Pillar Handles pull off!

[randyn]

Hey Guys!



Be careful how hard you pull on the pillar handles! They are just plastic held on w/ some small bolts (10 mm socket), and the washers are small and will pull through the plastic. I have 4x4 and put some 315 tires on. Truck sits high and I was using the handle to pull up to keep from dragging side of my seat. Well, the handle pulled loose!!!!!!! You may be able to get a slightly larger washer in the tunnel. That might help some, but I don't think it will solve the problem. As soon as I find out what kind of plastic the pillar cover/handle is made of, I plan to reinforce mine. I tried a drop of epoxy, but it didn't stick. After seeing the inside of the unit, I think it will take quite a bit of modification to be strong enough to really use like I was doing. I'm really surprised it lasted as long as it did... .....

Oh, if you know what kind of plastic this stuff is, please chime in!



RandyN

 

[Swayse]

Oh great, now I have to worry about pulling off my handle. I use that supid thing all the time to get in and out of my truck. I love it and couldn't do without it. So I guess I'll have to bomb it.

 

[redram]

It's probably of similar material as that of the dash pad, airbag cover, etc. Most likely an abs or derivative of it.



A plastic two epoxy should work. The surface may have a slight silicone film on it as a mold release agent that would be best to buff off to improve adhesion.



Any automotive engineers in tdr that can add something more specific?



Goog luck.



PS - USe your legs to carry the load rather than hanging from the grab handle. Use the handle as a form of steadying focal point.

 

[DPKetchum]

Over the years Ive never seen grab handles that if used more then to balance would'nt pull out. You would think they would be made tougher then they are.

 

[MMeier]

Plastic is plastic ,what else is there to know??!!

 

[DPKetchum]

The plastic is one thing. Think they ought to be attached better.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Oh great, and my 80 year old parents have been using those things to climb in my truck.

 

[randyn]

I've decided to try some different (plastic?) epoxy after trying to get any silicone mold release off. What's a good way to do this? Will acetone work, or would that melt the plastic? Guess hot water & soap w/ scrub brush might do some good, but am just guessing. I think it will take some metal reinforcement glued really well to the plastic to make the handles strong enough to use them to pull one's self up into the truck. Any ideas would be welcome.



RandyN

 

[PHolmes]

Guess I had better order up some Kodiak steps pronto.

Phil

 

[BSkinner]

Originally posted by randyn

I've decided to try some different (plastic?) epoxy after trying to get any silicone mold release off. What's a good way to do this? Will acetone work, or would that melt the plastic? Guess hot water & soap w/ scrub brush might do some good, but am just guessing. I think it will take some metal reinforcement glued really well to the plastic to make the handles strong enough to use them to pull one's self up into the truck. Any ideas would be welcome.



RandyN

Randy,



You can rough up the surface with 60-80 grit sandpaper and then clean with alcohol (or perhaps acetone-test first). This will remove mold release and give some "tooth" for whatever you decide to use for "glue". You could use fiberglass cloth and 60 min. epoxy resin. (You could have problems with polyester resin reacting with the plastic, less likely with epoxy). If you use epoxy, paint the surface, lay cloth on the wetted surface and use a throw away acid brush to bring the resin up through the cloth, then apply additional layers as desired. (I knew all those years of building "real airplanes" would come in handy some day. )



You might also consider using JB weld to glue in some reinforcement (metal rods, straps, bolt with head cut off, etc. ) Rough and clean surface as above. Bondo with some kind of reinforcement might work, as well.



Bob

 

[Philip]

This part is most likely ABS plastic. As far as mold release. Most of the time it isn't used. It costs more to make the parts when using mold release. The film you feel is from the components in the plastic itself.



I haven't found anything that will stick very good to ABS. The ABS plastic is to flexible. Most glues/epoxy's do not like parts that move around.

 

[randyn]

Thanks Guys!



The fiberglass/epoxy concept is kinda what I had in mind, along w/ a metal piece for the small bolts to bottom out on and be webbed into the surrounding plastic. I'm thinking that when I'm through there will be a big chunk of material around both of the plastick pillars the bolts are in. The more I've thought about it I really think this is a Mickey Mouse design.....



