What did you do to your Ranger today?

[subquark]

I installed the TrekStep yesterday afternoon.

https://www.bestop.com/products/trekstep-rear-mount-step-ford-2019-2021-ranger/

And it wasn't hard and certainly not the 4 hours they say, but I did mess with it for 2 hours ...

The bed bolt isn't bad to get out. I used a 1/2' drive ratchet with a foot long extension and then a 3/4 inch wrench as a cheater bar. A wiring connector had to be pulled from the frame and held out of the way.

The big pain was getting their massive bracket in place. There's plenty of wiggle room to get it there but getting the bed bolt back in was a bit tight. Thankfully, the tail gate damper has atrophied my arms enough that I could get my forearms up in the fender and get to the bolt. To tighten it meant no extension and very limited room to tighten on the ratchet. But it'll work slowly.

I should have placed both shims they provide in place before bolting it all in. They suggest adding it later but I knew I wanted it as low as possible. They have you shimming it after install but I wasn't looking for a tight tucked in look, I need every half inch I can get to get my 5'6" self into the bed.

Adding the shims after meant more tight ratcheting, but it wasn't all that bad.

I'm glad that it's on and even Kate can get into the bed with it, so that's great—no more jumping up to sit on the tail gate and rolling around like a fish out of water to get in.

Friggin'sun was making me nuts, the underside has that black wax coating crap and it's impossible for me to see in there (had two Olights in there on max as well).

The damper proved useful to hold the golf umbrella!

The "big" bracket they supply is steel and everything else is aluminum, seems well made.

Sponsored

 

[subquark]

I tugged the old FJ40 to the front of the garage to get it ready to haul up to my daughter's (she wants to restore it—we fired it up last week with some starting fluid—but it needs loads of work to be road worthy). Two rotted front tires didn't stop the Ranger from dragging it and I got to use my new GearAmerica straps and soft shackles!

The foreman was exited to be in the truck for the 8 feet we pulled it! =)

That's a 1962 power-take-off Ramsey winch on a bracket I fabricated many years ago.

 

[Jbrubakerjr]

I installed the TrekStep yesterday afternoon.

https://www.bestop.com/products/trekstep-rear-mount-step-ford-2019-2021-ranger/

And it wasn't hard and certainly not the 4 hours they say, but I did mess with it for 2 hours ...

The bed bolt isn't bad to get out. I used a 1/2' drive ratchet with a foot long extension and then a 3/4 inch wrench as a cheater bar. A wiring connector had to be pulled from the frame and held out of the way.

The big pain was getting their massive bracket in place. There's plenty of wiggle room to get it there but getting the bed bolt back in was a bit tight. Thankfully, the tail gate damper has atrophied my arms enough that I could get my forearms up in the fender and get to the bolt. To tighten it meant no extension and very limited room to tighten on the ratchet. But it'll work slowly.

I should have placed both shims they provide in place before bolting it all in. They suggest adding it later but I knew I wanted it as low as possible. They have you shimming it after install but I wasn't looking for a tight tucked in look, I need every half inch I can get to get my 5'6" self into the bed.

Adding the shims after meant more tight ratcheting, but it wasn't all that bad.

I'm glad that it's on and even Kate can get into the bed with it, so that's great—no more jumping up to sit on the tail gate and rolling around like a fish out of water to get in.

Friggin'sun was making me nuts, the underside has that black wax coating crap and it's impossible for me to see in there (had two Olights in there on max as well).

The damper proved useful to hold the golf umbrella!

The "big" bracket they supply is steel and everything else is aluminum, seems well made.

I actually like that as opposed to the hitch step options. Thanks fro posting!

 

[JDG]

I installed the TrekStep yesterday afternoon.

https://www.bestop.com/products/trekstep-rear-mount-step-ford-2019-2021-ranger/

And it wasn't hard and certainly not the 4 hours they say, but I did mess with it for 2 hours ...

The bed bolt isn't bad to get out. I used a 1/2' drive ratchet with a foot long extension and then a 3/4 inch wrench as a cheater bar. A wiring connector had to be pulled from the frame and held out of the way.

The big pain was getting their massive bracket in place. There's plenty of wiggle room to get it there but getting the bed bolt back in was a bit tight. Thankfully, the tail gate damper has atrophied my arms enough that I could get my forearms up in the fender and get to the bolt. To tighten it meant no extension and very limited room to tighten on the ratchet. But it'll work slowly.

I should have placed both shims they provide in place before bolting it all in. They suggest adding it later but I knew I wanted it as low as possible. They have you shimming it after install but I wasn't looking for a tight tucked in look, I need every half inch I can get to get my 5'6" self into the bed.

Adding the shims after meant more tight ratcheting, but it wasn't all that bad.

I'm glad that it's on and even Kate can get into the bed with it, so that's great—no more jumping up to sit on the tail gate and rolling around like a fish out of water to get in.

Friggin'sun was making me nuts, the underside has that black wax coating crap and it's impossible for me to see in there (had two Olights in there on max as well).

The damper proved useful to hold the golf umbrella!

The "big" bracket they supply is steel and everything else is aluminum, seems well made.

When did yours show up? I have had one on order since November...

