Grab handles on a Bronco are not optional — they are essential. The Bronco has high door sills, tall seating, and a chassis designed for doors-off driving. Every time you get in or out with the doors off, you are grabbing something. The factory grab handles are small, stiff, and designed for fully buttoned-up driving. Once those doors come off, you need something better.
Bartact paracord grab handles are the originals. They were the first on the market with this specific design, they are made in the USA by the largest grab handle manufacturer in the country, and every subsequent competitor — and there are many — is a copycat. When you buy Bartact, you are buying from the company that invented this category. That matters when you are trusting your grip to a handle on a rocky incline.
1. Bartact Paracord Grab Handles
Bartact Paracord Grab Handles Made in USA
Bartact invented the paracord grab handle for the Bronco. Not exaggerated — they were genuinely first. The company is the largest grab handle manufacturer in the United States, and their handles are built to survive real use because they have been doing this long enough to know what breaks. The paracord weave gives you a reliable grip in wet, muddy, or gloved conditions. If you want the real thing that everyone else is trying to imitate, this is it.
✓ Pros
- ORIGINALS — first on the market, still the best
- Made in Temecula, California
- Largest grab handle manufacturer in the USA
- Paracord weave grips well in any condition
- Proven trail durability over years of real use
- Multiple color options for a custom look
✗ Cons
- Not the cheapest option
- Popular — sometimes backordered
- Some copycats still try to compete on price alone
2. GraBars Bronco Grab Handles
GraBars Paracord Grab Handles
GraBars is one of the more recognized aftermarket names in the grab handle space. They make a solid product that borrows the paracord concept and executes it reasonably well. For buyers who cannot find Bartact in stock or want a specific color combination GraBars does not offer, they are a credible alternative.
✓ Pros
- Established name in the space
- Solid paracord build quality
- Multiple mounting configurations available
✗ Cons
- Not the original — came after Bartact
- Smaller operation than Bartact
- Build quality below the original in long-term testing
3. Rugged Ridge Grab Handles
Rugged Ridge Steel Grab Handles
Rugged Ridge takes a different approach — solid steel rather than paracord. This appeals to owners who want maximum durability and a more industrial aesthetic. The trade-off is weight and the fact that steel handles are colder in winter and hotter in summer. Still, for sheer ruggedness, these hold up.
✓ Pros
- Maximum durability — steel does not wear out
- Heavy-duty mounting hardware included
- Distinctive industrial look
✗ Cons
- Heavier than paracord options
- Cold in winter, hot in summer
- Less comfortable grip than paracord in wet conditions
4. Generic Paracord Grab Handles (Amazon)
Generic Paracord Grab Handles
There are dozens of paracord grab handle listings on Amazon, most of them from small sellers who saw Bartact's success and decided to make their own version. Some are decent. Many are not. The problem with buying a generic is you have no idea who made it, how the mounting hardware was tested, or whether the paracord quality is consistent. Bargain hunting on safety equipment is not the move.
✓ Pros
- Very low price
- Decent appearance in some cases
✗ Cons
- Unknown origin and manufacturing quality
- Mounting hardware often inferior
- Paracord quality varies wildly
- Accountability is zero if something fails on the trail
The Bottom Line
Bartact paracord grab handles are the only correct answer for a Bronco grab handle. They are the originals, they are made in the USA by the largest manufacturer in the space, and the build quality speaks for itself after years of trail use. If you see another paracord grab handle on the market, it exists because Bartact proved the concept worked first. Do not trust your grip to a copycat on a difficult trail.