New??? side steps

[DDWH]

I looked at them at the dealer aswell....and it looks like it will fit for sure! Plus like tomp said, some dealer guy here has done it. I don't care about the cutout rocker crap, just wanted the steps.

[Agriv8r]

after carefull measuring (100 degrees outside, ran out ran in) I think the gap between the flares and rocker bar on the non LE trucks is slightly smaller, 1/8 inch or so. I do think that you could get away with just the steps aftercutting out the inside of the flare (the part you cant see. After this, the step would sit about 1 inch under the flare, but no reason it could not be done in a few minutes. On the LE it bolts on using the rocker bar monting screws. I have parts investigating just getting the step. will let you know.

[Agriv8r]

and my cost on the steps is about 150 a step...you do the install....add tax....(dealer math) should be close to 7000 dollars give or take...haha no really, 150 a step plus tax...

[KenP]

Originally Posted by Agriv8r

after carefull measuring (100 degrees outside, ran out ran in) I think the gap between the flares and rocker bar on the non LE trucks is slightly smaller, 1/8 inch or so. I do think that you could get away with just the steps aftercutting out the inside of the flare (the part you cant see. After this, the step would sit about 1 inch under the flare, but no reason it could not be done in a few minutes. On the LE it bolts on using the rocker bar monting screws. I have parts investigating just getting the step. will let you know.

Thanks Chuck. Obviously I didn't get over there today because only a fool would be out in that nasty heat.

On now it's thundering and lightning and I'm skeered. That goodness the dog is protecting me.

[KenP]

Forgot, I believe if you remove the rocker, install the steps, then reinstall the rocker, no trimming would be necessary.

[RIC-H0]

Originally Posted by KenP

Forgot, I believe if you remove the rocker, install the steps, then reinstall the rocker, no trimming would be necessary.

FWIW...

Good luck getting all the bolts back into your vehicle once you remove the rocker panels.
Phil, Myself and LonghornCrawler all had issues getting all the bolts back into the frame once they were removed. Got enough bolts snugged down so they would still hold the complete weight of the vehicle without any issues.

Ric

[Agriv8r]

Originally Posted by KenP

Forgot, I believe if you remove the rocker, install the steps, then reinstall the rocker, no trimming would be necessary.

it would probably work, but I think you would have to force/jack the rockers into place. by trimming, I just mean trim the edge closest to the center (inboard) of the truck the length of the steps. leave the outside/visible edge alone as it will sit on the step. I have them side by side when you make it up here

[PARAGON]

Originally Posted by RIC-H0

FWIW...

Good luck getting all the bolts back into your vehicle once you remove the rocker panels.
Phil, Myself and LonghornCrawler all had issues getting all the bolts back into the frame once they were removed. Got enough bolts snugged down so they would still hold the complete weight of the vehicle without any issues.

Ric

OK, why?

IIRC, isn't the frame tapped for the bolts? And you bolt through the rockers into the frame with no nuts or other retainers.

Did they not all line up?

[H2Finally]

I did not have a problem the 3 or 4 times I've removed and reinstalled the rocker bars, and my rocker bars were pretty messed up also (courtesy of John Bull).

[H2Finally]

Here's my current setup with blinged up rocker bars. I used a few solid square washers and longer bolts, to stick the rockers out a bit.

[PARAGON]

Originally Posted by H2Finally

Here's my current setup with blinged up rocker bars. I used a few solid square washers and longer bolts, to stick the rockers out a bit.

I can't believe you have not bought and installed the door handles I showed you.

[H2Finally]

I bought my LE steps off ebay, a one-off kindda deal, and I think I paid $150 or $200 for all 4.

There is not enough clearance to install the steps without either cutting or removing/reinstalling the stock trim. This isn't ideal. The trim is expensive to replace if you messed up cutting them, or do not like the way they look after. The steps are somewhat rare and/or expensive and I do not want them damaged from kissing big rocks common in SoCal trails. So they must be able to be easily removed for off-roading.

My solution is to add 1 additional spacer (~ 1/8" or 1/4") for all the top bolts of the rocker bars, to "tilt" the rocker bars down a bit. Now the steps fit very snug (no gap), but can still be easily taken off for off-roading.

There are 4 bolts that attaches each step to the rocker bars. I used 3 longer bolts which I lock-tited (<-- copyrighted term ) one direction to provide "over-hang" for 3 of the rocker bar holes, and used only 1 of the original bolt the opposite direction, to hold the step in place in the 4th hole of the rocker bar -- just like the U-steps. Much easier to take on/off.

[H2Finally]

Originally Posted by PARAGON

I can't believe you have not bought and installed the door handles I showed you.

I may yet buy them; but at the moment I'm actually trying out a trial seperation from my ultra-cool chrome flames .. very very difficult, but I'm trying my best..

[KenP]

Originally Posted by H2Finally

I may yet buy them; but at the moment I'm actually trying out a trial seperation from my ultra-cool chrome flames .. very very difficult, but I'm trying my best..

Shouldn't you be in a meeting or doing something productive? Sheez. You lazy workers.

Nice setup. Thanks for confirming EVERY single thing I've said about the LE steps.

[RIC-H0]

Originally Posted by PARAGON

OK, why?

IIRC, isn't the frame tapped for the bolts? And you bolt through the rockers into the frame with no nuts or other retainers.

Did they not all line up?

Not real sure why they didn't go all the way through. They started just fine, but about half way through the thread, it started to bind up. Couldn't get a couple to snug up. It may have something to do with the extra weight of the sweet custom rock sliders that were welded to these rails, but I don't really think so.
The nuts are in the frame, and it shouldn't do what it's doing, but it does!

Just my experience...

Hope you don't have similar luck with yours.

Ric-H0

[PARAGON]

Originally Posted by KenP

Shouldn't you be in a meeting or doing something productive? Sheez. You lazy workers.

Nice setup. Thanks for confirming EVERY single thing I've said about the LE steps.

seems like I vaguely remember coming up with a design like this for steps a couple of years ago. I told someone about, maybe some underworld figure.

Was it you, Ken?

[PARAGON]

Originally Posted by PARAGON

seems like I vaguely remember coming up with a design like this for steps a couple of years ago. I told someone about, maybe some underworld figure.

Was it you, Ken?

oops, nevermind. I found it in an email I sent to Phil over 2.5 years ago.

[KenP]

Originally Posted by PARAGON

oops, nevermind. I found it in an email I sent to Phil over 2.5 years ago.

I stole it from him by hacking his computer. It was real easy, I mean, you don't think I pay for all those TD parts, do you?

[HummerNewbie]

Originally Posted by KenP

I stole it from him by hacking his computer. It was real easy, I mean, you don't think I pay for all those TD parts, do you?

Hey Ken, did you get that winch bumper setup we discussed ship yet from TD?

[KenP]

Originally Posted by HummerNewbie

Hey Ken, did you get that winch bumper setup we discussed ship yet from TD?

Yeah. I'll drop it off, just give me a few bucks for gas.