Side steps
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 8,842
Likes: 27
From: Eastern Ky
As far as I'm concerned, There really aren't any nice steps besides the factory ones.
The hoop steps are no good because they just mount to the rockers and cause alot of stress on them.
The other options are the true running boards, but those don't look very good most of the time.
Then there are nerf bars. I have had them and don't care for these either. The Westin nerf bars I had mounted to part of the cab and a body mount and the frame. The problem was than when the frame flexed a little when even turning into a steep driveway, the nerf bars rear most mount would start to come loose.
While it would be nice to have, I wouldn't try mounting pull handles on the pillars. I bet you will just end up with broken pillar trim. While we are taking about these, please do not drill holes in the exterior of the cab for the awful chrome handles.
The hoop steps are no good because they just mount to the rockers and cause alot of stress on them.
The other options are the true running boards, but those don't look very good most of the time.
Then there are nerf bars. I have had them and don't care for these either. The Westin nerf bars I had mounted to part of the cab and a body mount and the frame. The problem was than when the frame flexed a little when even turning into a steep driveway, the nerf bars rear most mount would start to come loose.
While it would be nice to have, I wouldn't try mounting pull handles on the pillars. I bet you will just end up with broken pillar trim. While we are taking about these, please do not drill holes in the exterior of the cab for the awful chrome handles.
And with the except of a SMALL amount of aftermarket stuff, nothing is truly better than OEM parts...
Now....
As for Jaime's hand grips....Here's a alternative solution...
Find a set of grips from a newer truck, measure the holes, etc...And remove the trim panel to see where the metal best fits....IIRC, the metal has a sharp angle in it, making it hard to mount those grips on...
But a SMALL amount of metal work in the form on a set of mounting tabs would work perfectly....Then simple use a hole-saw attachment, pop a couple holes in the trim panel....
Feed the grips' end points/mounting bracket areas through....Mount them to the metal tabs welded onto the A-Pillar...And Then re-attach the trim panel...
VOILA!....Actual hand grips....
As for the steps....Rocker mounted ones...Stay FARRR away from...
yet another project LOL
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 567
Likes: 1
From: Vancouver, WA
They were made by Lund for Ford and are no longer available. I did a Nationwide search on Craigslist for the ones in the picture. I found them in Arizona and the seller wanted $40 for them. Of course the shipping was much more ($160) but they are hard to find. I bought them for a project truck that I sold before I finished and then sold them recently to a fellow FTE member.
I found a great used set on (almost locally) craigslist, but it took me nearly a year to locate. I have also tried to find a replacement set of mounting bars, but no luck. Mine are in good (not great) shape so I'm going to have them bead blasted then sealed with rust preventive paint before I mount them. If they are still rough after the beadblast, I will have some support tubing welded in for strength. This style of step looks the best on this year of truck, hands down.
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 3,307
Likes: 278
From: Laramie, WY
I had a set of these on my truck, marroon in color, but yeah the brackets rotted in half. Didn't get around to making new brackets and now just have the boards in the rafters of the garage. I'd destroy them if I ran them now, far too much wheeling these days!
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