My biggest use was to stand on the door sill , hold on to the grab handle and clean the snow/ice/dirt off the windshield !
BTW I got tired of plastic window scrapers chipping so I made one .With a handle about 3.5 ' long and six inch wide blade of STEEL ! Works fine but you have to carefully polish the blade and remove sharp corners .This one will last !!

 

Yes there is an airbag in the driver side a pillar. I seen it when I installed my stereo. I didn't check pass side.

 

I even used the 'search' function and did-int find any complaints of excessive lateral play in the steering wheel from using it as an assist to enter the vehicle............

The guys with the 'retractable' running boards should modify them to act as a 'wheel chair assist' and then they could be gently lifted into the cab............

 

But what about the feng shui of the interior ? The feng shui. WHAT ABOUT THE FENG SHUI ?

The universe abhors a vaccum.

Not to mention the suspension setup imbalance.

And I'm fairly certain that there are HP, MPG, LSMFT, etc., etc., etc.. considerations.


.

 

I love the grab handle, my 06 dodge diesel has one. For 4 years it was lifted with big tires, and no bleeding step bars, perfect with a grab handle. Just open the door, grab the handle with your left hand and plop down into the center of the seat. I'm 5'11" and 160 pounds, I don't "need" it, but it might be a deciding factor on my next truck purchase. BTW, come on, I need a single cab, short bed 5.0 FX2, loaded, kind of like the Dodge R/T. I really like the dodge R/T, I just hate that transmission, but it does have a grab handle.

 

Umm, yea.

SL

 

I finally got a chance to take an eco boost truck for a spin today. My only complaint was the lack of a driver's side grab handle! I had no idea they didn't have them any more. Ridiculous!

 

I miss it and do grab the wheel. I read a test article couple months ago on 3/4 ton trucks and one thing they did mention was that Ford had one and Chevy didn't. Why would they do it on the F250/350 and not the F150? Granted the F250/350's are taller, but it's still a climb for the average guy. They have one on the passenger side and it's gets used how often? I only have a passenger 10% of the time. Dumb.

 

My uncle owns a shop and works on lots of farmers trucks. We have seen lots of trucks with loose steering columns and wore out door hinges from people using them to get in. Needless to say they get in and out a lot more than most, but it will cause premature wear.

 

My truck needs as many oh sh@t handles as it can get

 

Not sure how. I have had my truck now for 5 years, and in that time I have lost a good deal of weight, I am just now getting under the 300 # mark and my fat butt hasn't snapped it off yet!

 

+1

While it's saved me from a broken *** while getting in and out on an icy parking lot, my main use for the thing was as an OH SH*T handle. Maybe the commuters here don't need them, but those of us who like to take our rides off the beaten path are sure as hell going to miss them. They were also handy to hold onto when scraping snow and ice off the windshield, as others have mentioned. It's a cheap move, and one of many in the 2009+ line that I'm less than impressed with. It's funny how Ford went all-out on some things with this latest revision, and just cheaped out on others.

 

+2.

In case the fat chicks can run.

 

Yes, Ford needs to add the driver's side grab handle back. Yes, the ones on the previous generation trucks break off, so they need a more sturdy design.

I have had 98, 01, 04 and 07 F-150's. I'm 6'3" and 210 Lbs, and accustomed to using both the steering wheel and the grab handle to get into the truck, in different ways depending on the specific truck model.

My first 4WD was the 04. I noticed that my wife and other ladies usually struggled getting into the passenger side on this taller truck, so when I got the 07 I ordered it with step bars. Then I found that I myself had some awkwardness getting into the driver's side, whether using the step bars or trying to step over them. If using the step bars, you MUST have your hand on something or you can really bust your **s if the step bar is wet or frosty. Grabbing the steering wheel would very noticeably move the wheel, which concerned me. Using the handle felt clumsy until I discovered the right way: "Left foot on bar, right hand on handle". I give ladies opposite instruction for the passenger's side, and it makes for a smooth entry.

Last year I thought I might by a 2010 model, and I did some test driving. As another poster stated, my first words to the salesman as we got in were "where's the dang grab handle"? Deal breaker? I don't know, but I drove 3 different ones and just couldn't find enough overall improvement to justify an upgrade from my 07, which I really like. The lack of grab-handle really annoyed me, as did a return to using the steering wheel to pull up.

I also use the grab-handle some as an arm rest on long highway trips, just as another way to stretch out and change positions to address fatigue. And to stabilize, as I'm on the step bar cleaning the windshield off.

Then last week, I was getting in my truck and the handle broke right off. I nearly busted my tail. Somebody will eventually sue over this. Ford dealer claimed never having heard of the problem, and a check for recalls, etc. turned up nothing. They weren't interested in giving me a free replacement, and the dealer price is $70. I'm online now searching for a better deal.

Here are pics of the broken part:

https://www.f150online.com/forums/me...-img-6823.html

https://www.f150online.com/forums/me...7-img-6824.jpg

Ford, are you listening?

 

I guess I'm glad I never got used to the drivers side handle in my 04, I'd probably be in the same boat as the rest of you, pissed it isn't there anymore.

I use my step tubes and grab the steering wheel. Worked fine on the last truck, no reason it won't work again.