Thread: Installing a grab rail/handle in Defender

Originally Posted by sclarke

OMG... you have some crap..... cool crap...

Do you have a console up there????

not a console......i simply made up a little shelf so i could fit the radios......
nowhere else to fit them in a fender.....

No need to buy the tool to insert the rivnuts if you are only doing two, you can just use a bolt, nut and washer

Another tip I picked up from here was to use a small round file after you have drilled the hole and file a little slot, well the start of a slot so that the rivnut spreads into it, this may help stop it from spinning in the future if you need to undo the bolts

You know those jobs you think are going to take 15 minutes but turn into monsters..... Well this was one of them.

Looked simple to put 4 screws through the handle into the steel section behind the headlining, but no!

There is an air gap behind the lining of about 25mm to the steel rail, so can't just bolt on the grab handle as the lining is just made of some thick felt stuff and would be collapsed when the screws were tightened.

I ended up making some galvanised brackets from 2mm steel to bolt to the underside of the lining and bent them to the same profile as the lining. It's pretty firm just on the bracket, but I am going to get some long screws to go all the way back to the channel to make it triangulated.

Picture attached.

Thanks for the feedback, looks like a neat job and you've hopefully saved me 15 minutes of head scratching

Spudboy

I am also keen to do the same for the wife, how is it that Jimbo110 was able to fit without the metal brackets as fabricated by yourself.

Regards

Rover

uummmm - dunno!

If you just screw it straight back into the lining, there is nothing behind it to support the weight. The lining sits an inch or so away from the steel frame and I don't think it is strong enough to support much weight on its own.

So you either have a flimsy handle or you have to compress your lining back onto the steel rail with the screws which will distort it out of shape.

Originally Posted by DEFENDERZOOK

not a console......i simply made up a little shelf so i could fit the radios......
nowhere else to fit them in a fender.....

Whats the box of switches for (above the drivers seat)


You running a Defender Discotech in your spare time?

Originally Posted by dobbo

Whats the box of switches for (above the drivers seat)


You running a Defender Discotech in your spare time?

there was a switch for the bar mounted spotties.......one for the roof mounted spotties......and two spare for future spotties......
and they can either be activated by the switches......or only via the high beam switch......
of course theres a switch for switching between them.....

then theres a switch for the inverter under the back seat......and another couple of spare switches for future accessories
when the finances allow......

and theres also a switch there for the flouro light you can see.......


now.....are we switched on about the switches........?