Have you got a pic of your truck both sides?

If you have Nerf Bars already you might consider these $80 Grab Handles:
http://www.autotrucktoys.com/ram/JJ-...6165C1375.aspx

Not sure on how much weight they support tho.

 

HOLY MACARONI!!!! I just found these on-line... $1300!!! I dunno... still may be the best bet, though. I'll have to research their reliability. Maybe I'll even be able to write them off as a necessary addition? We'll see. Thanks again!!!!

 

Here is a pic of my 2006
These type grabs are in the2004 tooas far as I know,my neighbors 04 has them.

If we had a better understanding of your get in and out ofthe truck process we might beable to design something that folds away betwen the center console and the driver seatwhen not in use. Something bolted to the floor.


[IMG]local://upfiles/59926/094AD4C9FB0640F19057FC91227D643A.jpg[/IMG]

 

I wonder if there would be a way, if there's enough clearance, to maybe screw those into the seat frame on the side of the driver's seat facing the door? Know what I mean? I really don't know if that would work. I haven't even seen the seat lately, nevermind examined it to see where the seat frame sits at. Thanks for the link!

*EDIT* Those are the same A-pillar handles as the '05's, as well. Work well, but just ergonomically incorrect for my status at the moment.

 

yeah, that's what i'm thinking. a handle on the center console itself would be cool, but i don't know if will hold up. maybe like a huge plastic d-handle or ring attached to the center passenger seatbelt. would that help?

 

Well.. What ever you decide to to wheather to attach a handle or a power side step.. I reallly hope it helps you...

 

Ahhhh.... the sneaky sneaky edit!

Ok, here's the deal... as of right now, I don't HAVE an ingress/egress procedure for the driver's side. I am an AK (above knee) amputee on my right side, and my left leg isn't very strong right now, either. In fact, I am two months removed from reconstructive knee surgery, and I actually just had ankle surgery yesterday! I have a C-Leg prosthesis for my right side, but before my surgery in March I had only been using it a few months, so I am still very wobbly on it and my balance is not that great due to having no real strength or stability in my left leg/knee, either. Most of the effort for getting in and out of a vehicle is simply upper body muscling.

When I eventually start driving again, I imagine the process is going to be one step at a time, very slowly in and out. I'd have to get both feet on the same step before I tried getting the other one in the door. Unfortunately, because it is my right leg that has the prosthesis, I don't have a lot of control or power on that side...which is the side that gets in the door first. On the passenger side it's not that big of a deal. So, I basically need some handles that I'll be able to pull myself up straight and balance myself with as I try to get my body in the cab.

Does that help at all? Hope I was kinda clear. I can try and describe it differently if you don't understand.

 

I was thinking something like this:

I apoligize for the poor quality of the drawing.

It would reside inbetween your Driver seat and center console if room permits.
You could tuck it away after you got into the truck. Pull it out to get out.

Of course it would be made of good strong metal (larger than drawn) and could be altered more in the handle to allow for further extention. Maybe some extra support hardware to (through)the center console.
[IMG]local://upfiles/59926/E668C2487D294D71B4FAAA0615330257.jpg[/IMG]

 

well,i had to sit and think for a bit on how you proposed you would get in and out. it seems like pulling up from above is the only way to go especially with a 3" lift. i'm gonna try it myself tomorrow to get a better idea (raining now) the only thing that would come close to your requirements would be an oem handle above the door (as expressed earlier) or half a roll cage. at the moment i don't think there is an easy solution without fabrication or coughing up the money for the power step. even with the step it seems you would be better off with pulling from above regardless of whether you regain stability in your left leg.

 

DeWalt: Wow, thanks for all the thought and effort into this! My gut feeling tells me that I direct-upward motion is what is required, as well. If I can get myself standing straight up, I can maybe just face outward and sit down on the seat, then swivel my hips and legs 90 degrees to the right and under the steering wheel. Make sense? That's the best scenario that I've been able to come up with in my mind for right now. At least until I get better and more mobile being bipedal again...

Pappy: I *think* I understand what you are getting at there. Instead of the whole scissoring mechanism, maybe a simpler solution would be just some sort of sturdy rope or strap with a handle attached either to a floor point or around the bottom of the seat frame between the driver's seat and center console? That might be a less "permanent" idea. I dunno. It would definitely be worth a try, as well.

Thanks again, guys. I really didn't expect anyone to put this much thought into it!