Does anyone know if you can add the step feature to your present tailgate or do you have to replace the entire tailgate, and what the cost would be?

 

I'm sure if you threw enough money at it you could retrofit the step into your current tailgate.

Replacing the tailgate (and reselling your current one) is surely the best way to do it. In fact I suggest you find a friend who wants to buy a new truck but doesn't want the step. After he gets his truck you swap tailgates and pay him the difference in MSRP.

 

Or you could look at something like this: Step Gate - The safe and secure way to access your pickup truck bed

I picked up one for about $100 with shipping. It works quite well. I did trim the mounting brackets to move the upright in behind the line of the fenderwell.

Not a fancy as the '08 tail gate, but a lot cheaper.