 

[subquark]

When did yours show up? I have had one on order since November...

Holy Cow!!!

I ordered May 15th and it arrived yesterday, June 21.

I did ask for updates a few times and they are kind of hard to get a hold of online. So I phoned them and got voice mail and left my order number, the next day I got an email with expected ship date.

Certainly they should have yours! That really stinks, especially for the price!

Give them a call and good luck!

 

[JDG]

Holy Cow!!!

I ordered May 15th and it arrived yesterday, June 21.

I did ask for updates a few times and they are kind of hard to get a hold of online. So I phoned them and got voice mail and left my order number, the next day I got an email with expected ship date.

Certainly they should have yours! That really stinks, especially for the price!

Give them a call and good luck!

WTF... Did you order direct from Bestop? I am going to call them now if so..

 

[subquark]

I actually like that as opposed to the hitch step options. Thanks fro posting!

I have used the ball mount but it's pretty tall for me and I wanted something that I could use when the tail gate is down.

It angles forward quite a bit and I suppose that's to keep you from slipping off the back. It has a nice grippy surface and it feels good.

It supposedly can hold 300 pounds. My 220 pounds are steady on it and it flexes only a tiny bit. I do have the step surface pushed all the way outboard to get as much available with the tail gate down, so that adds extra leverage from my weight, it's not bad but it's something that I think about.

It is costly though at $300 and a pain to install. But it will help us in unloading our gear.

I'll take a pic with my foot on it to give you a sense of scale and a pic from being in the bed would also help to show if it's acceptable.

 

[subquark]

WTF... Did you order direct from Bestop? I am going to call them now if so..

Yes, I did order direct from them! So you have plenty of right to be pissed.

And feel free to tell them my name (David Miller) and my order number: #69393.

I'm in New Hampshire, if that's any factor. Good luck!

 

[JDG]

Yes, I did order direct from them! So you have plenty of right to be pissed.

Appreciate the intel, waiting for a call back from Bestop now. It's wild how bad customer service has gotten with these companies.

 

[JDG]

Yes, I did order direct from them! So you have plenty of right to be pissed.

And feel free to tell them my name (David Miller) and my order number: #69393.

I'm in New Hampshire, if that's any factor. Good luck!

Just spoke with Bestop, super helpful. They have different stock for direct customers and their dealers. They don't expect dealer stock until the winter (LOL) but they have limited stock right now for sale directly to customers. I placed an order over the phone for a dealer stock unit which they are going to "expedite" which means ships in 3-5 days.

Again, appreciate you posting about yours and the intel on how you ordered. Hopefully mine shows up in 2022...

 

[Hank573]

Gave her a wash and heard crackling around the rear Ford emblem when drying the truck. The area around the lettering looks to be cracking. I can only guess from the strong South Florida sun. Not a good sign when the company logo cannot last.

Also noticed the trim on the door is turning white on both the drivers side and the passenger side in the same area located between the front and rear windows.

Not sure if you are still following this post, but I also live in Florida on the Treasure Coast and have the same white on rubber at pillars between windows..my son-in-law has a friend who lives in Port St. Lucie and went to the dealer and they ordered him new rubber....Florida is really rough on the rubber and plastic...I went though 3 Bakflips on my F250 before I went to the MX4...and the Mx4 I put on the Ranger is already turning.....I am going to talk to the dealer next week and will post answer I get....not sure how may other Ranger owners are have same problem. 2020 Ranger Lariat Super Crew Dark Gray...

 

[subquark]

Just spoke with Bestop, super helpful. They have different stock for direct customers and their dealers. They don't expect dealer stock until the winter (LOL) but they have limited stock right now for sale directly to customers. I placed an order over the phone for a dealer stock unit which they are going to "expedite" which means ships in 3-5 days.

Again, appreciate you posting about yours and the intel on how you ordered. Hopefully mine shows up in 2022...

That's awesome! And I didn't have a 8mm allen head socket and that would have been helpful, I used a T25 (I think) instead. I also needed a deep socket for the M10 X 120 MM bolt (17mm, I think).

Glad to hear about your order and it's interesting how they allocate their inventory.

Good luck and I hope it serves you well.

 

[subquark]

I actually like that as opposed to the hitch step options. Thanks fro posting!

Here are some pics showing the TrekStep in action, I grab onto the side rail and feel pretty steady. Not sure how it would be if I had something in one hand, I doubt I'd ever step up like that. I'd always place whatever on the tail gate and then grab it once I was in the bed.

From the back with both shims installed to drop it as low as possible.

I also slid it all the way left for max step surface with tail gate down.

Just showing it slid all the way to the left.

It sticks out but no wider than the stock tires.

Confidence-inspiring aluminum step with grippy surface.

Stepping up with tail gate damper in use. =p

220 pound fat man getting into the bed ... =p

The step as it looks from standing in the bed.

Another pic showing the step down and set as far left as possible.

 

[jflogerzi]

Full blisten 5100s and 1.8 lift in front and 1 inch lift in the rear. Getting an alignment done.

 

[Toytec]

Filled her up. Took 18.75 gal. Most I ever put in there.
With fuel points, got it for under 4 bucks a gal. Feels good to save something in this madness.

Sponsored