Sneak Peek: A-Pillar Grab Handles for 4th Gen Tacoma (by Carlimeki) – What Do You Want to See?

[MustardTiger]

I ordered it...see how she goes. Not sure if the ergonomics will actually work...like I'll have to grab it with my right hand when getting out, which is awkward at best.

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[MustardTiger]

Well, my grab handle arrived and the lower tab is broken off. No visible signs of shipping damage, so kinda frustrating. Have ordered another one, and returning the broken one.

 

[carlimeki]

Well, my grab handle arrived and the lower tab is broken off. No visible signs of shipping damage, so kinda frustrating. Have ordered another one, and returning the broken one.

Please kindly note that our official brands are Carlimeki and BGUCAR.
If the product you received is sold under another brand name, it is not manufactured or sold by us. We recommend checking the product listing and ensuring that the item you order shows our official trademark to avoid receiving imitation or unauthorized products.


Thank you for your understanding and support!

 

[Yotota]

@carlimeki have you made any changes to the plastic color, to better match the OEM piece?

And has your product been tested for airbag deployment?


As seen in another users pics, the color does not match their OEM a-pillar cover:

... Since I could tell the color matching wasn't quite bang on (darker black vs factory oem)...I decided to order the alternate "BGUCAR" brand. The box it comes in is a little smaller, so the item was more secure inside and arrived intact. Placing the two side by side, they are perfectly identical, down to the part numbers and scripting on the back side. It doesn't matter which one you purchase, you are getting the same thing

The factory OEM A-pillar cover is in the middle, and as you can see...the color is different...a bit lighter black, more charcoal grey/black. It's not a perfect match.

Here is the attachment of the speaker grill, with the factory OEM being plastic welded on. I have not yet tried to swap the two in an effort to keep my JBL speaker grill. If anyone has pictures/procedure of doing that, please share. I figured I'd try the grab handle out first to see if I like it before mutilating the original part.

Other than the not-quite matching color and absent JBL logo....my biggest gripe with this product is there are marks on the plastic that don't wipe off or buff out. Quality is lacking in final visual fit and finish, IMHO. And you can see this on both items. So if you are OCD about it being perfect and an exact match...I'd say hold off on this item until either quality improves, other manufacturers produce them, or Toyota themselves smartens up and equips these trucks from the factory with a grab handle on the drivers side A pillar (thus creating a Toyota part that can be ordered).

OVERALL, I rate this 3.5 out of 5 for quality and fit-finish. Regardless, this is a must-have accessory. Even having it on for one trip up town, getting in and out multiple times...it's very natural, and meant to be. Having a handle on the driver side makes the Tacoma feel more 'truck' - as it truly is supposed to be there, just like on other trucks! You can grab the handle (vs steering wheel) getting out of the truck, stepping onto the running board and lifting up and out...preserving your seat cushion and also making it easier to get out. Getting in the truck, again...it's very natural to grab as your stepping up and in. This handle allows you to not slide across and out of the seat...and I truly believe it will help preserve your seat cushion and cover. A "through handle" is really not necessary here, and I'm being honest.

 

[carlimeki]

FOLLOW-UP UPDATE FROM CARLIMEKI & BGUCAR — FULL-GRIP DESIGN & COLOR MATCH IMPROVEMENT

Hey everyone — quick update from our side, and thank you again for all the support and feedback in this thread.


1️. Update on the Full-Grip (“through-hole”) A-pillar Handle Design

Many of you have been asking about the fully open, full-grip style handle.
After internal evaluation, we’ve decided to pause the development indefinitely.


Here’s why:

• After studying the cabin layout of the 4th Gen Tacoma, we still cannot finalize a design shape that guarantees safety. A larger, protruding full-grip handle may obstruct the driver’s field of view, which presents a potential safety risk.
• To determine whether such a design is feasible, we would need to test multiple structural variations, run long-term data comparisons, and verify visibility performance in real vehicles. This process requires extensive engineering time and cannot be completed in the short term.

Because of these factors, the full-grip concept is on hold with no planned release timeline.
If anything changes in the future, we will update the community immediately.


2️. Color-Match Issue — Now Fully Resolved (Pics Attached)

Some customers reported that an earlier batch of handles appeared slightly darker / deeper black than the OEM A-pillar.


We investigated and found the cause:


The earlier batch was missing one of the final coating layers, which caused the surface to appear deeper and more saturated in black compared to the factory color.


This issue has now been fully resolved.


All new batches use the corrected coating process, and the color now matches almost identically to OEM under both daylight and interior lighting.


(Real photos of the latest batch are attached below.)



If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to comment — we always appreciate the community’s feedback.
Thanks again for all the support!


— Carlimeki Team

 

[VBFD Taco]

I am disappointed to read this message but I have to applaud your commitment to safety.
I guess something is better than nothing.

 

[AspenThicket]

FOLLOW-UP UPDATE FROM CARLIMEKI & BGUCAR — FULL-GRIP DESIGN & COLOR MATCH IMPROVEMENT

Hey everyone — quick update from our side, and thank you again for all the support and feedback in this thread.


1️. Update on the Full-Grip (“through-hole”) A-pillar Handle Design

Many of you have been asking about the fully open, full-grip style handle.
After internal evaluation, we’ve decided to pause the development indefinitely.


Here’s why:

• After studying the cabin layout of the 4th Gen Tacoma, we still cannot finalize a design shape that guarantees safety. A larger, protruding full-grip handle may obstruct the driver’s field of view, which presents a potential safety risk.
• To determine whether such a design is feasible, we would need to test multiple structural variations, run long-term data comparisons, and verify visibility performance in real vehicles. This process requires extensive engineering time and cannot be completed in the short term.

Because of these factors, the full-grip concept is on hold with no planned release timeline.
If anything changes in the future, we will update the community immediately.


2️. Color-Match Issue — Now Fully Resolved (Pics Attached)

Some customers reported that an earlier batch of handles appeared slightly darker / deeper black than the OEM A-pillar.


We investigated and found the cause:


The earlier batch was missing one of the final coating layers, which caused the surface to appear deeper and more saturated in black compared to the factory color.


This issue has now been fully resolved.


All new batches use the corrected coating process, and the color now matches almost identically to OEM under both daylight and interior lighting.


(Real photos of the latest batch are attached below.)



If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to comment — we always appreciate the community’s feedback.
Thanks again for all the support!


— Carlimeki Team

When are you going to produce one though the speaker?

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