Oh S@#t handle

[RatLabGuy]

I've come to realize that when racing offroad, I (as the driver) have a nice big steering wheel to hold onto when things get bouncy.
My co-pilot, however, isn't so lucky!

So this thread is about what I came up with.

Originally, all I had for a passenger/co-pilot to hold onto was this, a grab handle out of a mid-90s Pathfinder bolted to the A-pillar

Basically all I did was drill 2 holes, and use tight-fitting sheet metal screws. It was intended as a handle to help my (short) wife get into the truck, NOT so much as a real Oh S@#t handle.

Works OK for that, but clearly not a good long term solution.

 

[RatLabGuy]

So recently I took to building a real handle.

I debated just bolting it either right to the dash, or maybe to the glovebox door. However that wouldn't expect to hold up either.
The problem is, if you remove the dash, you'll see it's just really thin steel with a thick layer of vinyl, not much to it.

However, on 80s Toy trucks, once you take the dash off, you'll see there is a steel tube that runs in front of the ductwork, maybe 1.5", seen here

Of course it's a real PITA to get to with a wirebrush and welder..

I welded on 2 tabs with thick bar stock to make something to work off of.

Excuse the shitty welds, like I said access isn't trivial...

Then I branched off of these with some angle I had laying around. This took LOTS of careful measurement, to be sure it lined up w/ the backside of the dash just right. After putting the dash on/off a ton of times, I welded a big flat plate to the front

Welding that plate on was even more fun - getting to the backside - actually had to lean out the door and look through the windshield while doing it left-handed, lol.

 

[RatLabGuy]

Once that was in place, I had something to attach to.

Found the place I wanted to be able to bolt on the dash, and drilled some guide holes through the vinyl. Then lined up the dash, drilled matching holes in the plate, and pushed bolts through from the backside to serve as studs.
http://www.4rtoy.rewazule.com/Pics/Oh_S@#t_handle/CIMG4733_2.JPG

Tacked those into place... more fun welding stuff I couldn't really get to or see what I was doing, lol.

Then put the dash all back together.
Made up a couple of plates to attach to the middle, top, and bottom of the dash, welded them together, and lined up w/ the holes I'd made.
Then bolted on a nice handle I had laying around, i think it might have coem from soem kind of home gym? lol.

I wanted any force spread across the whole area, so the plates are bolted through the dash (4 on top, 2 on bottom) to nuts I welded on the backside, plus the two studs in the middle.

W/ it all tightened down, it has a very small amount of flex - basically all from leverage of the big arm against the plate, not the dash itself.
i know the back bracing doesn't seem like much (just the scrap pieces I had laying around) but once all the dash it together it's actually pretty sound.

Best part is that now the plate and everything is there, I can easily remove that handle (2 bolts) so it's out of the way, or put on something different. Also gives a nice plate for mounting other stuff later.

 

[Bullardbs]

Nice build

 

[bbbcb04]

grab

made my teeth hurt when i saw that. hope you got 5 point harness in your rig .really nice fab work:Rockon:

 

[RatLabGuy]

LOL yeah I'll probably get some rollbar padding for it. It dosn't stick out THAT far.
And yeah any time this would be useful, harness would also be in use.

 

[1stgenxxx]

Where did the land rover air freshener come from?

 

[RatLabGuy]

Where did the land rover air freshener come from?

I have a buddy in the UK that is a LR fan, he has an old military Defener 90. We of course have an ongoing debate about which MFR is best.
He sent me that as a gag birthday gift. The truck smelled bad so I figured what the hell, might as well use it ;-).