Sunmall 2pcs 18"Bath Grab Bar, Sturdy Stainless Steel Shower Safety Handle for Bathtub,Toilet, Bathroom,Stairway Handrail,Anti-Slip Grip Prevention for Elderly, Handicapped, Disabled,Pregant Women

This is advertised as a 16" grab bar and...well....it's not even close! The first clue should have been the package dimensions...it says it is 15.98" long...well, it would be difficult to fit a 16" grab bar in a box that isn't 16 inches! Actual measurement is about 14.5" so don't plan to screwing it in to studs on both sides because that is not going to happen unless you have a very strange building. We ended up mounting it vertically...still gives us pulling power to get up and both ends are mounted into a stud but it's the same stud! It does seem to be well made and very sturdy but someone in the manufactures plant has no idea how to measure. Last time I checked, 16 inches did not mean 14.5 inches...it meant 16 inches!

I did a lot of research before I purchased these. I needed to install these inside the door jamb leading to my garage. The mounting plates for most other models is too wide for the 2 1/4 I had to work with. These rails fit perfectly. They are sturdy, look nice and function as advertised. ONE SUGGESTION FOR MOUNTING directly into wood. Choose a drill bit that is just slightly smaller than the screws provided, AND use an extender for the bit and screws if possible. This will help you drill straighter holes and screw in the screws straighter. The bar tends to get in the way of the power drill when you are installing.

I bought the 18" handle. Product appears like it should do the job as advertised. Knurling could cover more of the tube. Only 7 3/4" out of 15" of straight tube knurled. I have mounted two in the house from local purchases and their mounting bases are flush with the wall. This comes with cupped ends where there is 1/4" plus from the cup edge to where the mounting strews come out of the base of the cup. The edge is all that contacts the surface you are mounting it to. High chance of wiggle problems on plaster board/drywall or other similar products. As for the screws if you are mounting to a stud, yes you will want longer screws, I'd use molly bolts for for drywall installation. Otherwise I'm not sure of the 500 lb advertised weight limit. Going to return the pair I've received due to the mounting issue.

Although not a problem, there are no instructions with the grab bars. However, step-by-step picture instruction are on Amazon's product description page. Installation tips: If installing on a ceramic tile wall, I highly recommend using a tile/glass bit. You will need a 5/16 inch bit. These bits usually come in a set of four or five sizes and are available on Amazon. Use a slow drill speed with light to moderate pressure. let the bit do the work it is designed to do.

Phillips head Screws (6) are cheap material , they round off upon installation . The bars are nice and strong. Look good and knurling is just right. Use a good quality set of US made screws. Would buy again.

From end of flange to end of flange is 15-3/4"I wanted 16 inches from center to center so I could anchor the bar into studs on 16" centers.When the screws in one end flange hit the stud, screws through the other flange are guaranteed to miss the stud behind the plaster or sheetrock.THAT'S NOT GOOD when someone with mobility impairment depends on a secure grip.If you're doing new construction, make sure you put a block between the studs where this bar will be screwed down.If retrofitting, open up the sheetrock, install a block, and repair before mounting this bar.

So, the issue is that the drywall anchors that come with this unit are all but useless, and the measurement of the handles ensures that you won't be able to install it on two vertical studs because of the spacing. So, if you get lucky, and there is a horizontal stud EXACTLY where you need to install these, you'll be in great shape, otherwise, you're going to install one half into a stud (mandatory or it will simply rip out of the wall) and then you will need to invest in some MUCH heavier duty drywall anchors for the other side. Ended up having to redo it about three times before I found ones that were beefy enough to work. Overall, not bad, but definitely not fun to install.

The bar is sturdy so I feel secure getting in and out of tub. It is also very nice looking. Use of the hardware that is included makes this bar safe if installed correctly. Thanks for a real deal!