Driver side door handle/help getting in?

I always wondered why they left the handle off,, I'm kinda old and need a little help getting inside the truck. [76yo] I really need one to get in with, anybody offer one that fits?? Thanks in advance,,,

 

A lot of us on here have added that. They are available from the dealer. We have a few vendors here who sell them also.
10 minute install. Very easy.

 

Check out this thread
https://www.tundras.com/threads/deal-on-drivers-side-grab-handle.29903/

 

OK then,, thanks a lot guys. Guess I'll get one on here.

 

https://www.sparksparts.com/accessories-and-aftermarket-parts-tundra-grab-handle-kit-pktungrab

Buy it here, they sourced all the needed parts and have install sheet.

 

@Roman

 

Roman has the A pillar and Handle, but I believe you have to source the rest of the parts from HD. Sparks has it as a set, all parts included. If you are lazy like me and don't want to hunt through the drawers of hell, go sparks for this one.

 

Makes sense

 

Instead of using the included SAE bolt and oversized u-nut from Lowes that comes in the Sparks kit (or running around sourcing hardware on your own if you only got the trim and handle), I decided to keep it OEM metric hardware. There's my OCD, I know.
90080-11354 Bolt, with washer (same as passenger side '14+, both sides '07-13)
90179-06349 U-nut (it shows to be from the license plate holder)
Don't forget the little plastic clip that wasn't included with my A-pillar trim. You don't necessarily need it, but it might reduce rattle and it will hold your trim in place during install until you get the bolts in. In my case, there was a little tab on the back of the trim that wouldn't line up with the slot cutout in the pillar sheet metal, bulging the center of the trim. If you need it, the part number is
62217-04010 Clip, front pillar garnish (same as passenger side '14+, both sides '07-13).
Obviously, Sparks and Cool Springs are cheaper.
I think that I used some double-sided tape (Duck or Gorilla) between the u nut and pillar bracket and wedged a spare washer under the tab on the back side to hold it in place during install (the washer keeps it from rattling once tightened since the u-nut was meant for the thickness of a plastic part rather than sheet metal).
I used my old trim to make a template for the cutout on the new trim.

 

Just put mine on last week. Just didn't want to continue pulling myself up with the steering wheel.....can't be good for it. Costs way more than it should, but works great. All 4X4's should have had one from the factory. Literally every other door on the truck came with one!!

 

And every other half ton truck out there it seems.

 

Easy mod.

I didn't use it when I had my running boards on. But since those came off, I use it all the time now

 

Doesn’t look like Sparks sells the kit anymore...

 

These are the main parts that would've been in the kit.
Windshield Pillar Trim (

$198 62220-0C050-B0 Windshield Pillar Garnish

62220-0C050-B0) × 1
Assist Strap (74610-0C082-B0) × 1
You should still be able to find the parts in their oem parts section by part number (or Cool Springs). Sparks only put this in a convenient kit packaged with some hardware from Lowes, nothing different. Some folks even found the trim and handle on megazip.
For hardware, see my post (post #9 of this thread).
Don't forget, Black Friday is right around the corner. Might be some deals soon.

 

https://www.sparksparts.com/p-tundra-grab-handle-kit-pktungrab

 

Thanks for the tips everyone! Got the parts on order just wondering if anyone can elaborate on how the pillar air bag interacts with the a pillar garnish & handle.

In the event of air bag activation does the entire plastic moulding pop off or hinge out of the way?

Does the addition of the handle affect air bag inflation any way?

 

Shouldn't impact it - the airbag will blow out along the seam of the pillar garnish and the frame itself. The Gen2 trucks had the handle and the same airbag. I'm pretty sure the primary reason the deleted it was for field of view - there are times when that handle does block your vision a little (think smart car hanging out in the left lane off your front wheel).

 

I think this is correct, the blind spot thing. I have my seat adjusted based on my build, so that the pillar handle is in line with the pillar itself from a field of view standpoint, so it doesn't seem to affect my view. However, I can see how it could. Plus, the passenger side is the same with the handle and seems to work fine from an airbag standpoint. Obviously field of view isn't a safety issue for the passenger.

 

Thanks for confirming guys, makes total sense

 

I thought they removed it for safety, hitting drivers head against it in a crash.

On the flip side, if it's safe for passenger why not driver too? Toyota probably justified it by most times they are driven solo.

I put it in mine and love it. Doesn't affect field of view

 

I had more than a few times in my ‘08 that I noticed it leaving me with a less than ideal view to the front left (more so I noticed the improvement in my ‘21). I may add it back for convenience of getting in/out, but I guess I don’t consider it so much a MUST HAVE.

 

That's good speculation also. I guess we may never know. Maybe I should wrap it in a pool noodle, just to be safe.

 

Personally I found it to be a bit costly but the black friday 20% off with megazip helped justify the upgrade for me. My big goal with the handle is to avoid wearing out the side of my seat bottom like I did in my 2nd gen Taco. I did an OEM seat skin swap once at yr 7 and when I sold it on yr 13 it needed to be done again...

 

I just used the kit from sparks, a little pricey but it has everything you need. I don't notice any loss of visibility but depending on where your seat is adjusted that could change.
The reference I read about why the removed it (I don't have a link) was to do better on a particular crash test metric where there was a possibility of the drivers head hitting the handle. I'll take the handle and a set of running boards and just wear my seat belt. It makes it much easier to get into and out of the truck when you're old, or old and broken, or old broken and fat.

 

Good thought, but they install them on other trucks that have air bags in the A-pillars....and I assume all trucks go through the same crash tests. - Toyota is just "cheaping" out....IMO

 

They did do it for "safety" except the "safety" was to not look bad compared to the competition on a mostly made up crash test. Instead of doing some real engineering to keep the handle and "improve" the safety they just removed it. I expected better from Toyota but at least they didn't remove the mounting bracket underneath so that the prior stock part would no longer bolt on.

 

Is there only one part number for this? Different p/n for grey or tan?

 

No -there's 2 colors. The gray and beige colors. They have different letters on the end of the part #'s to denote which color it is.

 

If you're getting the kit from Sparks, select the color from the drop down menu. If you're ordering the parts individually, they list the individual part numbers included in each kit.


https://www.sparksparts.com/p-tundra-grab-handle-kit-pktungrab

 

OK. Thanks for the help.

I didnt check out the Sparks link. I figured i'd call a local wrecking yard first.