PSA -LOAD TEST your overhead Grab Handles

[CalvinT]

Are the mount bolts designed to actually let go when the bag goes off?

The bolts don't let go. The cover flexes enough for the airbag to inflate. I think it's important for the grab handle to flex also. That's one reason I bought the ones I did.

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[timhood]

This. ^

I have had the paracord, I had the ones in this post, and now I have the pull-down with the LED light. I am 6-41/2 and not near to hitting my head on those handles. I also have the Armadillo roof, so there is more aluminum and steel above me! lol.

If you roll over and there is a chance you can hit your head, you have much bigger problems at that point. I love the pull-downs I have now, and they do help the height-challenged getting in my RIG.

I'm not going to change mine, but I'm curious to see the ones you have. Where did you get them? Cool design to integrate an LED light. They look good, too.

 

[Ninjak]

I'm not going to change mine, but I'm curious to see the ones you have. Where did you get them? Cool design to integrate an LED light. They look good, too.

I bought them on Amazon, now Mabbet has them. They also give out very nice light, its not as harsh as the other style.

 

[Returntothefog]

This. ^

I have had the paracord, I have had the ones in this post, and now I have the pull-down with the led light. I am 6-41/2 and I am also not near to hitting my head on those handles. I also have the Armadillo roof, so there is more aluminum and steel above me! lol.

If you roll over and there is a chance you can hit your head, you have much bigger problems at that point. I love the pull downs I have now, and they do help the height challange getting in my RIG.

do you know if these would work with normal hard top? if so, where can I find them?

 

[Ninjak]

do you know if these would work with normal hard top? if so, where can I find them?

These are from Mabett. Mabbett Grab Handles with Demo Light

They will work with a regular hardtop or a soft top.

 

[Arvidian]

These are from Mabett. Mabbett Grab Handles with Demo Light

They will work with a regular hardtop or a soft top.

$35 off coupon for these right now.

 

[Area51BS]

I think I am confused on the whole grab handle mount concern.

So how does the side curtain air bag deploy? I was under the impression the cover/panel behind the grab handle opens from the bottom and sort of hinges up on the bolts holding the grab handles on.

I read a lot of comments about getting clobbered in the head by a hard grab handle in an accident. Are the mount bolts designed to actually let go when the bag goes off? Seems that would be a pretty faulty design to shoot bolt projectiles at occupants!

If someone’s head hit a mounted grab handle, unless your 7’ tall or something, I would say the lap belt failed which means you got far more issues that a grab handle to the head.

I’m 6’ 4” with a long torso and I don’t come even close to hitting my head in my solid grab handle.

What am I missing? Is it really a bad idea to mount the metal handles?

You move a considerable distance in an accident. One reason why I believe the rear seat recline position comes nowhere close to relief area in plastic trim as your head is close to rear roll bar overhead. Was easier to mod seat recline.

 

[PSUTE]

I installed handles from Bartact right after I took delivery in April 2023. They're the right height (in my opinion) and the color matches Badlands trim. They've held up nicely, taking my full weight. I weigh 200 pounds.

+1 on the bartact. Got them for my vertically challenged wife. Have since used them to haul my ass in and out due to a busted hip. No issues...

 

[Motovita]

I Picked up the Badlands hard top yesterday and I see an immediate need for overhead grab handles, particularly on the passenger side. I see a plethora of options out there but not exactly what I'm envisioning. I'd like handles without exposed metal, as similar as possible to the existing grab handles in the Bronco, I don't like any of the strap/cord options although if I smack my head on a hard handle while getting in to the seat that could change my opinion. I'm 6'1" and don't see that being likely though.

 

[bassist]

*** LOAD TEST OVERHEAD GRAB HANDLES ***
...before someone gets injured!!!
I had grab handles made with nylon webbing which failed and dumped my passenger to the ground. My buddy was not hurt and he is not a particularly large guy. Had this been my wife or an elderly or fat person there could likely be a different outcome. These have been installed since Aug '23 and my Bronco stays outside. The broken grab handle webbing seemed very "dry rotted"... thank you China!
Replaced them with some metal Amazon handles which I like because they do not hang down and are solid.

