Drivers side grab handle UPDATE!!

positive result from Amayama
Everything worked out for me this time. Got my garnish and handle today and installed. They even credited me back about $30 because shipping came in cheaper than they expected.

 

That's awesome news. Hopefully other members have the same result.

 

Off topic, but I was able to find some parts for my 1979 FJ40 on that site. Nothing that I need at the moment, but still pretty cool!

 

I was hopeful, too. But, no! I made my inquiry = $95.35 delivered. They got back to me = $227.32 delivered in 2 - 3 months. I wrote them an email explaining domestic vendors would sell for less than that, AND deliver within a few days. The responded that they had found a new-to-them carrier with much better rates, and that they could now offer $117.37 delivered in 2 - 3 months. I placed an order. Paid them $117.37. A few days later they wrote that they had the handle in their warehouse, and that it would ship to me in 2 - 3 days. However, since their supplier was out of stock of the garnish, and lead-time was unknown, they had cancelled it from my order. I responded to them that since I could not use the handle without the garnish to please cancel the entire order. They wrote back that they would not, that they were shipping the handle only, and that I should place another order for the garnish in 2 - 3 months in hopes that their supplier would then have it. I've now put the $117.37 charge into dispute with my credit card bank.

 

I'm seeing the same price on checkout of 95-100 where the handle shows as shipping in 11 days and the garnish in 36-91 days. I'm guessing if I actually place the order I'll end up in the same situation as you, so going to hold off. That's truly bizarre they wouldn't cancel the order especially if they hadn't shipped the handle yet, or at least offered to just charge you for handle.

Hope you are able to sort it out quickly with your credit card.

 

So it looks like a mixed bag from this vendor. One needs to be cautious I guess?

 

Agreed. They say they haven't shipped yet. They did say that they would credit back the price of the garnish, but only once the handle had shipped.

I seriously doubt freight costs will change much, if at all, whether they ship just the handle, or the garnish and handle together. In other words, two separate shipments (handle now, then garnish, if available, 2 - 3 months from now) = double the freight cost.

I just can't get past them telling me to order the garnish again in 2 - 3 months, hoping it would then be available, when they know that the handle is useless without it.

 

I just ended up shopping across multiple dealerships via parts.toyota.com. Found the garnish for $133 and the handle for $50. More expensive than I wanted it to be, but I was tired of waiting and hunting.

 

I have watched this thread and decided that the dice throw with overseas vendors isn't worth the aggravation. I ordered both pieces thru Midlands Toyota, recieved both pieces in one shipment, installed them then moved on to other mods. I paid more, I waited less, I recieved everything same day. Just sayin'.

 

Does anybody know if the Tundra grab handle and Sequoia grab handle parts are the exact same? If so, what years(Sequoia)?
The Toyota websites indicate fitment only for Tundra only but just wondering if they are interchangable.

 

Installed the parts that came from the Toyota dealer over the weekend. I had got so used to having a DS grab handle on my 3rd Gen Tundra that I really missed it when I got the 21.

My garnish piece had 2 cuts in the plastic at the top and bottom mounting locations for the grab handle. They were pretty deep slits and fairly noticeable at first. I ended up taking a heat gun and getting the plastic warm enough to be malleable. Then I "closed" the slits as best I could without making them more noticeable. Again, I was little surprised that the dealer part came with damage on the interior-facing side of the garnish, but I think the days of trustworthy QA procedures are gone. To expect perfection just because of the price of something is one-way ticket to being miserable all the time.

I don't have any of the overseas parts to compare this with, but I imagine it all comes from the same place.



Blemishes:

 

Returning wasn't an option?

 

It's always an option, but I would've had to pay return postage which would've been ~$25.

None of the Toyota dealers in my area pay the license fee to participate in parts.toyota.com so I tend purchase from out-of-state dealers. Unless I drive the hour to my nearest dealership to buy over the parts counter.

 

In my experience, I would be miserable every time I climbed in and saw those blemishes. A little less so if they were my fault. Here's some scratches on my passenger side garnish. I did it. I know I did it. They still bother me, but not enough to spring for a replacement.


Perfect, to me, means those dangling plastic threads, and the uneven, gapped, and not flush fitment of the snap in cap, as seen in your first Blemish picture, would not be there. I can live with non-perfection. Dents, gouges, scratches, not so much.

Those dents/gouges look to me that they happened during product handling, and not as part of the manufacturing/molding process.

I hardly ever ask to return anything. I ask for a refund or replacement. If the Seller wants the defective/blemished item that they sent me back, they can make arrangements, and at their expense. I seldom get stuck with something that wasn't my fault. Still, it is a choice what we each find acceptable. I respect your choice.

 

It's all good. I don't get worked up by much and this, in the grand scheme, is tiny. I've got a color matched grab handle that's functional...and that is mission accomplished.

 

So I did the door handle today, pretty easy. For some reason right above the plastic trim the top portion of the liner is not aligning with the gasket very well, it seems pushed back a bit. I may be too anal but just an observation. No idea if my install did it or it was like that. See the last picture.

 

I see this guy install got the same issue / gap so is not just me

https://tnstatic.net/attachments/20240325_202353-jpg.977538/

 

My experience with our headliners (in the back, above the rear window, anyway) is that they are just barely, like hairline, tucked at the edges. When one pulls them down a little, or otherwise fiddles with them, like when I replaced my 3rd brake light, they just don't go back like the came when new. It's not just you.

 

My grip handle isn’t a perfect install either

 

Fred Anderson is back with the 25% and free shipping. Got mine for $144 shipped.

 

Thank you, Travis! $144.28 and ordered.

I've been like, I don't really need this, just a nice to have. But, I received the go ahead to use this year's tax refund on Eibach STAGE 2R, RAS HD, and some sweet Fuel - Blitz wheels. So, with the tires I want, my driver's door should be around 3" higher than it is today. I likely then will need this.

 

Since you're about to do this project, for the gap I was describing, if you have the same issue. I am to anal so I took it all back and inserted some foam under the liner to push it toward the gasket. Now it looks perfect and the liner looks nice and smooth on the gasket. Just a quick improvement

 

Thanks for the heads up on Fred Anderson - I also just ordered both parts for the $144.

 

Fred Anderson is the way to go, no headache, brand new stuff, works perfect. I installed mine last weekend and they look awesome. Love it.

 

Can you post the parts needed? I want to do this on my truck. Thanks.

 

Parts # please.

 

Page 4, this thread:
https://www.tundras.com/threads/drivers-side-grab-handle-update.138296/page-4#post-3531339
Link is easier than typing in the numbers

 

You forgot the spoon LOL. C'mon