AMP Research PowerSteps installed on my 2022 XLT FX4

[deleriumtremor]

I just finished installing a set of AMP Research Powersteps on my Ranger.

It took me about three times longer than I expected, mostly because I had installed a set on a prior truck and felt I was so familiar, I didn't bother to download the instructions. Had I downloaded the step by step instructions and followed them carefully (another unlikely scenario), I probably would have finished maybe just a little over my original estimate. When I told my wife I was finished and it took about three times more than my original estimate, she said, "oh, just like the contractors when they built the house...".

I didn't bother with installing the LED puddle lights as I didn't install them the last time and never missed them. My logic is where we go, we get a lot of muddy crap stuck up between the steps and the body, so a weekly power wash of the rockers is pretty normal. My guess is while the sticky stuff that holds the LED lights on is pretty stout, I figured at some point I would have a few dangling. Less to go wrong this way. If any member here has AMP steps and loses an LED light, I have eight of them still in the bags and would be glad to fix you up.

I will post pics/video of the finished product as soon as the sunlight gets below 6500K and you can actually see the power steps and not just a black shadow against the white body of the truck.

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[TJC]

Amp Research Power steps are the best addition that I have made for my truck.

The best mod is by far the Tom Woods single piece drive shaft.

 

[Muscleford]

Amp Research Power Steps on my '21Lariat are awesome!

 

[deleriumtremor]

I took a quick and dirty video but for some reason the site won't upload it. Probably just as well as the camera man is pretty bad at his job.

 

[RK Racing]

I just finished installing these last weekend on my 2023 Lariat FX4 also. I believe the directions stated 3 to 6 hours for a professional. My guess is I spent close to 16 hours because I rerouted the wires numerous times for a best application fit. I did call up amp tech line to help me with the fine-tuning to make sure the steps go up 100% of the way on the front area’s. The drivers front was about an inch away from the body in the passenger front was about a half inch away from the body, and after fine-tuning they go 100% all the way up in the front areas, the back area had zero issues. I have installed these three times before on three of my Superdutys. When I spoke to him, they stated the super duties are super easy to install and the Ranger is one of the most difficult to install because of alignment purposes.

 

[deleriumtremor]

I just finished installing these last weekend on my 2023 Lariat FX4 also. I believe the directions stated 3 to 6 hours for a professional. My guess is I spent close to 16 hours because I rerouted the wires numerous times for a best application fit. I did call up amp tech line to help me with the fine-tuning to make sure the steps go up 100% of the way on the front area’s. The drivers front was about an inch away from the body in the passenger front was about a half inch away from the body, and after fine-tuning they go 100% all the way up in the front areas, the back area had zero issues. I have installed these three times before on three of my Superdutys. When I spoke to him, they stated the super duties are super easy to install and the Ranger is one of the most difficult to install because of alignment purposes.

Definitely much more time consuming than the GMC Sierra I did as well. The linkage alignment was one of the "re-do" items. I just bolted up the linkages and torqued them not in the specific order called out in the instructions (this would have saved me a LOT of time had I read the instructions ahead of time). I did hand cycle the boards to assure no binding after the first go round, but I did get the lack of final closure up front (about a 1" GAP). After the redo of the linkage torque sequence the boards closed up as they should on mine as well.

I did also fiddle a lot with the routing and the placement of the controller box, as well as spent a lot of time on strain relief and keeping the harness away from anything to hot when zip tying everything down.

It was funny as I noticed in the kit they sent me, there was no mention of "plug and play", probably because with the added tapping into the additional CAN bus wires on the Ranger it really isn't "Plug and Play". On the Sierra I did, there was only the two purple wires to butt joint to the ODB plug, so actually "Plug and Play".

I still can't figure why they bother with the ODB plug if we are tapping extra wires in the back of the ODB port. Why not just tap all four and leave the plug unused? I might actually go back and give that a try.

 

[deleriumtremor]

Here is a clip I did post install. Lighting is tough and my iPhone is old, so the quality leaves something to be desired. But you get the idea.

 

[RK Racing]

Here is a clip I did post install. Lighting is tough and my iPhone is old, so the quality leaves something to be desired. But you get the idea.

