Jeep Wrangler JLU & JL Grab Handles: Paracord vs Plastic Grip Guide

If you own a Jeep Wrangler JLU or JL, you already know the stock interior leaves a lot of room for improvement. One of the easiest, most useful, and most personal upgrades you can make is swapping or adding grab handles. They help passengers climb in, give everyone something solid to hold on a rough trail, and they are one of the first things people notice when they open your doors. The real question most JLU and JL owners run into is simple: paracord grab handles or plastic? This guide breaks down the difference, covers fitment for the 2018-2026+ Wrangler JLU and JL, and explains what makes Bartact's version worth the upgrade.

Why Grab Handles Matter More Than You Think

Grab handles are not just an accessory you add for looks. On a lifted Jeep Wrangler JLU or JL, the step up into the cab is taller than a lot of passengers expect, and the factory handles only go so far. A good set of grab handles gives front and rear passengers a secure grip when climbing in, something to brace against when you are crawling over rocks or bouncing down a washboard road, and a little extra confidence for kids and older passengers who are not used to getting into a tall rig.

Because they get used constantly, grab handles take real abuse. They get yanked on, gripped with muddy gloves, baked in the sun with the top off, and soaked when a surprise storm rolls through an open-top Jeep. That daily wear is exactly why the material you choose matters so much.

Paracord vs Plastic: The Honest Comparison

Plastic grab handles — the hard molded kind that often come as cheap universal sets — do the basic job. They give you something to hold. But they have a few real drawbacks on a Wrangler JLU or JL. Hard plastic gets slick when your hands are wet or sweaty, it can crack or fade after a few summers of sun exposure in an open-top Jeep, and it offers almost no personalization. You get what the mold gave you, usually in one or two boring colors.

Paracord grab handles solve nearly all of that. Woven paracord gives you a grippier, more forgiving surface that is comfortable in a bare hand or a gloved one. The woven construction flexes slightly under load instead of staying rigid, which feels more natural when you grab on the move. And because paracord comes in a huge range of colors, you can match your Jeep's interior, your exterior paint, or just build something that stands out. For a Wrangler JLU or JL owner who actually uses the handles on the trail, paracord is the clear winner on grip, comfort, and longevity in the elements.

The one place plastic wins is price at the absolute bottom of the market — but you tend to get what you pay for, and a cracked, faded handle is not much of a bargain. For a rig you plan to keep, Bartact's paracord grab handles are built to outlast the cheap stuff.

Grab Handle Locations on the JLU & JL

The Wrangler JLU and JL give you several places to add grab handles, and the right choice depends on how you use your Jeep and who rides in it.

Roll Bar Grab Handles

The most popular spot. Roll bar grab handles wrap around the sport bar tubing and give front passengers a classic, rock-solid hold right where they reach instinctively. They are easy to install, do not require any permanent modification, and work whether your top is on or off. On a four-door JLU, rear passengers benefit the most from roll bar handles since the factory options back there can feel sparse.

Front Bolt-On Grab Handles

For 2018-2026+ JLU and JL models — including the 2024+ refresh and roll bar airbag models — Bartact offers bolt-on grab handles designed to mount cleanly up front. These are a great fit if you want a more integrated look than a wrapped roll bar handle, and they are engineered specifically around the JL-platform hardware rather than a generic universal clamp. Check out the Jeep grab handles collection to see the bolt-on and roll bar options side by side.

Rear Tailgate & Sound Bar Handles

Owners who load gear through the back often add a rear tailgate window handle, which gives you a grip point when you are pulling yourself up to reach the top of the tub or securing cargo. It is a small addition that makes loading and unloading noticeably easier on a tall JLU.

Fitment: 2018-2026+ Wrangler JLU & JL

Here is where buying vehicle-specific matters. The JL platform launched for the 2018 model year and covers both the four-door JLU and the two-door JL. Bartact's JL/JLU paracord grab handles are designed for the full run of this generation, 2018 through 2026 and beyond, and that includes the important details most universal handles ignore:

• Roll bar airbag models: Later JLU and JL builds can include airbags in the sport bar area. Bartact's bolt-on handles are designed with those models in mind so you are not fighting fitment or covering something you shouldn't.
• 2024+ refresh: The mid-generation update brought interior tweaks, and Bartact accounts for the 2024+ JLU and JL rather than assuming nothing changed.
• Two-door JL vs four-door JLU: The handle sets are the same hardware per location, but a four-door JLU simply has more grab-handle real estate — front roll bar plus rear positions — so you can outfit the whole cab.

Matching the handle to your exact model year and configuration is the difference between a clean, secure install and a set that rattles or doesn't sit right. This is the whole reason to skip the generic bin handles.

Color Options: Make Them Yours

One of the best parts of going paracord is the color. Where plastic handles lock you into black or maybe gray, Bartact's paracord grab handles come in a wide range of colors so you can dial in exactly the look you want. Go subtle with black or coyote to blend into the interior, or go bold with red, blue, or a multi-color weave that pops the second someone opens the door. Many owners match their handles to accent stitching, exterior paint, or other Bartact interior pieces for a build that looks intentional instead of thrown together.

If you are already running Bartact storage up front, grab handles are an easy way to tie the whole cab together — pair them with items from the Jeep Wrangler JL MOLLE accessories collection for a coordinated, trail-ready interior.

What Makes Bartact's Grab Handles Different

Plenty of companies sell paracord handles. A few things set Bartact's apart for the JLU and JL owner. First, they are made in the USA, hand-woven rather than mass-molded overseas. Second, they are built around the actual JL platform — specific attention to roll bar airbag models and the 2024+ refresh instead of a one-size-fits-nothing clamp. Third, the color selection is genuinely deep, which matters when you are trying to match a specific build. And fourth, they come as matched pairs so your interior looks balanced front to back.

For a Wrangler JLU or JL owner weighing paracord vs plastic, the answer comes down to how long you plan to keep the Jeep and how hard you use it. If this is a rig you drive daily, take off-road, and run with the top down, paracord grab handles are the upgrade that pays off every single time someone climbs in.

Bottom Line

Grab handles are a small upgrade with an outsized impact on how your Jeep Wrangler JLU or JL feels to live with. Plastic gets the basic job done but gives up grip, durability, and personality. Paracord grips better, holds up to sun and weather, and lets you build exactly the look you want — and Bartact's USA-made handles are engineered specifically for the 2018-2026+ JL platform, roll bar airbag models and 2024+ refresh included. Browse the full lineup in the paracord grab handles and Jeep grab handles collections and pick the set that fits your rig and your style.