RandyN

 

[randyn]

To All,



Well, a little update. Tried some "Plastic" epoxy. It didn't stick any better than the regular epoxy. I cleaned the test site w/ alchol before use, but the test blob just popped off w/ a knife blade. Called dealer & they will give me new handle, but didn't know the type of plastic. Gave me ph. no. for body shop they use. The guy there was a little better informed, but I'm not sure of what he told me. He wasn't really convincing. Said to try to float a piece & if it floated it was "TOP" (from memory) thermal something plastic. If it didn't float it was non TOP. TOP doesn't sound quite right, I wrote it down at work, will check in am. Mentioned a kit that they have, but that was expensive & ment for large useage, like a shop. I may go by & check it out in prep for getting them to glue in my reinforcing/braces/whatever. I need that handle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



RandyN

 

[Jeremiah]

Originally posted by randyn

Hey Guys!



Be careful how hard you pull on the pillar handles! They are just plastic held on w/ some small bolts (10 mm socket), and the washers are small and will pull through the plastic. I have 4x4 and put some 315 tires on. Truck sits high and I was using the handle to pull up to keep from dragging side of my seat. Well, the handle pulled loose!!!!!!! You may be able to get a slightly larger washer in the tunnel. That might help some, but I don't think it will solve the problem. As soon as I find out what kind of plastic the pillar cover/handle is made of, I plan to reinforce mine. I tried a drop of epoxy, but it didn't stick. After seeing the inside of the unit, I think it will take quite a bit of modification to be strong enough to really use like I was doing. I'm really surprised it lasted as long as it did... .....

Oh, if you know what kind of plastic this stuff is, please chime in!



RandyN

I was going back through old posts and noticed this one about a weak A-pillar. Mine pulled loose too so the dealer ordered a replacement. Weeks later when it didn't come in I called the factory 800 number and complained. The nice lady discovered the item had a different part number and would be at the dealers in a week. Not only did it arrive on time, it arrived with a replacement for the other A-pillar too. That tells me there is a modification and Dodge replaces both of them if one pulls loose. So if you guys haven't had BOTH A-pillars replaced, go back and complain.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

On my 2004, the bolts are M6 x 1. 0 thread, not exactly gorilla proof. Enough to help you get in, but not enough to hang from the handle



I mounted 3 gauges in an A-pillar replacement pod. No more temptation to use the handle

 

[Dean Upson]

Originally posted by Joseph Donnelly



I mounted 3 gauges in an A-pillar replacement pod. No more temptation to use the handle

I know someone else whose grab handle went south, they are not very strong. Frankly I think they are more of a decoration than practical. I have always balanced myself with the steering wheel when getting into a truck. I fixed my grab handle the same way Joe did , with a 2 pod model.



Dean

 

[DPKetchum]

Wife and I both use grab handles,there not suppose to pull. I don't like using the steering wheel its kinda hard on were it mounts and the tilt mechanism.

 

[Jeremiah]

Originally posted by Joseph Donnelly

On my 2004, the bolts are M6 x 1. 0 thread, not exactly gorilla proof. Enough to help you get in, but not enough to hang from the handle



I mounted 3 gauges in an A-pillar replacement pod. No more temptation to use the handle

Yeh, my fat butt needs the handle. It will REALLY need it when the Rickson 19. 5s come in, hopefully in January sometime. And my wife already says she feels like a tree monkey crawling into the truck. Wonder what it'll be like when it's 2" taller? :-{}

 

[ttreibel]

The handle is all I use to get into my truck. After 11 months I have not noticed any problems and I am a big guy, I will watch out and fix if needed before the bumper to bumper is over. I love the handles I always slip if I step on a wet or frozen running board, I would rather swing in like a monkey. With GM's you are still forced to use the steering wheel no handle.

 

[JWaters]

Re: Re: Pillar Handles pull off!

Originally posted by Jeremiah

I was going back through old posts and noticed this one about a weak A-pillar. Mine pulled loose too so the dealer ordered a replacement. Weeks later when it didn't come in I called the factory 800 number and complained. The nice lady discovered the item had a different part number and would be at the dealers in a week. Not only did it arrive on time, it arrived with a replacement for the other A-pillar too. That tells me there is a modification and Dodge replaces both of them if one pulls loose. So if you guys haven't had BOTH A-pillars replaced, go back and complain.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but my wife is responsible for the whole grab handle thing. My wife pulled ours aloose when we first got the truck. The Dealer ordered a replacement and when it came in the put it on... great I thought... . then I noticed that the little rubber strip that goes against the windsheild was not there. I camplained to the dealer and the called DC. We knew the part number has been changed and didnt think about the part being differenent. DC infored us that the handles do not come with the rubber windshield strip and that both have to be reoplaced to make them match. I told them I wanted one off of a new truck and that is what we did. They have 2 out there now that does not have the windshield strip on them. So if someone buys a new 03 and the pull handles do not have a windshield strip on them thank my wife for causing all of this.





thanks:{