Step options so wife will love my truck? And a slight potential hiccup

[Rancho5]

My wife is 5’3” and would like me to mount steps on the 02 Sport to make it easier for her to climb in. I know there are lots of options...but... there has been some frame rust. A portion of the inside passengers side frame had some holes so my friend, who restores muscle cars, frame off, and sells them for insane amounts of money, cut out the rust and fab’d and welded a repair. He says it’s stronger than original. The drivers side seems to fine. All the rust was from the PO and I had no idea of the history of these with rust so I never crawled under the truck. Totally my fault... caveat emptor, right? It’s an Illinois truck, I got it in Texas, and now it resides in ultra-dry NM where it hardly rains, let alone snows.

So, I’m not sure I want to drill into the frame to mount a nerf bar. She suggested Carr steps like my f250 but I would prefer not to drill into the body. The truck is pretty stock, except running boards were removed by the PO. It’s not lifted and it’s used primarily for light off roading, in town use and camping.

Any ideas appreciated.

 

[gamefreakgc]

You can find running boards for cheap or free on the forums here on Craiglist. My wife is 5'1" and she likes them to get in and out of the vehicle, that's why they came with them.

 

[Rancho5]

You can find running boards for cheap or free on the forums here on Craiglist. My wife is 5'1" and she likes them to get in and out of the vehicle, that's why they came with them.

I'm not a huge fan of the OE running boards but they are functional. I've seen some but never in Thundercloud.

 

[T4R2014]

New wife that can climb.

 

[Hepar]

I 2nd keeping an eye out for some OEM running boards. But if you're wanting to avoid any drilling, you can weld on some rock sliders.

 

[T4R2014]

LOL, if the running board mounts are still there, then you can buy a set of Westin nerf bars that will bolt on with no drilling. Still recommend adjusting the wife to the truck and not vice versa. :biggrin1:

 

[gmcmanus663]

I'm not a huge fan of the OE running boards but they are functional. I've seen some but never in Thundercloud.

Too bad you're nowhere near me. I've got a set of thundercloud running boards from mine

 

[Rancho5]

Been poking around online... I love the black squarish “nerf” bars with steps but each place I look has them only for jeeps. In fact it’s tough to find anything bolt on for my 02 Sport at all. Called Westin and all they have are 3” chrome tube nerfs, and I was really hoping for 4” as 3” look like skinny noodles. I’m not opposed to rock sliders as steps but my neighbor would be welding them on and I’d like to make it as easy as possible for him, and most rock sliders I have looked at require multiple welds just to assemble each side into one piece. Do they make one piece that are affordable? ($300?)

Any input on any of these issues really appreciated.

 

[JohnOfTheJungle]

I think these are probably your best bet for affordable and still decent quality

http://www.trail-gear.com/product/4915/rock-slider-kit

Your neighbor will still have to weld the arms onto the slider though. Otherwise I think the next best option is one of the companies that specializes in 3rd gen 4runners.

 

[Scramble]

If the truck is not lifted she should have no problem getting in & out. Pull on the grab handle, my GF is 5.3.

I'd never spend $300 on some BS nerf bars when for another $50 you can get real rock sliders.

Get some OEM running boards for free from the classifieds here.

Hell I'll send you my 99 matte black base model boards if you cover the shipping.

 

[Scramble]

Been poking around online... I love the black squarish “nerf” bars with steps but each place I look has them only for jeeps. In fact it’s tough to find anything bolt on for my 02 Sport at all. Called Westin and all they have are 3” chrome tube nerfs,
Any input on any of these issues really appreciated.

Found these in 4 seconds on E-Bay.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Westin-25-...41027714711?epid=75355072&hash=item20d5e82697

 

[Scramble]

And dont forget the matching brush guard! :lookout:

 

[Rancho5]

Found these in 4 seconds on E-Bay.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Westin-25-...41027714711?epid=75355072&hash=item20d5e82697

Thanks but I meant something like this. I can’t find anything similar for an 02. They all seem to be for Jeeps.

https://runningboardwarehouse.com/ici-magnum-rt-steps-rts46jp.html

 

[Rancho5]

If the truck is not lifted she should have no problem getting in & out. Pull on the grab handle, my GF is 5.3.

It’s the tight skirts...she’s always wearing them, and I’m not complaining

 

[Rcastle]

I removed my running boards and then used my wife being too short as an excuse to get some sliders. By the time they were welded on it was too late to go back.

 

[kolelt]

My gf is around the same height. She uses my rock sliders as the step.

 

[swelleriffic]

I'm a TOUGH dad (toddlers of unfortunate groin height) so they still need the lower steps, I'll get sliders when they're older. I took off the chrome running boards and painted them black, pulled off the curved trim on the ends, and cut the filler along the top. It looks much less like an econoline van now, and basically free.