I had a Bestop TrekStep on my 2016 F250. They weren't making them yet for the new Super Duty. So I have the AMP Research. They're basically the same thing, same quality in my opinion.
But the Bestop was quite a bit lower cost. I just checked out Bestop's website and unfortunately it looks like they haven't caught up yet, as long as these trucks have been on the market. Too bad.
I will have to say I'm happy with the AMP, it does what I need it to do and wasn't super difficult to install. Yes, I can still step up onto the tire and grab the bed side to get in. But that time is getting shorter and shorter. So the AMP is the answer for me.

 

For those that have the Amp Research step, would you say you are just as happy with it as the factory tailgate step, or do you still wish you had the tailgate step? They are willing to install the Amp bumper step for me to make the truck have everything I want. I just don't want to get a truck this expensive and not be completely satisfied with it. Thanks for all the feedback and help.

 

LOL...same here. With a 5er now, I'm glad I have it. Tailgates and all the extras are damn expensive. My neighbor had his stolen off his '15 and it was close to $3k for everything including the steps, camera, etc.

 

 

My experience with the factory step isn't recent. I had one on a loaded up 2010 F150 FX4. But remembering back I'd have to say that it's quicker and easier to flip down the AMP and then flip it back up after use. I think it's also easier to grab the side of the bed and step in from the side with the AMP, as opposed to directly from the rear with the added step of putting up the foolish looking hand rail thing that mine had.
That's just one guy's opinion. Others may like entering from the factory setup.
Looks like the factory step is a $375 option. The AMP runs from $240 to $280 if you shop around online. I believe that AMP also makes a model for the side of the bed just behind the cab if you need one. My running boards extend back and cover that part.

 

No it isn't all just internal parts. The tailgate has to be replaced starting with the 17+ trucks. As stated above, they can't be retrofitted like in the last.

 

This is the one thing that I miss on our truck. Having said that, it would never be a deal breaker.

 

To explain, I can't order because my dealer is trying to match, or beat, what lemon law would give me. My 2016 has had numerous problems and he's trying to get me out of it without dealing with arbitration and the mileage that lemon law would dock me in buyback dollars. We found numerous trucks that would match my wants, but those on lots other than his dealership don't allow him to get the dealer concession, which he is using to help me get into another truck. Apparently, dealers will send trucks, but don't want one in return anymore, and the original dealer gets the dealer concession from Ford, no matter which dealer sells the truck. He said they could do a dealer trade until recently, and in the last year, other dealerships don't want you to send them a truck in return. So, he can't do as well on a truck that's not already on his lot. I am in a loaner F150 going on 40 days, so I don't want to order and wait until August or September to get back into an F250. My travel trailer is getting lonely and needs to be used. He's really willing to work with me, and is offering to get me into a 2018 for the same I bought my 2016 for 15 months ago. He's even going to Ford and trying to get assistance to avoid lemon law. The truck on his lot is everything I want, except it's solid White Platinum TriCoat color, and doesn't have a tailgate step. I want the two tone, so he is willing to paint it two tone at the dealership. However, he can't add the tailgate step. I did look at the Amp Research step, and it looks to be of good quality. I normally wouldn't care, but these trucks are really tall. I use the tailgate step to load firewood in the bed for camping trips and to load the kid's bikes for our beach trips. Will the Amp Research step do the job with no issues, or will I still miss the tailgate step?

 

As stated, I'm perfectly happy with the AMP. I was also happy with the lower cost/same quality Bestop on my 2016 but Bestop for whatever reason has not started producing the step for the new trucks.
Only you can answer the question of whether you'd be OK with the AMP as opposed to the factory step. Personally, I wouldn't let the step be a deal breaker. If you like the truck they have, get it, put an AMP step on and be done with it. If not, I guess you continue to drive their F150 until you find a truck suitable to you with a factory step.

 

I'd skip the two tone paint. The Plat White looks great. I think two tone is going out of style.

I roll/slide my lumber/cargo past the tail gate. Close the gate, then use my hitch to step up the bumper pad, then swing a leg over the tailgate to get in the bed. I wouldn't sweat the steps. I don't find them useful enough too often. I use a pintle mount hitch. I just used a grinder to grind a few slots in the top on the plate mount so my shoes won't slip.

Sometimes climbing up the tires on the side of the truck makes more sense. The Cooper STT's I had, had lugs the size of steps.

I would just grab that truck as is, and toss the Amp step at it.

 

I wish my truck did not have the push button tailgate. I have had it freeze on me 3 times in the winter and could not lower the gate. I have yet to have the opening on it's own, but I feel it is only a matter of time. I have a safety chain hooked to it anytime there is risk of damage if it opens on its own.

I tried to remove it. I got the not push handle, actuator, trim etc... I even bought a different wiring harness for the gate for a non-powered gate. There is no way to make the power lock feature work on the new handle, I tried everything. The wiring architecture is completely different between the push button gates and non. I would have left it without the power locking feature, but after seeing how much these gates cost, it's nice that it locks

 

I'm really happy this one has the Lariat Value Package and not the Ultimate Package. So, it does not have the push button start or the push button tailgate. I don't want those features at all. However, it does have the sunroof, which I really want. I think I'm going with it. All in, I will refinance what I did on my original truck a year ago, and walk away better than if I were to go through Lemon Law.

 

I would agree with on in most instances, but the body lines of these trucks is made for two tone. I've looked at them side by side, and the white metallic two tone looks way better than the solid white, in my opinion. The truck is just too large for all white to me. I love the two tone paint.

 

Well, my mind is made up. I went by the local dealership today and played around with some unlocked trucks on the lot while there was no one working to bother me. I'm going with the truck without the tailgate step. I'm 6'1", and the tailgate step is almost useless. It comes almost up to my crotch and is near impossible to step up on without grabbing the granny handle. I'm going with the Amp Research bumper step, which is 6-7" lower, and easier to get up and down on. I loved the tailgate step in my last two trucks, but seeing this one in action, the truck is just too high to use it easily.

That being said, how well do these trucks drive compared to a 2016 Super Duty? I love the way my 2016 drives (when it hasn't been in the shop). Does the height affect how well these trucks handle vs the prior body style?

 

@BronzefireAL13SD

send me his info that has the tailgates with steps
thanks