Help me chose side steps

[wgriswold]

I may have a new truck by the new year and it needs side steps so my wife can get in. If it doesn't come with steps I will add them. What brands do you recommend?

[shepstone]

Can the AMP steps be added to the existing running boards ?

[Deep_Trax]

wgriswold wrote:
I may have a new truck by the new year and it needs side steps so my wife can get in. If it doesn't come with steps I will add them. What brands do you recommend?

Wife and I are both on the old & short side. We recently bought a 2015 Chevy 2500HD New truck came with factory side steps, but the steps are very high and very difficult for the wife.

Santa just bought us a new set of Amp Research Power Steps with Plug & Play option. Ours ending up costing $1134 which includes the $100 rebate promotion that is currently being offered. Shipping was free and we bought from any out of state retailer who did not charge tax.

Wife and I love these Power Steps as they split the step up into the cab into 2 equal steps. The OEM factory steps were much closer to a 75/25 split. The Power Steps also add LED lighting that illumanate the steps & ground beneath. Factory steps did not have the nice lighting.

I did my own install which was a little challenging only because the instructions were poorly written IMO.

Best $1134 Santa has spent on me in many years.

[trail-explorer]

I prefer frame mounted steps (those that use the body mount bolts) rather than those that clamp to the body panels below the door.

Smittybilt Stainless - lifetime warranty.

[trailerbikecamp]

I have a set of Smittybuilt bars on my '03 Ram. Put the steps on whenthe truck was new. It is now 12yrs old and as solid as when they were first put on. The use the body mount bolts, so they are at least as solid as the truck cab. Came with all mounting hardware.

Put mine on after work one day using hand tools.

[wgriswold]

Thanks, everyone. Lots of good information for after I purchase the truck. That will probably happen before the end of the year.

[RWDIII]

I bought a pair from amazon for about $150.
they were as good as the factory ones on my last Ford.
easy install

[cummins2014]

Majja13 wrote:
The electrics are expensive, but if you are paying Dealer price of 650-850 for steps then they are only 400-500 more. I personally like the look with out steps, and if you need the extra break over height then AMP is the only way to go.

I agree ,if I had it to do over, I would of negotiated the Amp steps on my Ram truck, oh well next time.

[fly-boy]

For a lady getting in and out of a truck the AMP steps can't be beat. I have a wife and young daughter that occasionally are in the truck and adding this to the new one was a no brainer for me.
The older truck has molded aftermarket steps that have worked great and look nice in my opinion. The draw back is that even with the step it is still harder for ladies to get in and out of my truck.

Lots of options out there- maybe let her decide what she wants... Happy wife, Happy life...

[ksss]

I like the wheel to wheel steps. The sides of the trucks and the height just keep getting bigger and at six feet tall it is hard to get anything out of the bed. So having nerf bars that have a step at the bed is a big help and I think they look good. I like the Go Rhino brand. I get the power coat black ones run them a couple years and then get them Rhino lined. I prefer the blacked out look over Stainless.

[rottidawg]

hawkeye-08 wrote:
We like the AMP research, spoils us. I like the look of the truck with the steps retracted, the factory steps are too high for my wife. AMP makes a nice product.

And if you do any fairly serious 4 wheeling these are the only solution. Me, the price was an issue so I just follow my dogs lead and jump on in.

[hawkeye-08]

We like the AMP research, spoils us. I like the look of the truck with the steps retracted, the factory steps are too high for my wife. AMP makes a nice product.

[camp-n-family]

Keep an eye on Craigslist and the truck forums. People remove new OEM steps and sell them all the time.

[john_bet]

FishOnOne wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Get one of these and it will come with steps.

I going to provide some earth shattering news... All brands now provide steps from the factory. :W

This is true for the ones I have seem. However they are all still to high for me, even your beloved Ford ones. For me the step must be no higher than 9 inches off of the ground. Mine are Luvernes. OP, I suggest you go to Running boards.com and shop till your heart is content.

[Cummins12V98]

JesLookin wrote:
We got the OEM step on our '14 Ram 3500. Works perfectly. We did get the full length step that goes all the way to the rear wheel well. Makes it easy to stand on & hook up the 5er.

Only available with a SRW truck.



DRW this is my solution for short factory running boards. Makes tool box access and 5er hitching nice.