Running boards and lower ground clearance

[WNCblueridge]

Will soon be purchasing and installing side step bars for the first time. I am trying to find out if how much ground clearance I would lose from installing the step bars. For example mounting hardware from one manufacturer might make the bars lower to ground than another different manufacturer would. Or are they pretty much universal size and specs. I want to install step bars as high off the ground as possible. Looks like you get what you pay for when it comes to side steps. 3"cheaper and 5" more expensive. Is 4 inch width a good common size to get? Seems like 3" is a little too narrow

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[P. A. Schilke]

Will soon be purchasing and installing side step bars for the first time. I am trying to find out if how much ground clearance I would lose from installing the step bars. For example mounting hardware from one manufacturer might make the bars lower to ground than another different manufacturer would. Or are they pretty much universal size and specs. I want to install step bars as high off the ground as possible. Looks like you get what you pay for when it comes to side steps. 3"cheaper and 5" more expensive. Is 4 inch width a good common size to get? Seems like 3" is a little too narrow

Hi Chris,

Need a bit of orientation. First Step Bar has a few meanings....a bar that spans the cab or one that has "foot loops" for example...I am guessing you mean spans the truck cab. The OEM Ford that I have are 4½" flat surface for example. You are balancing look vs function here for step width. I cannot speak to ground clearance variations.

Step bars were a contentious issue when we launched the Ford Edge Ranger, a 4x2 on a 4x4 frame. Step width, Height etc. Edison Assembly Plant Manager absolutely hated the step bars and let it be known that she would not built any Ranger's with step bars. I patiently listened to her tirade....then told her we would be more than happy relocate step bar builds to Twin Cities Assembly. Shut her up as she did not want to loose volume production. We found through testing that 4½ to 5" tested to be the best width.

Best,
Phil

 

[Dave1899]

I put on AMP Research power steps. they will give you all the clearance you need. Go to 9:40 in the video to see them operate.

 

[micl9]

X2 on AMP - they rock and if you significant other is short she will appreciate them as well.
Thread here
Amp Research Power Steps

 

[WNCblueridge]

Hi Chris,

Need a bit of orientation. First Step Bar has a few meanings....a bar that spans the cab or one that has "foot loops" for example...I am guessing you mean spans the truck cab. The OEM Ford that I have are 4½" flat surface for example. You are balancing look vs function here for step width. I cannot speak to ground clearance variations.

Step bars were a contentious issue when we launched the Ford Edge Ranger, a 4x2 on a 4x4 frame. Step width, Height etc. Edison Assembly Plant Manager absolutely hated the step bars and let it be known that she would not built any Ranger's with step bars. I patiently listened to her tirade....then told her we would be more than happy relocate step bar builds to Twin Cities Assembly. Shut her up as she did not want to loose volume production. We found through testing that 4½ to 5" tested to be the best width.

Best,
Phil

Thanks for the insight Phil. Yes, cab length step bar is where I am leaning towards for purchase. I am fairly short driver (5ft8"l)so these bars will serve a good function in that regard.

 

[WNCblueridge]

I put on AMP Research power steps. they will give you all the clearance you need. Go to 9:40 in the video to see them operate.

Those do look great. Thanks

 

[micl9]

Those do look great. Thanks

Noticed you have a white Ranger (good choice!)
I was worried about how they would look on a white Truck - and am quite happy with the results.

 

[OCL]

I used to be against steps on a pick up and always claimed they were for the wife or girlfriend. Until I tried one and realized how useful they are! It surely makes it easier to step in and out of a tall truck. It gives me a convenient step for cleaning the roof of the truck. Finally, it makes it that much easier for my lovely wife to get in and out of the truck. The only downsides are: yes it will cut some breakover clearance, and you MUST use it all the time. Trying to throw a leg over the steps usually will end up with hurt shins or calves.

The Tremor steps are ridiculously large. But I must admit it looks good AND it works. Yes it does reduce breakover height if you're going to straddle a large boulder. But if your truck has large tires, it might remove/lessen the need to "jump" in and out of the cab.
Shameless pic for attention:

Untitled by rogue_biker, on Flickr

 

[Cabose-1]

You can zoom In on the pick. I have 3 inch nerf from realtruck. This is a pick from the deer lease, a good 15 to 20 miles dirt roads all around. Stupid steps hit everything out here. I only have them because the wife says the Ranger is too high

 

[OCL]

Anything the front tires pick up is going to get kicked back onto the nerf bars that you have. Maybe that's what you were hearing as "hits". You would need to straddle a tall mogul or large rock to hit those bars. Anyway, it really needs to come closer to the body, otherwise it looks like the landing skids of a helicopter. That and your truck looks low enough not to need a step. But your wife will disagree.

 

[Peragrin]

Anything the front tires pick up is going to get kicked back onto the nerf bars that you have. Maybe that's what you were hearing as "hits". You would need to straddle a tall mogul or large rock to hit those bars. Anyway, it really needs to come closer to the body, otherwise it looks like the landing skids of a helicopter. That and your truck looks low enough not to need a step. But your wife will disagree.

The steps should come with mudflaps. I purposely got them as I have 2 little kids, and life is a lot easier if they can climb up on their own. but yes you can hear all sorts of things hitting them.

I occasionally use mine too though I don't normally need to, as it is easier on the knees. Or to reach across the cab top to brush off snow.

 

[PltFX4]

This may be a item for "what did I do to my Ranger today" thread but think will be more productive here.

So I had the AMP Research power steps professionally installed on Thursday and all seems to be working well. Install was cleanly done and they operate well... save one thing... when they retract, at the fully retracted point, there is quite a loud clunk... more on the driver side than the passenger. Very noticeable both inside and outside of the truck.

Wondering if that is a normal or if might need adjustment. I am going to take it back to the shop and see what they say but5 figured I would get thoughts from those who have had there power steps installed for a while.

Please advise. Thanks.

 

[micl9]

This may be a item for "what did I do to my Ranger today" thread but think will be more productive here.

So I had the AMP Research power steps professionally installed on Thursday and all seems to be working well. Install was cleanly done and they operate well... save one thing... when they retract, at the fully retracted point, there is quite a loud clunk... more on the driver side than the passenger. Very noticeable both inside and outside of the truck.

Wondering if that is a normal or if might need adjustment. I am going to take it back to the shop and see what they say but5 figured I would get thoughts from those who have had there power steps installed for a while.

Please advise. Thanks.

Yup normal from my perspective.
Scares the crap out of my wife.
But she still loves the steps

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