2001 F150 Super crew

Just purchased this truck a couple weeks ago. Sitting at 205xxx miles and the step bars are getting weak.

Is there a kit to reinforce these to the frame? Does it look cool if I remove them all together?

The last thing I want is for a guest to step on one and break it off, forcing me to not only console the person whose shin now hurts, but also have to yank a broken bar off without tools.

 

Where are they weak at.....bar to bracket or bracket to frame...or both? It's all subjective on how it may look. I have them on my FX4....they catch a ton of snow and get plugged up, makes it hard to get in and out of for someone 6'1" ( I kind of slide down the edge of them)....but I like the look so I keep them on. I have the Ford OEM ones.

 

Can I have yours?

Looks weak from bracket to frame. That's why I was asking about some kind of kit to extend the bracket to new spots on the frame?

I've also noticed that snow gets caked in there. I want to kick it out, but I'm afraid of knocking it off the truck.

 

You need to crawl under and get a better look. There is a box section on the frame that the bracket bolts to.... those boxes are know to rot out on the bottom half. If the box is flexing on the frame, you have a problem... If the "L" bracket holding the running board to the box is bad, you can replace that bracket.
------ You can strengthen the "BOX" on the frame. I don't know if any "KIT", but a good welder could add a couple 1/8 inch thick plates 3 or 4 inches square and stiffen things back up to original.

 

Bar mounts at frame were rusted out and flexing, becoming very unsafe to step on and rusted and looking like sh#t. I did away with them. Im a fabricator-welder by trade. I boxed in mount areas on frame w some 3/16th flat bar. Truck looks ok without them. 2000 f150 4x4 supercab. Like they said they catch a LOT of ice snow and debris

 

I put some good quality aftermarket mud flaps on that look very similar to the OEM ones you can get. It has helped keep the snow and slush out...somewhat.

 

My bars were mounted near the pinch weld on my truck. I think they were factory. Anyways, easiest solution i found was taking them off haha. Nothing but salt catchers. My truck has 129k right now and the rockers are SHOT.

 

Probably cheaper and easier to replace them with nerf bars that bolt to the body mounts, If you can get those out without snapping..

 

Thanks of the replies. It was finally warm enough for me to take a look. Brackets look bad but the weak point appears to be the 'runner' for lack of specific knowledge on what I should call it.

I like the idea of taking them off, following the salt catcher comment. With winter coming early, this may end up being there for the next few months.

 

I replaced mine with Nasta s/s nerf bars, forget what I paid years ago, have held up for about 7 years now. look great to this day.