I wished I had known that the paracord handles were so saggy before I wasted money on them. Even using the inner grommet holes, they still sagged too much. I bought these metal ones which I love. Not only do they fit well and give good hand clearance, but they look like they could be OEM.

This. ^

I have had the paracord, I have had the ones in this post, and now I have the pull-down with the led light. I am 6-41/2 and I am also not near to hitting my head on those handles. I also have the Armadillo roof, so there is more aluminum and steel above me! lol.

If you roll over and there is a chance you can hit your head, you have much bigger problems at that point. I love the pull downs I have now, and they do help the height challange getting in my RIG.

I'm not worried about that because I couldn't see how I'd make contact given being restrained by seatbelts and airbags going off in a situation like that (plus the rarity of even being in that kind of accident), but I respect that we all evaluate and consider things differently.

If you have hard handles, do this experiment:

1. Sit in each of the positions that people occupant in your Bronco.

2. Roll down your windows so that you don’t break them.

3. Wave your arms wildly about and thrash around in your seat like you are possessed.

If you do the above and nothing hurts, the you’re fine.

Anything you smack should be assumed to be something you will make contact with at an intensity no less than what you just experienced.

If you don’t want to do this experiment, it’s probably safe to say that you have installed something dangerous.

 

[Lifeliberty]

If you don’t want to do this experiment, it’s probably safe to say that you have installed something dangerous.

 

[timhood]

If you have hard handles, do this experiment:

1. Sit in each of the positions that people occupant in your Bronco.

2. Roll down your windows so that you don’t break them.

3. Wave your arms wildly about and thrash around in your seat like you are possessed.

If you do the above and nothing hurts, the you’re fine.

Anything you smack should be assumed to be something you will make contact with at an intensity no less than what you just experienced.

I appreciate the logic behind this. But if I flail my arms wildly and vigorously enough, I’m going to make contact with something hard in the car. I consider the seat position and height and look at head and torso travel while seat belted and without even factoring the air bag deployment, I don’t see any body parts coming near the grab handle. A body part that high is more likely to encounter the body structure closer to the occupant, which is a big reason why side curtain air bags have become commonplace. That said, I respect that others might make a completely different risk assessment than I did.

 

[bassist]

I appreciate the logic behind this. But if I flail my arms wildly and vigorously enough, I’m going to make contact with something hard in the car. I consider the seat position and height and look at head and torso travel while seat belted and without even factoring the air bag deployment, I don’t see any body parts coming near the grab handle. A body part that high is more likely to encounter the body structure closer to the occupant, which is a big reason why side curtain air bags have become commonplace. That said, I respect that others might make a completely different risk assessment than I did.

A lot of the “hard” surfaces in a car that you might come in contact with are plastic - once you move to a metal grab bar, it’s a different game.

People often shift position in an accident as seatbelts aren’t perfect, so you have to assume your head could end up a few inches higher than you sit. Three point belts don’t hold you into place the same as four or five point harnesses.

What gets me is when you see someone with a roll cage installed in a performance vehicle used on the street, and yet they don’t wear a helmet.

 

[Motovita]

It appears that I've picked the wrong thread to tag on to, I'm looking for recommendations for overhead handles matching as closely as possible the existing factory grab handles. If anyone has suggestions that'd be great. I may need to start a new thread.

 

[Lifeliberty]

It appears that I've picked the wrong thread to tag on to, I'm looking for recommendations for overhead handles matching as closely as possible the existing factory grab handles. If anyone has suggestions that'd be great. I may need to start a new thread.

You're fine. Every grab handle thread devolves into this at some point.

I haven't seen any factory grab handles for sale. I think i saw someone on here add his own factory style grab handles from another ford car to his bronco, but i think it was in the passenger B pillar. I kind of forget, it was a while ago.
For grab handles you have the rope kind, or solid kind. That's all I'm aware of

These are some of the closest I've seen https://agency6.com/collections/for...le-assembly-front-pair?variant=44212330660089

https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/adding-a-grab-handle-to-2dr-b-pillar.36981/

https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/my-a-pillar-grab-handle-v2-0.67208/

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