Billet Door Handles: Pros & Cons

[Alpha X]

Are billet door handles a good idea or bad idea on our trucks? I've been weighing pros and cons.

If I hit a plastic door handle on a tree, it will probably break, but maybe not cause much sheetmetal damage. The handle wouldn't work, the plastic pieces inside might break, etc. Probability of the plastic handle surviving is low.

If I hit a billet aluminum door handle on a tree, the door handle is probably not breaking, but it would drive all of that force into the sheetmetal, potentially damaging sheetmetal worse than a plastic handle. But... the door handle itself might still work, and maybe the mechanism is still functional.

Really, if I'm close enough to hit a door handle on a tree, I'm probably also hitting sheetmetal, so there's sheetmetal damage either way.
What else am I overlooking? Has anybody smacked their door handle on a tree / rock / elephant? Was it busted?

Thanks.

 

[Korby7]

I didn’t know they had billet handles available. I’d pick up a set. I always worry about plastic ones breaking off in the winter.

 

[Jeepwalker]

I haven't personally smacked a door handle on a tree. I'd think you'd probably be ripping off a rear fender if you were that close to a tree and moving at any speed. Maybe catch the rear tire. Another thing: the door skins are relatively flat and aren't that particularly 'tough'. If you hit a door handle on a tree it's probably going to push (dent) the door panel plastic or billet. But I suppose if you hit it just right and it was cold out, a tree might possibly shear the door handle off. They might possibly freeze solid faster in the winter (??). Plastic at least flexes and kind of breaks away from ice.

But it's a cool idea, and I wouldn't be afraid to run them personally. What are some of the positives ...for going with the billet handles ...looks mainly, or durability too?

If I had them, and knowing more damage might occur, it would probably cause me to stay slightly further away from objects.

 

[Happy Hummer]

I agree with the o.p. rationale that the billet handle will more than likely place the force on the sheet metal and sink the surrounding area inward.

Plastic will break off leaving a clean door skin behind.

 

[650Hawk]

Got a link to the billet door handles?

 

[Brad]

Got a link to the billet door handles?

I found this link but it says out of stock.....

https://www.stallioncustoms.com/hummer-h3-chrome-door-handle-set.html

550 bucks seems like a bit much for door handles that could damage the doors if they get hit off road. They are solid aluminum and chrome plated and sure do look nice though and I bet they feel like quality when you open the doors instead of like pulling on chinsey plastic. Either way unfortunately they appear to be out of stock.

 

[Alpha X]

Got a link to the billet door handles?

I picked up a set on eBay a few years ago, and haven't gotten around to installing them.

 

[Korby7]

Those look fantastic. I’d have them blasted and powder coated a textured black.

 

[EndeavoredH3]

I found this link but it says out of stock.....

https://www.stallioncustoms.com/hummer-h3-chrome-door-handle-set.html

550 bucks seems like a bit much for door handles that could damage the doors if they get hit off road. They are solid aluminum and chrome plated and sure do look nice though and I bet they feel like quality when you open the doors instead of like pulling on chinsey plastic. Either way unfortunately they appear to be out of stock.

Looks like those were an old SMA (stinger Mac accessories) product from the mid 2000’s. Those were most likely made out of billet aluminum and probably well justified for that price.

 

[Jeepwalker]

I still vote for putting them on. Or sell them on the forums/ebay. Have you ever seen feedback how they fit/work? Maybe they're sticky or don't work as well ..and you wouldn't like them anyway.

I'd still give them a try unless your rig is mostly an off-roader. But if you do mostly DD stuff, see how you like them. Like I said before, if you get that close to a tree you're going to have a lot other damage besides pushing in the door panel. I've hit deer before which whipped around and a hoof or something nicked a plastic door handle (on a car). The door handle never broke but pushed in the door around the handle. You'd have to hit the lottery to hit the handle just right and sheer it off w/o any secondary door damage. A more likely scenario is you nick it with a tree and push in the door handle and dents your door panel. OR, the front of the door handle breaks loose and folds back and proceeds to tear the door panel back like a sardine can (because there's a bolt in the back). Best to avoid trees in the first place.

But then again, you probably have way better luck than I do