Installing handle to pull yourself into bunk

Artum Snowbird wrote:
The trick with any kind of an anchor is to install another good thick hardwood board with multiple screws into the wall or framework first, then either screw your grab handles into your hardwood board, or bolt right through your hardwood board into countersunk holes for the nuts on the back before you mount your hardwood board onto the wall. This will help spread the load over more of the wall.

This!

You can locate the wall studs with a purpose-built studfinder or, if you use the above mounting procedure, wrap your knuckles on the wall until the sound changes, lightly hammer a small finishing nail into the location to see if the stud is there.

FWIW, I used the above method to install a TV mount. I used 5/8" plywood for the mounting board and applied construction adhesive to the plywood -> wall joint. You couldn't pull it off the wall with a prybar.