I just send back a set of nice side steps for my '05 SD 4 Door 4X4 Long Bed. I went out to put them on Sunday morning and lo & behold, no frame to mount them to!! At least not within a distance that anyone can use. I'm only 5'8" and except for climbing up onto the tire, has anyone found ANYTHING that can be mounted to use for a step for us shorties to reach into the bed of the truck?

The truck came with the Ford standard ABS running boards that end at the rear door. Now I see why they didn't offer wheel to wheel boards!

If nothing available, I just may have to have something fabricated. I really don't want one of those funky steps that you throw over the tire!!!!.

Bud Pytko
2005 F250SD CC 4X4 LB

 

Check out www.n-fab.com. Nice steps.

 

Westin ss chrome covered nerf bars wheel to wheel is what you need. Yes once past the cab there are no supports but they will hold you and not bend. I have a friend that put them on his lwb cc truck and i weigh 275lbs and i can stand on it and it just barely moves. Have another friend and his is a cc swb with the same nerf bars to fit and his don't move when i stand on it. It looks a little scary but they work.

 

I'm not looking to spend $500.00 for a step from the ground to the bed....looks like I'll check into fabbing something....this is rediculous!

 

I keep a compact, folding RubberMaid step stool bungie-corded to a toolbox in the bed of my truck. I got it from Mejiers for about twenty bucks and it supports 300#s.

 

how about some of those stilts that drywall installers use????....

 

You might look at some Torklift camper tie-downs. They bolt on to the frame and bed (no drill install) and extend out past the bed. You'd have to fab a step in place of the factory end, but they'd give you a good head start. $180/pr from Camping World.

Here are some pics http://campertiedowns.com/tiedown_pictures.htm

 

Thanks for that idea mmcnabb2, I think I'll stop by Camping World and look at one of those!!! Doesn't look like I'll need to do much work at all!

BuffaloBob.....HA-HA!

Bud

 

dgludwig ?
If its bungee corded in the bed to the tool box what do you stand on to get it out?

 

$318 for my Westin W2W bars. They mount to the original holes in the crimp weld on the rockers. I'm about 200 lbs and they don't move under me.

 

I use a 5gal bucket. Works great for the price. I'm only 5'6" so what I really need is an extention ladder. lol

 

Notawordok:

Actually, I use two stepladders. One to...just kidding!

I have a large toolbox situated length-wise, up against the back of the cab. At either end of the box are two padlocks. I hook one end of the bungie cord to one of the padlock shackles, thread the cord through the step-stool and attach the other cord hook to the remaining padlock shackle. When I need to use the stool, I unhook both ends of the bungie and, because the cord is long enough to reach from either end when "unfastened", I'm able to drag the stool toward me from which ever end I'm standing.

By drilling a hole in one side of the stool and bolting an eye-bolt to a leg of the stool, I am able to attach a small length of light-weight chain to the eye-bolt at one end and lock the other end of the chain to one of the padlocks to deter theft of the stool. By doing this, of course, I have to unlock a padlock to use the step-stool.

The above sounds more complicated than it really is. I'm not in anyway suggesting that my "system" is more practical than a conventional stepbar-just a lot cheaper. Too, I'm not having to access the bed of my pick-up everyday; usually just when I'm hunting, fishing or camping. I don't use it for work but do drive it as my everyday vehicle. If I was required to get in and out of the truck bed on a frequent basis, I'd probably try something different-like lashing the stool to the tailgate or afixing it up under the bed rail. Or buy and install a proper stepbar...

 

BFR250SD, looks really nice...but mine is a long bed 4 door.....your bars wouldn't be long enough....

Bud Pytko

 

They make them for your truck too. They are a few more bucks but not much. I actually had to trim about 4" off the back end of the bars, because they were a little too close to the tires. Out came Mr Sawzall and masking tape and cut to fit. 5 minutes and a little black paint and you'd never know.

They have 3 steps on each bar. Front door, back door and one for the bed.

 

I looked at their web site and they do not list the F250SD 4 door LONG bed, just the short bed!

Bud Pytko