I mounted my controller in front of the battery as per the diagram in the instructions. Not sure if that’s any better one way or another…… you must’ve had a lot of extra wire, mounting the controller at least a foot further back. A million ways to skin a cat…….

 

[deleriumtremor]

I mounted my controller in front of the battery as per the diagram in the instructions. Not sure if that’s any better one way or another…… you must’ve had a lot of extra wire, mounting the controller at least a foot further back. A million ways to skin a cat…….

When I first did the rough routing, I did seem to have plenty and did the initial location in front of the battery. As I did the harness tie down, I had less and less extra and actually had to move the controller up on top of the fuse box to accommodate the passenger side run and be able to tuck it up near the firewall. I guess all the strain relief and radii of bends used up more harness than I originally thought I had.

Of course, I also might have a bunch of harness sagging underneath one of these days when a big old loop I didn't think I had falls off the top of the frame rails...

 

[RK Racing]

……………………..

 

[deleriumtremor]

……………………..

Too funny.

I think the first night when I quit, I looked a lot like #2, at least from a tiredness standpoint.

I took a different approach the next day and just chipped away for a few hours, quit, went back after lunch, quit when I got a little tired, rinse and repeat...

One thing I did seem to notice (through pain) is there seems to be a lot less de-burring going on at Ford in the mid-sized truck manufacturing engineering. My hands will heal from all the nicks, but holy smokes. Should have invested in some Mechanics brand gloves.

 

[RK Racing]

Too funny.

I think the first night when I quit, I looked a lot like #2, at least from a tiredness standpoint.

I took a different approach the next day and just chipped away for a few hours, quit, went back after lunch, quit when I got a little tired, rinse and repeat...

One thing I did seem to notice (through pain) is there seems to be a lot less de-burring going on at Ford in the mid-sized truck manufacturing engineering. My hands will heal from all the nicks, but holy smokes. Should have invested in some Mechanics brand gloves.

Same method that I used. Just kept chipping away on it. A little frustrating, a little tiresome but I did get the job completed!!!!

 

[BButah]

I just finished installing these last weekend on my 2023 Lariat FX4 also. I believe the directions stated 3 to 6 hours for a professional. My guess is I spent close to 16 hours because I rerouted the wires numerous times for a best application fit. I did call up amp tech line to help me with the fine-tuning to make sure the steps go up 100% of the way on the front area’s. The drivers front was about an inch away from the body in the passenger front was about a half inch away from the body, and after fine-tuning they go 100% all the way up in the front areas, the back area had zero issues. I have installed these three times before on three of my Superdutys. When I spoke to him, they stated the super duties are super easy to install and the Ranger is one of the most difficult to install because of alignment purposes.

Hey Robert!
Can you share the details of the AMP Tech's fine-tuning procedure? I have the AMP PowerSteps installed and on the drivers side, it is about 1/2" away in the front area only. The passenger side is up nice and tight. I messed with the drivers side A LOT and just figured it was the mounts on the Ranger? I'd love to try the "fine tuning" to see if it helps? Thanks in advance!

 

[RK Racing]

Hey Robert!
Can you share the details of the AMP Tech's fine-tuning procedure? I have the AMP PowerSteps installed and on the drivers side, it is about 1/2" away in the front area only. The passenger side is up nice and tight. I messed with the drivers side A LOT and just figured it was the mounts on the Ranger? I'd love to try the "fine tuning" to see if it helps? Thanks in advance!

At work right now, will respond tonight…….

 

[RK Racing]

Hey Robert!
Can you share the details of the AMP Tech's fine-tuning procedure? I have the AMP PowerSteps installed and on the drivers side, it is about 1/2" away in the front area only. The passenger side is up nice and tight. I messed with the drivers side A LOT and just figured it was the mounts on the Ranger? I'd love to try the "fine tuning" to see if it helps? Thanks in advance!
[/QUOTE]
Basically he said to repeat the steps over and over again. He said top techs in the field keep having problems with the driver side of the Ranger and basically you got to keep going until you have zero resistance without the motor, pushing it up and down. He said to just keep repeating these over and over again. I that’s what I did until the problem went away I believe 99.5 %. Good luck!

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