has one on each pillar, then the rear and passenger side have them overhead, for 7 in total.

Only one missing is over the driver's head, where there are 2 caps installed.

EDGE

Yup

Woodbert

YUP, RHD drivers is missing also.

Good Times

posts are there because of the universal design - easier to build the mounts on both side and just use one for each of the LHD,RHD vehicles. the caps are used on the side that has the driver (don't ask why they didn't include it on both). if you really want a grab handle, just order via toyota (ask TOR) and you should be able to install one (prob relatively cheap esp thru TOR).

chris240

Mine doesn't have it either >>>

tank_bmb

does anybody use them to get in the vehicle?

I only use handles to hang on when I am riding in a car. If you use that logic, I guess Toyota assumes that the driver shouldnt need a handle to hang on because he/she should have both hands on the wheel.

jharris2

Actually asked my wife about that yesterday -- she said she uses the handle on the A-pillar, not the overhead handle.

I just grab the steering wheel and hop in.