For the driver, like in the previous generation of F150, integral to the pillar trim piece. It was just a nice feature to have to help getting out from the seat or access into the cabin.

 

That would irritate me to not have one. I use mine daily.

 

It's decontenting.
They have to move the next model year. It will show up in '10 or '12

My '99 didn't get the driver's handle, that showed up in 2000. I guess Ford figured the new bumper was enough to move the 99's.

 

its officially called the "ohh s*** handle"

 

They reportedly removed the protrusion to reduce the incidence of driver head injury in some off-set frontal crash situations.

 

This is what I suspected - for safety reasons. I doubt it's de-contenting as this generally happens after a new model is introduced then over subsequent years small items start disappearing from one year to the next...

I'll miss mine as well - very handy to have the driver's side grab handle - but Ill learn to live w/o it.

 

I would have liked to see the handle. Even a handle blended into the pillar would have been great. Why did they leave the other handle in if it can cause head injury?

 

because only the ford driver is important. passengers probly a dodge lover

 

I miss it too. Sux

 

My understanding was they removed it to increase visibility for the driver, not for any safety reasons at all. I NEVER have used mine, but understand why you'd miss it if you did. I always use the steering wheel for a steadying hand as I pull up and slide into my seat. I know some out there will cry foul, saying I'm ruining my steering wheel somehow. I only weigh like 120 or so, and I don't really "pull" on the wheel, so much as just use it as a steady guidance mechanism for stability as I step on my running board and then slide into my captain's chair. I'm VERY picky with my truck and wouldn't ever do anything I thought would cause it harm (other than actually driving it, but hey, can't just sit in my yard, I did buy it as a means of conveyance after all).

 

Statistics maybe. There is always somebody in the driver's seat but not necessarily the passenger's seat. Also the design of the airbag on the passenger side might be a variable. Its easier to fit a much larger airbag on the passenger's side.

Another variable that could have played into it is maybe Ford testing revealed its actually not used much though now seem to miss it. I never used the driver's grab handle in my old F150 but it was 4x2 as is my 09. I'm not tall by any means at 5'9".

 

Wouldn't visibility be a safety issue?

 

Passenger side air bag is significantly further away then the drivers airbag.

 

D'oh! Got me on that one!

 

This is just an idea but...
Is the A pillar the same in the 09 models as it was in 04-08? Could you possible go to a scrap yard or something and find the panel with a handle and swap them out?

Not sure if it is at all possible because of the new dash, but just an idea.