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CanT get the Grabars to fit, will Wild boar fit?

6K views 38 replies 32 participants last post by  Flyfisher590 
#1 ·
The Grabars will not fit and I am NOT going to bend my 50k vehicle and would like a pair of these type bars in front.
Anyone try to fit the Grabars and not have them fit then purchasing another brand that fits right in by chance??
CMM, do they fit when Grabard don't? Wild Boar?

Also, tha CMM front set, do they get in the way of the visor at all, they are badass looking!!
:beerdrinking:
 
#2 ·
(Sorry in advance to the grumpy folks who have endured a dozen of these threads.)

I can't exactly answer your question about trying GraBars, then Wild Boar. But after reading the nightmares of the GraBars installations followed by visor issues, I concluded that the product is flawed in its design and/or manufacturing in multiple ways.

I bought and installed the Wild Boar bars just last week: $35, shipped, on Amazon. Installation was as quick as my ability to spin the bolts and the bars are rock solid and tucked right where I want them. I couldn't be happier with the product.
 
#3 ·
They will fit, try putting in the screws in without the handles and you will remove some the the threadlock from the factory. The screws go on strange angles so look how they are angled. It takes time to get them right.
 
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#5 ·
The front are a pain in the a$$. I installed them on my 2016 JKUS. The back are easy. Definitely requires patience. I threaded just the bolts in and out a few times to remove any cement from the previous bolts and to ensure they went in deep enough to secure the handle tight. I got both started loosely, then a few turns a piece and used a torque wrench last. It was very difficult getting them tight enough to not rattle, but ultimately I did. Once in, they're solid!
 
#7 ·
I got a set of GraBars for my Sahara and a set of Wild Boars for my Rubicon.

The GraBars were a total pain in the butt to install, especially the front passenger side; the Wild Boars went in at first try with no drama.

A year later, the Wild Boars work as good as new while the GraBar that was a pain to install has started developing a buzzing vibration under hard acceleration.

My recommendation to anyone who asks this question is: skip the GraBars and get the Wild Boars, save half the money and a ton of aggravation.

Good luck!
 
#9 ·
Even the wild boar handles can be a bit tough to install. The angles are strange and the aforementioned factory threadlock compound can hang things up. I would try running the grabbar bolts in by themselves as suggested and then try them again instead of just spending more money on the wild boar handles.
 
#11 ·
I ordered a set of the Wild Boars and when I was installing them I noticed that the bolt holes were drilled wrong. The holes on the side were drilled correctly, whereas the top ones were both drilled at the angle for the passenger side. There was no way the drivers side would go on. Sadly, it took a half hour of cursing, threatening, and screaming at various inanimate objects before I realized the problem.

I have to extend accolades to Wild Boar, they had a replacement set out to me in two days.
 
#12 ·
For those of you who are unaware that the forum has rules, the following is copied and pasted from them.

While WranglerForum does offer a search feature, we do not require anyone to use it before posting questions. We realize the search tool is crude and it is the helpful nature of this community that makes WF what it is and sets it apart from the others. Likewise, if the only reply to a thread you can offer is to "go search" or "use the search" please don't. Telling users, mainly new users, to just search is rude and can drive them away, as the can feel belittled from such comments. Not everyone is aware of how forums work, but most learn quickly.


Now back to topic please.
 
#18 ·
Thanks dreamer..

Did the extensive search and not once found the answer I'm looking for nor on this thread as well.
The question was did anyone try the grabars and not have them install properly then try the wild boar and did they fit?
Different products, maybe on is engineered better for our vehicles..
 
#14 ·
While WranglerForum does offer a search feature, we do not require anyone to use it before posting questions. We realize the search tool is crude and it is the helpful nature of this community that makes WF what it is and sets it apart from the others. Likewise, if the only reply to a thread you can offer is to "go search" or "use the search" please don't. Telling users, mainly new users, to just search is rude and can drive them away, as the can feel belittled from such comments.
And besides this, a fresh conversation from newcomers months a few months after previous threads can offer new perspectives.

For example, this discussion is a good opportunity to learn whether or not Welcome Distributing has modified the design of GraBars by now or continued to remain ignorant to customer concerns as seen in a previous thread.
 
#15 · (Edited)
I attacked it from a different angle, I bought my GraBars and then bought Two(2) different Jeeps and they fit in Both! Yay Jeep!! :)

Are they the easiest thing I ever installed? not really but they were far far from being challenging. Hardest thing about it is sitting twisted and holding your arms up that long (IMO)
 
#16 ·
I have the Wild Boars and have no experience with the GRABARS, but will say that I am happy with the Boars, three of them went on with no problem at all but the drivers set were a real PITA to get in, I had to step away a few times and it took about 2 weeks of aggravation to get them lined up right, but it was worth it..
 
