I think it's doable with the step on but personally I'd pop it off to make the job easier.
There's a bunch of double-sided tape strips you need to deal with during installation...the more access the better IMO.
The job can appear a bit daunting at first but if you take it slow and follow the...
Love the trays. Without them it's like a friggin bucket...worse than my ex's purse!
Less has to be trimmed than was shown in the original thread...this is the minimum but works perfectly.
“Brand new cars have been left to cure for weeks or months before they get to the end user. Those finishes are also baked on at the factory, so they’re ready to be waxed as soon as you take delivery.”
Mike Pennington - Meguiar’s Director of Global Training
The Bushwacker setup hides the welds and helps protects the paint down low. After installing the OEM step I noticed it also protects the paint from the shoes of those using the step.
Finding the right balance between rebound and compression damping, and valving, in all expected situations takes a LOT of work...no doubt Ford engineers put some serious time into this.
You can increase rebound damping to slow down the bounce but then you're at risk of "packing" over repeated...
On projects like this I add a small amount of black to a 2-part clearcoat and shoot it with an airbrush...you can get the exact amount of tint you want.
I double-checked mine today and it works like it should when I enable and disable the Silent Mode check box option. If you can find the backup I'd reset it and try again.
Mequiars D301 finishing wax is great at removing light etching and much gentler than rubbing compounds. Although it's part of their professional lineup it's not expensive.
If you ever use your truck on dirt/gravel roads, I'll bet you'll be happy the OEM units cover part of the magnetic wheel trim...without them it takes a beating
Found this out first hand while waiting for the molded ones to arrive.