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step replacement options

Third From Texas

Third From Texas

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I like the idea of an automated step that comes down when the door opens. But at the end of the day, it becomes another moving part to break off-roading. I guess it'd viability/longevity would be based on truck use.

From an engineering standpoint, I'd likely just have a flat step that sits flush up against the base of the box. When the door is opened, the step lowers to the level of the OEM step.

There are some interesting solutions that might open themselves to moding:

81FJOL6Cf-L._AC_SL1500_.jpg


or like this (bonus points for being "stripper friendly")

Untitled.png


dsthggsrtyh.png

Steps for vans and campervans | Thule | United Kingdom

Van steps from Thule give you easy, safe entry to your vehicle – with motorised, slide-out operation. Get your campervan step here!
www.thule.com www.thule.com


71A27GShlBL._AC_SL1500_.jpg




Then there are the manually folding step options (my biggest issue here is "how to deploy them from a sitting position inside the cab"):

612R-Ou4+0L._AC_SL1373_.jpg

You might also look to "bed steps":


Untitle222222d.png

runningboardwarehouse.com

AMP Research BedStep™ | RealTruck

Get the AMP Research BedStep™ from RealTruck fast with free shipping in the lower 48 United States. Our team of product experts, extensive image galleries, and legendary customer service make it easy to get the right part the first time.
runningboardwarehouse.com runningboardwarehouse.com



Cheapest solution is to simply replace the cable. Some neat alternative ideas out there, though...
 
Last edited:
Keith Knight

Keith Knight

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Also just looked at the specs and the narrow one is 18” wide which could possibly be modified but in the stowed position it’s 6” tall which becomes in the danger zone.
 
coachgeo

coachgeo

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Guruman said:
Revisited this last night a bit. I noticed with the cab tilted up, that there is a pretty sizable flat spot on the backside of the bumper that could be used to mount something. If a step were mounted there, it would not move when the cab was raised. I think that might make designing something a bit easier.
Click to expand...
bumper clearly states do NOT stand on it at each end. If this is a strength issue, and not so much slip off potential- Military Version of OSA issue, then adding to the bumper a step may require some reinforcing.
 
Guruman

Guruman

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coachgeo said:
bumper clearly states do NOT stand on it at each end. If this is a strength issue, and not so much slip off potential- Military Version of OSA issue, then adding to the bumper a step may require some reinforcing.
Click to expand...
Wait. I cannot tell if you are joking or not.

I'm pretty sure I could park a Jeep on that bumper without reinforcement. It's certainly stronger looking than the body where the existing step is mounted.
 
Third From Texas

Third From Texas

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coachgeo said:
bumper clearly states do NOT stand on it at each end. If this is a strength issue, and not so much slip off potential- Military Version of OSA issue, then adding to the bumper a step may require some reinforcing.
Click to expand...
I think that's because the cab would crush the privates toes if said private were standing on the bumper while raising the cab (and don't think some didn't try)...

;)
 
Third From Texas

Third From Texas

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Guruman said:
Wait. I cannot tell if you are joking or not.

I'm pretty sure I could park a Jeep on that bumper without reinforcement. It's certainly stronger looking than the body where the existing step is mounted.
Click to expand...
Hmmmmmmmmmm

The bumpers on these things are pretty cheesy. Its likely that the bumpers/bumperettes are intended to bend and take any damage as opposed to telegraphing it to the frame. We've all seen countless bent bumpers on these trucks (especially on the gimpy weak A1R bumpers that have had a bunch of structural integrity designed OUT of the bumper to save weight). Alternately, I've bolted up real steel custom bumpers on Texas 4x4's that you could drive thru a 10 car police road block and not take a scratch. The OEM S&S bumper has never impressed me (but the A0 is certainly beefier than it's successor). You can *look" at an A1R bumper and bend it.

:)
 
Guruman

Guruman

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Third From Texas said:
Hmmmmmmmmmm

The bumpers on these things are pretty cheesy. Its likely that the bumpers/bumperettes are intended to bend and take any damage as opposed to telegraphing it to the frame. We've all seen countless bent bumpers on these trucks (especially on the gimpy weak A1R bumpers that have had a bunch of structural integrity designed OUT of the bumper to save weight). Alternately, I've bolted up real steel custom bumpers on Texas 4x4's that you could drive thru a 10 car police road block and not take a scratch. The OEM S&S bumper has never impressed me (but the A0 is certainly beefier than it's successor). You can *look" at an A1R bumper and bend it.

:)
Click to expand...
I don't have any reference for an A1R bumper, but I recently had to take mine off my A0, and it was pretty heavy.
 
Third From Texas

Third From Texas

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Guruman said:
I don't have any reference for an A1R bumper, but I recently had to take mine off my A0, and it was pretty heavy.
Click to expand...
Oh it's a two man lift for sure.

The A1R had a lot of material removed and the area at the shackles elevated (seemingly to make it easier to access the shackles but from my experience the shackles are easier to put on the A0 version). By opening up the shackle area and leaving the back open, the whole mess is quite weak). They also reduced the amount of area in the lower section (more steel cut out to allow for a larger skid plate some of the A1Rs have skid plates were made of plastic). The result is a lot more angles and a lot less metal.

You can see it's just one big open weak mess with tons of angles. The A1R bumper is a flimsy bow tie.

PB300033.jpg

vs the A0 bumper

s-l400.jpg
 
Guruman

Guruman

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Well. To be honest.... Part of the reason I removed mine was to remove a slight wrinkle I put in it when I hit a stump.

I hit it pretty hard as it was below my line of sight and I didn't know it was there. I broke the headlight, and put a kink in the thin strip of steel between the light holes.

I was pretty shocked that the damage was not worse.
 
coachgeo

coachgeo

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