The last two details of the story is how we all hope our mistakes end up...

Post up pictures when you get the fancy tailgate installed!

 

Ha! Says the guy with over 7000 posts... Not sure how I didn't see this before!

 

No kidding! About a month ago I read his t4 thread in its entirety... Now I have a t4 kit sitting on the bench.. Now this is on order.. even though I have a dually and 25 and like to jump up and down. Poor knees and being hard on my body in my teens has me thinking this would be great.

 

@Rick37 you will love the T4 for your truck and love the step for your knees. I have bad knees and lower back from my time/activities in the military and the step has been great.

EDIT: The words below were my attempt at humor and providing something free for Rick37 to try out since I have caused his PMS to flare up.

As for ideas and coming up with things... try this one out that BWST and I worked very hard on for size...

Best part is that it is free granted you have the required equipment on hand.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ting-tool.html

 

I have a 99 with a Snugtop. Same issues. Knees scream when I crawl in there to grab something that rolled to the front of the bed

i bought a Bedslide and I’ll tell you that other than my 4 post lift that was one of the best things I bought for that truck. Look online lots of them for sale anywhere from 500-800 bucks used.

 

Another FTE'rs post inspired me to provide update on the folding step by Bestop.

Newly installed, visibility and accessibility pictures can be seen in post #49 in this thread, or by clicking here.

After 2.5 years of traveling the country and across just about every terrain possible for the truck to be on, the step is doing very well. The truck has been on, over and through beach sand, forest service roads, gravel, mud, logging roads, BLM land, desert trails, dry lake beds creek crossing, etc several times over the past 2.5 years. I don't have mud flaps either as pointed out by CO350 in post #50. So, there is no protection from debris and the aggressive tires. I never ended up making or buying any sort of mud flap, I don't see the need for them as the truck and 5th wheel gets dirty anyway due to the roads and surfaces we travel on. The truck is a 4x4 and sits a bit higher than a 4x2, so perhaps that aids in the step not getting too much debris on it. 90% of the time the truck is moving the 5th wheel is attached to it, hence the beach, BLM and forest service roads. We do A LOT of boondocking and prefer to end up miles out in the national forest or BLM land.

Despite all of the debris that gets thrown onto the step and the arm, it is still easy to extend or retract with my foot. I don't use my hand to extend or retract it, just one foot. The hinge is spring loaded and there is a fulcrum point at which it will either assist the extension or retraction.

I have not cleaned it other than when I wash the truck and I spray the water from the hose on it. I have not lubricated the joints or spring. I have not done anything to maintain the fluid and easy movement of the step. This is a similar design as the expensive AMP Research power step suggested in post #22, but it is a manual version that does not rely on a motor or 12v power. I needed something that would be easy and work every time.

Keeping it simple and easy to use was a primary concern for me here. Ease of use, visibility, accessibility and durability were other primary concerns. A couple of years later, it still hits all the marks in the bullseye.

When climbing into or out of the bed, the step is easily found and will hold just about a full foot print regardless if that is a boot, shoe or sandal. I am retired, so sandals are a staple in my footwear, so a solid and sturdy step was essential. The non-skid surface is still as "grippy" as it was the day I installed it despite the fact that I use it a lot. This step may not be the right decision for you or a "work" crew truck, but my truck is not a work truck. My truck is a tool I use to accomplish work like hauling firewood, concrete and mostly the 5th wheel.

I just went out and took a couple of pictures of the step, which are below. That is Idaho high desert sand/dirt on the step... I still haven't washed the truck since returning from our 5,500 mile trip cross country, hasn't been enough time lately. The mud on the tires is from some national forest land we stopped at along the way back home. Again, not a work truck, but it does do a good amount of work enriching our life and being off paved surfaces.

I hope this helps someone make an informed decision about their choices going forward regarding a step or aid to get into the bed of their truck.

 

Just realised that I never updated this thread when my later model tailgate arrived, I'd bought one with the step & camera, without thinking about the connectivity of the camera, it was easier to buy an aftermarket camera that was plug & play with what I already have installed on the truck, I'd already ordered the new driver side hinge, making the swap straight forward. Having the step & handle certainly makes it easier on my body getting into the bed!
It's probably the thing I'll miss the most about my F350 with the new truck....

 

Hey Rob, thanks for the update on your setup. I like the diversity that this thread offers in the way of choices for each of us to make our own decisions.

@josht was just mentioning getting one of these tailgates for his truck in another thread, but seeing as you are in the UK that probably won't work out.

As for the new truck, that "unicorn" is well worth it and you may find yourself forgetting about the tailgate step altogether due to how nice the new truck is.

 

I think you're correct, at least I can lower the rear at the flick of a switch, the step in the rear bumper is nice & with the lower bed sides, it's a fairly easy thing to throw a leg over!

 

Never really understood these. Why not leave the tailgate shut, use the molded in step on the rear bumper by the license plate using your hands on the top of the tailgate, and then just swing a leg over into the truck. If that first step up to the bumper is too hard, then just put a step in your hitch. Opening the tailgate, then getting in the truck is making it unnecessarily difficult.