#17 ·
I have the GraBars in my 10 JK. The toughest thing, as others have mentioned, is taking note of the angle of the bolts when you remove them. Put them back in a couple times to get a feel for the angle and it becomes (almost) second nature.

I have removed and reinstalled a couple times for various projects and have had no performance or installation issues over 2 years of use.
 
#19 ·
Has anyone had issues specifically with the rear handles? I purchased the Wild Boar handles and had zero issues with the front, and the passenger rear went up without issue as well. On the driver side I can get one bolt in (it's actually up with only one bolt now) but the second bolt doesn't want to catch. The bolt goes in and it seems like it's lined up (the head sinks in all the way) but it's almost like the bolt is a tiny bit too short to go far enough in to the Jeep and hold. The bolt is the same size as all the others and I even tried different ones but the problem arises every time.
 
#21 ·
I was having an issue with the soundbar hanging a little bit which was causing the driver's rear bolt to not catch. After running the bolt in with some WD40 a couple of times and not having an issue catching threads, it occurred to me to push up on the trim a bit.
 
#20 ·
I have wild boars in front.
Used some anti-seize and it took less than 10 minutes to install them.
I initially thought the "wild boar" name embossed in the grip would annoy me, but then I saw the massive grabar.com thing embossed on the more expense, and harder to install option; and was pleasantly content with my "cheap" purchase.
I'd buy the wild boars again.
 
#25 ·
Yeah, it took me about 10 minutes as well. They are very sturdy. Much easier to get in and out of my lifted JKUR.
 
#22 ·
I had no problems with my 2010 installation. If you tighten the top bolt first (think it was the top) you draw the handle out and away from the visor, then tighten the bottom bolt. That's how I did mine and no visor interference now after adjusting it because it was hitting the visor at first. Read the diretions on their website, it talks about the visor issue.
 
#24 ·
If you do read and search the forums, both the Grabars and Wild Boar are known to have installation issues from what appears to be manufacturing tolerances in the Jeep itself not the handles.

I just installed mine. The rears went in with no issue. The passenger front went in with no issue, the drivers side I had to grind about 1/8" off of the short spacer to get things to line up.

Watch some of the UTube videos for tips and hints. Run the new bolts in and out a couple of times to clear the threads in the Jeep. Be careful and don't smack the ratchet handle into the windshield.

My biggest problem was that some of the bolts in the Wild Boar handles I bought off of Amazon didn't have the allen head/socket broached into them. Had to run to the local fastener specialty store and get some more, but they were only $1 each.
 
#26 ·
The main difference between the Grabars and the knockoffs are the size of the holes, the knockoff's holes are a little bigger allowing for an easier interface with Jeeps meandering manufacturing tolerances. If your having difficulties with Grabars just drill the holes one size bigger. Hard for me to believe the Welcome Manufacturing has not followed their knockoffs lead and made their holes bigger, that simple change would eliminate most if not all the bad press regarding difficulties with installations.
 
#30 ·
Ok, through various forums and youtube I got my Grabars installed. 1st tried the factory instructions and after 1/2 hour try on each side, it just would not go. Found advice that said take a 8x1.25 tap and run it through the threads to clean out the factory gunk. Did this and bolt ran through great. The other issue was the longer spacer. It was just a little to long to allow the handle to angle over enough to line up the upper bolt to the proper angle. I cut 1/4" exactly off each one. I did NOT drill out the holes in the handle to be once size larger.
Put the bolts in without anything else and note the weird angles. I started the top bolt 1st and ran it in just enough to hold up the handle. Then the shortened side spacer and bolt. Back and forth between the two. Don't tighten the top one too much until the head of the bolt on the side nests into the recess of the handle. That way as the different angles torque the handle too and fro, it will stay on track. I finished the top one 1st and tightened it quite a bit. Then I let the side bolt pull the handle over the MM it needed. This was obviously putting stress in the upper bolt, but that was already completely seated and didn't need to move over much. I was deliberate on each one and they took 10 min a side.
 
#32 ·
My vote is for the Carolina Metal Masters handles. They look and feel bad ass, take 5 minutes to install with zero frustration. The ram ball mount does keep the visor from being lowered completely to the windshield. I just slide the visor out a little bit to get the it to clear the head of the mount so the visor can lay closer to windshield.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
#34 ·
I did the Wild Boar myself. Driver side took 5 min. It took several hours on the passenger side. I'm convinced it is a Chrysler issue, not the handles. I used a flashlight and stuck my head up there while also putting in the screw with no handle. It was obvious the area where you screw the bolt in was offset and at an odd angle. Once I figured that out, I messed with it another 15 min and got it in.
 
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