"A" Post Grab Handle

[moosetags]

Now that we have been driving Opel (our R1T) for several months, we have decided that there is another accessory that we would find very useful. We have already added running boards which we have found to be great for ingress and egress to and from the truck. We think that a grab handle on the inside "A" post between the door and the windshield would be a very useful accessory.

The "A" post on Opal seems quite sturdy. Our only question is can we safely drill a couple of small holes into the "A" post to mount a grab handle with self-tapping screws?

Brian

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[crashmtb]

pull the trim off and make sure there are no airbag related items, or important wiring.

 

[KeithPleas]

I asked the local Rivian service advisor about this and was told there was an airbag. My GX470 has an airbag and a handle so I'm not impressed with this reasoning. At a minimum they could have anchored a strap higher on the pillar. I have no idea why they included the handle above the seats at the roofline.

 

[moosetags]

I asked the local Rivian service advisor about this and was told there was an airbag. My GX470 has an airbag and a handle so I'm not impressed with this reasoning. At a minimum they could have anchored a strap higher on the pillar. I have no idea why they included the handle above the seats at the roofline.

I agree. The small straps above the side windows are just about useless. They are too high up on the ceiling to be of any real use. The handle needs to be on the "A" pillar. I have written an Email to Rivian Service asking this same question. If and when I get a response, I will share it.

Brian

 

[crashmtb]

I asked the local Rivian service advisor about this and was told there was an airbag. My GX470 has an airbag and a handle so I'm not impressed with this reasoning. At a minimum they could have anchored a strap higher on the pillar. I have no idea why they included the handle above the seats at the roofline.

Top of door edge handles are more useful for getting into the seat/adjusting position. NFG for getting in and out of the cab of course.

 

[dleepnw]

i dont know if all their testers were 6 feet and over but poor design choice to put the handles above the door - totally useless for getting in and out. absolutely should have been on the A pillar. my wife grabs the outside of the A pillar each time she needs to get in, even after adding running boards.

 

[teddyang]

This question was actually asked at an event in the Venice Hub with the Chief Design Officer Jeff Hammoud. He said the omission of a grab handle was a design choice, because if they were to integrate a grab handle on the A pillar it would have to be made of injection molded plastic and they would not be able to use the same materials they currently used to wrap the a pillar. Their team felt that kneel mode would be good enough to allow easy entry to the vehicle.

 

[moosetags]

This question was actually asked at an event in the Venice Hub with the Chief Design Officer Jeff Hammoud. He said the omission of a grab handle was a design choice, because if they were to integrate a grab handle on the A pillar it would have to be made of injection molded plastic and they would not be able to use the same materials they currently used to wrap the a pillar. Their team felt that kneel mode would be good enough to allow easy entry to the vehicle.

Thanks for this information. Rivian's Jeff must a long-legged 6'3" to comfortably get in an out of the R1T, even with the "kneel mode". Our truck has running boards installed but still needs the "A" pillar grab handles.

I already have the plastic handles that I hope I can install.

Brian

 

[tylerdurden03]

What is the point of this handle and who does it benefit? Seems like an odd request to me but thats why I am asking a genuine question. Does it help some people enter the vehicle?

 

[Zoidz]

What is the point of this handle and who does it benefit? Seems like an odd request to me but thats why I am asking a genuine question. Does it help some people enter the vehicle?

Yes it does help some people get in, typically shorter people (my wife) or people with mobility limitations (my 88 year old mother). My Avalanche, as well as a number of other trucks/SUVs, has a handle on the A pillar, that location is a natural reach. The location Rivian uses is not a natural reach.

 

[Riptide]

Tacoma owners feel this pain. Plenty of aftermarket A pillar grab handles for them.

Air bag does create an issue. If you do go forward with this mod, please do a write up and take plenty of pictures!

 

[moosetags]

What is the point of this handle and who does it benefit? Seems like an odd request to me but thats why I am asking a genuine question. Does it help some people enter the vehicle?

It benefits most people, myself included. This grab handle is included in vitually all real trucks.

Brian

 

[kewlasu]

I hope Rivian reevaluate this and put this in the R2 design.

 

[crashmtb]

This question was actually asked at an event in the Venice Hub with the Chief Design Officer Jeff Hammoud. He said the omission of a grab handle was a design choice, because if they were to integrate a grab handle on the A pillar it would have to be made of injection molded plastic and they would not be able to use the same materials they currently used to wrap the a pillar. Their team felt that kneel mode would be good enough to allow easy entry to the vehicle.

Park/Kneel mode was also supposed to dump the suspension completely... I saw this at the first mile even in California. The trucks they had on static display sat much lower.

 

[Sgt Beavis]

What is the point of this handle and who does it benefit? Seems like an odd request to me but thats why I am asking a genuine question. Does it help some people enter the vehicle?

An a-pillar handle is extremely helpful for those that are altitude challenged. Our Jeep has a 3.5” lift and 37” tires. My 5’4” wife easily gets in and out because of the a-pillar handle. She has a much harder time getting into our former R1T at standard height. The ceiling handle is kinda worthless for this.

Park/Kneel mode was also supposed to dump the suspension completely... I saw this at the first mile even in California. The trucks they had on static display sat much lower.

You’re right but kneel mode takes time and it puts more wear and tear on the air suspension. That wear and tear is why I don’t use it.

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