 

Yes, I would like to do that. Haven't looked through the thread yet, but just this page has several good ideas and options for those interested.

My truck currently has the step like Sous has on his truck, believe it's a Harbor Freight version, but not certain. Dad added it because the truck ('00 F-250) as a 4x4 sits so high and he has bad knees. I don't feel that I need it and I wouldn't have installed it if the truck had been mine at the time, but it worked good for him and I'm not going to remove it.

I did mention in another thread that I'd like to add the later model tailgate with integrated step, but I feel I should clarify that statement. I would like to get the later model tailgate primarily because I like the styling better and I like the way the backup camera is integrated. I also want to integrate power tailgate lock when I eventually get a bed cover. My truck was optioned with TG lock, but it ain't there now so to add the camera and lock to my tailgate I'd have to purchase all the components. I figure that I might as well put that money towards the later model tailgate with them installed already. If I'm going to purchase the later model tailgate, I'd rather get one with the integrated step than without, even though it'll cost twice as much. I didn't think I'd like it when they came out, but dad's new F-150 has it and I like it.

So, I wouldn't upgrade the tailgate just for an integrated step, but if I'm going to upgrade I'd like to have the integrated step.

Everybody's situation is different. Dad was in a plane crash back in 2003. He came out of it pretty well considering, but it damaged his leg pretty bad and never fully recovered. He was determined not to let that stop him and for the most part it hasn't.

This truck was his before I got it, and like I said above high compared to a 2wd or his other truck ('02 Ranger 4wd). He likes to hunt fish and camp, with his leg it was difficult to climb into the bed for loading and moving stuff around. Climbing onto the bumper and over the tailgate didn't work for him either, wasn't just the height of the "steps" but also the distance between those "steps". Even hitch steps can sit pretty high depending on, but once you get onto the bumper, you still have to get over the tailgate.

With the tailgate ladder he can lower the tailgate which reduces how high he has to climb. Each of the steps/rungs are closer together which makes it easier to climb. He doesn't have to get over the tailgate at the end. Plus if he's getting into the bed, he's moving something large or heavy an will be dropping the tailgate anyway, otherwise he just reaches over the bedside. With the can set what ever he is loading on the tailgate, climb up, and move it around easily. Needs to pull something out that he can't reach, he's going to be dropping the tailgate anyway. Ladder makes it easy for him to climb up and move around what ever he needs.

Just saying, for some people getting over the tailgate is what makes it unnecessarily difficult. They are better served dropping the gate with or without a ladder/step.

 

We all use the bed for different things, sometimes we need the tailgate open for larger items & still need to get in there to secure them...
The biggest problem for me was removing & refitting the 5th wheel hitch in order to use the whole bed, I had on occasion used a portable folding set of steps, which was fine on good hard ground but needed a risk assessment for uneven or soft ground.
I will have to see how I get on with the Fontaine truck, but I think that because the tailgate is so much shorter, I will be able to position it just inside the bed & climb over the closed tailgate.
Oh to be young & agile again!

 

There are many different applications and desires when it comes to modifying our trucks and I am grateful we have the free will to go whichever route we do.

As for leaving the tailgate shut and using the molded step by the hitch, yes that is an option. Definitely not my preferred method though.

When getting into the bed unloading firewood, concrete, rock or whatever when the tailgate is down is an issue.

Getting out of the bed when the tailgate is up is a concern as well. Put a leg over the tailgate onto the molded step, other leg over over the tailgate, then down to the ground. If that works for you, outstanding.

My joints are not as limber as they used to be and I prefer to have a large step off the 4x4 height tailgate in order to give me sure footing and access. Especially when going over unpaved surfaces, which happens a lot.

We carry two 50 lbs water containers in the bed everytime we take the 5th wheel out. Firewood, chocks, road cone, etc too.

You consider lowering and raising the tailgate unnecessarily difficult, I consider climbing over the tailgate the same way. I installed that $15 DeeZee gas strut on my tailgate too, so a simple pop of the handle, let go and down it comes by itself.

It comes down to owners preference really. I liked the idea of a step up ever since I saw it on Paul's truck, but that ladder style would not work for us due to the 5th wheel towing 90% of the time. I am not attempting to convince you this is a good idea for everyone, just attempting to help you understand why it is a good idea for some.

 

The more posts I read from @Sous, the more I like him, and we are both in Georgia.

 

As per our PM conversation the other day, I have added you to the "tag notification" list when we have a north GA GTG announcement. All friends and family are welcome to the GTG's and we look forward to meeting you in person in the near future.

As for my posts and threads, I simply do my best to relay factual information that I have learned and my experiences with a part or product backed up by undeniable documentation in the way of video, data logs, testimony and pictures. Sometimes I make a mistake or am dead wrong, but I see those as learning opportunities. The FTE community is the very best source of information for the 7.3L PSD and it is a privilege to be part of this community.

Regarding the folding step I purchased... The step still retracts and extends effortlessly and has been a knee saver for when I am getting in or out of the bed. It has worked well for my wife too when she is doing the same. Since this is a manual extend and retract step, there are no motors or gears to wear out. It is a very simple design that just works and we are grateful for this.