I don't know about you, but when a tiny foreign car has oh-**** handles and an off-road rated truck doesn't, there is a problem that needs to be solved. I finally took the plunge and installed something that I really like. I believe you will too!

For about $25 and a few hours I was able to get this:




NOTE: this will NOT interfere with the windows' airbags.

Here is what you need:



I have a four door 2020 LT, so the instructions below are based on my experience.

You will be taking down one side of the headliner at a time. The A-Post, the visor, the front seat-belt post, the receiver of the visor, and the above center console all come down. NOTE: You do not have to completely remove the front A-post and the rear post can slide down the seat belt.

Once you have removed:
six screws from the front (four from the visor and two from the top console)
four 10mm bolts (from both post)
and a 7mm bolt (from the rear post under the "Airbag" clip)
The headliner on that side is ready to come down. It is currently under a lip of both doors' gasket. Separating the liner from the lap of the gasket is easy. That is where the no-scratch tools (red tools in the picture above) come into play.

Now the headliner doesn't fall down that far. But it is enough for my arm to fit and feel along the air bag and find the bolt that will need to be removed. Bad thing, is that it has a backing washer, holding the bolt onto the airbag. That is where I used the locking pliers to help remove the backing washer from the black PVC casing that the air bag is in.

From there I used the following setup to replace the black 10MM head bolt. You will be replacing this black bold with a M6 X 35 bolt. Here is that replacement configuration:




Notice that I am mimicking the black bolt's function by having a nut and washer to hold the air bag in-place exactly like the black bolt did.

Once I installed the strap configuration, I identified the location it would stick through and marked it with the black marker. Using a box cutter I cut exactly the same width of the strap. I used fray stop to keep the headliner from fraying. I waited an hour before pulling the strap through this hole.

Once you pull the strap through, you can reassemble that side – except the center console.

Proceed to the other side and repeat. Then reassemble the center console once both handles are in-place..

With all the materials on-hand, I can see this being done in 4 hours or less.

 

So they no longer install grab handles on Chevy pickups,4x4's in particular? BTW, the air-bags deploy from the steering column and the dash, not the window area.

Whats next on the hit list? Non-tilting steering wheels? No window-cleaner fluid container/sprayer ?No power-steering? Hell I grew up with none of those things available. Just keep the gas tank out of cab, that's all I ask. Takes up lots of space for long firearms to be hidden from view and perhaps stolen.by criminals.

 

Hello Oilcan!

In this model it does have side window airbags. It is even labeled.

I too remember the days of the metal gas tank behind your back. That is why I had a gun rack over the back window.

Take Care.