Due to life, I haven't been on FTE forever. Usually I lurk in the 73-79 Forum anyway. I recently bought a 97 F Superduty Quigley 4x4 Conversion so I will be hanging in here from now on too. Im wondering if anyone has used a set of Carr aluminum hoop steps and made them electrically actuated to fold up under the floor while going down the road? I think it can be done using a couple of linear actuators. Love this truck but the wife has hell getting in and out of it!! Let me know if you've seen anything like this. Need to get something installed but don't wanna risk tearing them off when off road. Thanks in advance!

 

I've been kicking around this idea lately, I hate steps but my 5 foot tall wife has no chance of getting in the truck anymore after the lift and tires. Retractable would solve both our problems with steps or lack thereof.

I saw a 70 Econoline with a retractable step on the side door that was all manual, it raised and lowered by linkage from the door opening and closing. Pretty slick.

 

I'm quite sure it could be done with some 12v linear actuators, some garage door rollers and track and some ingenuity and patience. Could power the actuators off of the dome light switches with a couple of relays to extend when the door was opened. Looked on ebay and I think I can come up with the Carr steps, and actuators for around $200. May just have to order the steps and start tinkering........... Just seeing if anyone had done it before. If I do it, I'll post a build thread with pics. Got big plans for this one. Basically a Cummins swap, winch, flatbed with boxes, frame mounted generator for a camp trailer, and an all around tough tow/bug out vehicle. Its already got Dana 70 front and Dana 80 rear. Drives awesome! Gonna have to regear it when I do the Cummins swap. The 5:13 gears in it aint gonna work! 7 mpg with the 460 right now with anything I can hook onto behind it or running empty but I can take off from a dead stop in 4th gear and not even have to slip the clutch.......LOL

 

Have you priced any of the factory electric steps from a junkyard? The prices are probably high but might be close to what it would cost to build them if you count your labor.

I bet something from an RV could be made to work too. After looking at some it seems they commonly use a motor like you'd find for our power windows.

If it triggered off the dome light they would lower if you ever turned on the interior lighting while in the truck. The door plunger light switches (I don't know the actual name) would be a better trigger.

 

No, haven't had a chance to go junkyard scroungin' yet. But gonna look into that option too. I was thinking the door switches to trigger them. Also got to thinking that if a guy used a low amp circuit breaker in the system, it would keep from burning things up if the actuators got full of ice or mud. Lower amperage than required for full capacity operation, manually resettable. You get the idea. I will get this figured out! Not getting rid of the truck just because the OL has trouble getting in! I told her as far as getting out........gravity works! She can fall out........of course that went over like a turd in the punchbowl! LOL

 

Haha somebody is sleeping on the couch tonight!

Keep us updated. I might just settle for regular fixed ones but we'll see.

 

nerf bars are just for looks fyi.they are too far up to the cab and too close in to the cab to be worth using.you find yourself just stepping over them and into the cab because of their poor placement.i won't buy them again.wish i went with the old school diamond plate running boards instead.

 

If they were retractable like he's planning they could actually lower down enough to be useful but tuck up tight like normal nerf bars when not in use. I'm really interested to see what he comes up with.

 

Personally only ones I have used on these gens are the Carr hoop steps. On our 89 F250 4x4 and they sit way to high to bottom out off road.

Trav

 

The Carr hoops (or the longer ones) is what Im planning on using. How far below the rockers do they hang? Did you use the model specific mounting brackets, and do they just mount to the sheetmetal or the frame?

 

The Carr hoops on my truck hang down about 5 inches. They are installed through the rocker-sill on the door frame.

 

That's what I don't like about the majority of the aftermarket steps, running boards, nerf bars.........they all mount to the sheetmetal. If ya happen to hit something...........or bury it in the mud up to the door handles (which I have done) youre gonna do some serious damage. That's why Im on this kick............

 

DeeZee tough Step
#23 for the F-series
They mount right to the frame are are Very strong

 

Im liking those DeeZee's