Driver side A pillar grab handle.

No drilling is required with the KTJO kit.

 

The KTJO kit uses a rivnut in an existing hole, and has a spacer that goes over the mounting bolt to fill the gap between the rivnut and the back of the A-pillar trim cover.

 

Do you have the handle part number? The right side OEM handle is slightly smaller. I received from them the box open and the handle was missing. I want to buy the handle from a different place (I assume they used some OEM part).

 

Unfortunately, the missing part scenario came up several times in threads warning potential buyers looking to buy this kit from KTJO...it didn't appear KTJO was willing to replace missing parts. I hope you get satisfaction.

 

I saw that too and knew buying was a gamble. I lucked out I guess as everything came intact. I have had the USPS lose crap before and no resolution via other vendors so wouldn't be a first for me.

 

yep, I saw all the threads too late. They don't even want to tell me the handle part number.... (if there is a part ID on your handle, can you post it?) ugh so I don't think I'll receive the handle (I don't need the rivnut or the rivnut gun as I have all the tools I need)

 

@Todi - @Captain Spalding did mention he had both handles (KTJO & oem), and the oem was slightly smaller.

 

I am curious. Smaller from bolt hole to bolt hole or just in height from the base of the trim?

 

Sadly I don’t think it’s an OEM part. I doubt you can get it anywhere else.

Same story here. Having emailed Jason about his bracket and gotten no response, I decided to roll the dice on KTJO. Guess I got lucky.

Hmm. I didn’t compare them that closely. I’m fairly certain the hole spacing is the same, as that’s a critical measurement, but there are square protrusions on the bottom of the handle that key into the trim piece, and as the KTJO handle varies from the OEM handle, it wouldn’t surprise me if the square protrusions were sized or spaced differently than OEM. If what you are imagining is using an OEM handle with the KTJO trim piece despite the possibility of the stock handle not perfectly mating up with the trim cosmetically, I’m not confident it would fit properly to work mechanically.

 

Adding pics of the handle for reference. It looks like the square holes are positioned at the same spot? Does anyone have a pic of the backside of the KTJO handles for reference?

 

Some photos from the KTJO website, if they're any help...
Front of trim panel



Back of trim panel

Back of grab handle


Both

 

About to purchase this grab handle from ktjo. I'll post an update on how my experience goes. I can't find a single video of anyone doing this on a 4runner so might be the perfect opportunity to upload a video. Plenty of tacoma videos. It looks like a pretty straight forward install and that top bolt should be plenty of reinforcement if there are any concerns about that bottom rivnut/screw. Outside of them screwing up my order it looks like that rivnut design is pretty straight forward because it sits inside the hole before you even drive it in so I don't see any potential screw ups with alignment

 

Here is a recent post about the install FYI. Seems pretty straightforward. I'm thinking of pulling the trigger in the next couple of days.

https://trail4runner.com/2022/09/27/ktjo-4x4-drivers-side-grab-handle/

 

Pull the trigger, literally took 15 minutes to install. The bottom rivet is a little tricky to find, other than that, it's a piece of cake.

 

@Brandonium - or anyone else- did you ever get a chance to see if the KTJO grab handle & A-pillar cover would work with Jason's bracket?

 

Do you have a picture of the top of the trim and the headliner? Every picture I've seen with this ktjo handle has a noticeable gap between the trim and the headliner. Thanks

 

I've seen that too, not in my case. Now that I look at it, the edges are kind of rough. I might have to take it of and clean it up a bit.

 

Yes it was successfully done with Jason's bracket. Here is the link to the other forum to someone who has done it. (page 22)

 

Thats not too bad. I've seen some that look way off

 

The ones I've seen looks like it pops out a bit leaving the gap, if that happens, you can always take a heat gun to it and mold it in a bit. And probably cause by over tightening. Just careful not to burn it.

 

I bought one out of excitement without recognizing it’s grey instead of the tan I need to match my interior. Looks like the company I purchased from isn’t going to honor their return policy so it’ll be up for grabs in the parts sale soon. Anybody know of a company selling one in tan?!

 

Two words- Plastic paint.

 

I’d spray paint something that sits motionless for too long, but I’m still in the new 4Runner perfectionist phase. If it’s still hanging around six months from now I’m likely to give that a go.

 

I got the kit and f'ed up the rivet and screw. The screw stripped and I had to rip the whole damn thing apart. Also, don't over tighten the top original bolt hole or it deforms in the middle at the top and leaves a nasty off colored crease. Look in the pic above and you'll see it. Kinda pissed about all that.

 

I didn't even notice the dent/crease looking at it, but in the picture it shows up clearly. I wish I had known not to over tighten it. It took a while finding the rivet, took a flashlight and saw it was a bit of of angle upwards. Found it the first try after seeing it. Maybe you can reach out to seller and just get a new rivet and screw. Or maybe a local hardware. Good luck.

 

For those of you who are unhappy with the slight gap at the top of the trim piece, rather than take a heat gun to the trim piece or some other risky measure, why not remove the whole thing and tuck some gauze or a scrap of foam behind the headliner to push it out?

 

ya, I have replacements, but need the rivet out. I was pissed about over tightening it too and wish i would have known. i may tackle it again this weekend. I put one in my tacoma and had no issues what so ever, but it's a different configuration.

 

Have you considered getting Jason's bracket? I have it on mine, and I can tell you - looking at the photos of the KTJO nut and bolt, it's a far superior method of mounting the grab handle compared to that rivet nut and the bolt.

 

I haven't....hook me up w/some info.

 

See link.