Plenty of people find Krawlergrips after typing "how to make a paracord grab handle" into Google. Fair enough. It is a satisfying thing to make and the materials are cheap. So here is the honest version: what you need, how it goes together, how long your first one will take, and where the DIY route falls over. If you get to the end and decide you would rather have one hand braided in Brisbane, our paracord grab handles are right there.
What a paracord grab handle actually is
A paracord grab handle is a length of cord wrapped in a tight braid, with a loop at each end that bolts to your existing pillar or roof handle mounts. The braid is what makes it comfortable and grippy. The loops are what make it a handle rather than a rope. That is it. No metal frame, no moulded plastic, no clips.
What you need
You need genuine 550 paracord, roughly seven metres per handle if you use one colour for the outer braid and black for the core and loops (we use about three metres of colour and four metres of black per Krawlergrip). You need sharp scissors, a lighter to seal cut ends, a tape measure, and something to hold the work steady, like a clamp or a hook. If your vehicle uses clips instead of screws, you will also need nut inserts to give the handle something to bolt to. Washers are optional but they finish the mount properly and stop the loop wearing on the screw head.
How it goes together
Start by measuring. Take the distance from the centre of one mounting hole to the centre of the other, then add four to five centimetres so your hand fits behind the handle. That total is your finished length. Cut a core of doubled cord to that length with a loop at each end for the bolts, and lock the loops so they cannot pull through. Then braid the outer cord over the core from one loop to the other. Most people use a cobra weave (also called a Solomon bar) because it grips well, looks tidy and holds its shape. Keep every knot tight and even. Loose knots are what makes a home made handle feel spongy after a few weeks. When you reach the far loop, tuck the tails back under the braid, trim, and melt the ends flat so nothing frays. Fit it with your original screws or bolts and a washer each end.
How long it takes
A first handle usually takes an hour or two, most of it learning to keep tension even. By the third or fourth you will be down to around twenty to thirty minutes each. A pair for the front pillars is a good afternoon project.
Where DIY falls over
Three things catch people out. Length: if you guess instead of measuring, the handle ends up too tight to get a hand behind or too loose to feel solid, and you cannot adjust a finished braid. Tension: an uneven braid twists and goes lumpy, and the loops stretch under load if the core is not locked properly. Cord: cheap "paracord" from a bargain bin is often not 550 rated, so it stretches, fades in the sun and goes slippery when wet. Genuine Type III 550 paracord is 100% nylon, about 4mm across, mildew resistant and rated to roughly 250kg per strand. If you want the detail, read our 550 paracord explained post.
When it is easier to buy one
If you want a matched pair in a specific colour combo, in the exact length for your vehicle, with washers that match, and you want them to still look right in two years, that is what we do all day. Every Krawlergrips paracord grab handle is hand braided in Brisbane from genuine 550 paracord in 18, 21 or 24cm, or a custom length if your mounts are unusual. Pick from the standard colours or design your own combination. They bolt to your factory mounts, ship within one to four business days, and go Australia wide.
Either way, measure first
Whether you braid your own or order from us, the measuring step is the same and it is the one people skip. Centre of hole to centre of hole, add four to five centimetres. Our FAQ and grab handle guide has the sizing rundown for common vehicles, and the installation guide shows the fit on the day your handles arrive.