I was talking to a friend who referenced an "optional tail gate step"(?) on the F250 Super Duty truck. Was/is there such a thing, and if so, for what year truck (F250 superduty) does it exist?

Thanks for any and all help

Russ....

 

I just bought a 2011 F350 that has the "integrated" Tailgate step. It fits in the top of the tailgate and slides out on two rails when you drop the gate. It then has a "flip-open" extension to widen the step.

Not sure when Ford started making it available. Supposedly holds up to 350 lbs so it is "heavy duty"...

You should be able to find a reference to it on the Ford Site.

D

 

It has been available for the '08 and newer trucks. I use mine all the time. I took off the stupid handle part and the plastic tailgate cover piece because I like having a flat tailgate to work on.

 

Introduced in '08. And to answer your next question, YES, you can put one on an older SuperDuty!!

The only modification required is a the gate cup on the left side as the newer gates have a torque spring to help with the weight. I can't remember if it is a bolt-on or if you need it welded. I have a 2009 bed and 2010 gate on mine so I didn't have to convert it but many here have...

 

The step is nice, the pole is in serious need of a redesign. It gets in the way when sliding stuff in and out of the bed...

 

Look on craigslist for a bunch of stolen ones that are for sale. Buy one and put it on your truck, then find it for sale on craigslist again in a couple of days when it gets stolen from you LOL

They are a very hot item around here since they fetch upwards of $800 on craigslist.

 

I was looking at new trucks at a dealership a few weeks ago. The cops were there investigating the theft of tailgates from trucks on the lot.
Rampant.

 

They are hot items. Anyone with one is well-advised to put a tailgate clamp on it AND if you have a lock, use it!!

They can still get it....but if they can't get it in 30 seconds - which is a reality w/o these items - they are likely to go elsewhere!!

 

What ever happened to basic tailgates? First locks. Then rear-view cameras. And now the steps.

I bought a truck off the lot with the step. I refused to pay for it because I thought it was the stupidest gimmick around, so I ended up getting it for free. I was still unhappy just having it on the truck. However, I also got 20 inch tires (another thing I was stuck with because the truck came with them off the lot) so I really have a bit more of a jump than I used to have with 16 inch tires on my previous Superduties. And with the tailgate as high as it is on a Superduty, it's not a jump into the bed any longer when the tailgate is down. So reluctantly, I came to use the step. And I use it all the time. The baluster or whatever they call the pop-up rail is less thrilling. As others have pointed out, it's in the way when you're moving heavy things in and out. Tool boxes scrape it up. You have to lift heavy items over it. Stupid.

The good news is that you can pop off the black plastic panel and remove the rail plus all the mounting hardware, and either buy the two flat panels from Ford for less than $100 or get a piece of salvaged diamond plate or other metal and drill and countersink it for the mounting bolts. Keep the parts because someone will want the rail when you go to sell it. But for practical use, the step and the corner of the box are all you really need.

 

We call that thing the "stripper pole"

 

Wow, I had no idea.

 

ahhh. the good old "man step"

funny thing about this is that a year later what did chevy make available for their trucks? yup, a "man step"

 

Sounds about right.

And hey, none of this "old man" stuff. We're the guys who are buying most of the Super duties these days.

 

What I need to find are the "Black" covers for the step. Mine came off a King Ranch so they are tan. Last time I checked (last year) you could not purchase JUST the tailgate covers (3-piece)!!! I would need to buy and entire step kit @ $1,000 to get the covers...

They aren't that important!!

 

Just checked. Still the same. What BS!!

BODY HARDWARE / PICK UP BOX / EXTERIOR TRIM / Tail gate mldg
Tail gate mldg 8 FOOT BOX, TAIL GATE, w/tailgate step, all
PARTS: Part included with step.
MSRP Core ? Online Price
$0.00 $0.00 N/A
View Part Diagram -- Item #1