F450 with PTO???

sparc · Sep 23, 2012

Everyone I know with them like the feature.

As far as the 'man step' goes.

My F-350 has it and i find it both good and bad. Since I have a short bed when I haul
anything longer than the bed the uneven inner face of the tailgate is a PITA. Other than
that it is helpful getting in and out of the bed of a 4x4. My tailgate is about 35 inches off
the ground, don't know about you but that's a big step for me if I'm carrying something.

What I can't figure out is why they don't have a step on the side of the bed as standard equipment.

Reg · Sep 27, 2012

sparc said:
As far as the 'man step' goes.

My F-350 has it and i find it both good and bad. Since I have a short bed when I haul
anything longer than the bed the uneven inner face of the tailgate is a PITA. Other than
that it is helpful getting in and out of the bed of a 4x4. My tailgate is about 35 inches off
the ground, don't know about you but that's a big step for me if I'm carrying something.

What I can't figure out is why they don't have a step on the side of the bed as standard equipment.

Mine does, one on each side.
Easy peasy, but I have a flat bed on a duallie.
Can you REALLY not use what are generally known as REAR TIRES to step on and hop up ?
Big round black things, may have raised white lettering on the sides - or not.
OK, not easy if I am carrying something, but it is generally unwise to carry anything HEAVY on large steps or stairs anyway.

sparc · Sep 28, 2012

mojoinco said:
Ah great, tell me (please) why would one need to have the FOG lights on and the high beams? They are counter productive in there basic use.

Sorry, just a peeve of mine: both sets of lights on so I get completely blinded.

Don't know how it is out your way but around here with our old roads which started life as nothing more than wagon trails in the 16 and 1700s there is little visibility to the side of the road because the tree line is so close to the shoulder of the road. Many times the tree line is only 4 feet from the should line of the road. With the state and counties trying to save a few bucks they don't cut that 4 feet as often as they used to and its sometimes 3 feet high before they get to it. Around here with all the deer that can be risky at night. The darn deer hide at the edge of the wood and pop out with no warning right in your path. Without good lighting to the side its tough to see them. I usually run some fog lights turned out a few degrees to each side and kept down low to help illuminate each side of the road as I am in the dark going to work year round (leave for work at 5 am) and in the winter its dark on the way home. If there is an approaching vehicle I turn them off, but usually I see only two vehicles coming the other way and maybe one or two traveling the same direction as me in the morning. I have nothing but 18 miles of back roads between my home and work, most of it heavily wooded. There are only 2 stop lights and 3 stop signs in that whole 18.6 miles. I can't tell you the number of times I have almost smacked into a deer. Luckily I have only hit two in the past 10 years but others have not faired as well. Once you've had one roll up on your hood you don't forget the experience and when you see another about to become a hood ornament its not fun.

sparc · Sep 28, 2012

Reg said:
Mine does, one on each side.
Easy peasy, but I have a flat bed on a duallie.
Can you REALLY not use what are generally known as REAR TIRES to step on and hop up ?
Big round black things, may have raised white lettering on the sides - or not.
OK, not easy if I am carrying something, but it is generally unwise to carry anything HEAVY on large steps or stairs anyway.

Yes, I can really NOT do that sometimes. Times like when I am carrying something in both hands; like when its raining or snowing or icey and the tires are slippery; or I have something heavy that I need to position in the bed and need more stability than the tire offers.

It's a tall step up to the top of those 32.5" diameter tires, almost as high as the tailgate which is 38" above the ground. If you are carrying something you can't because you need to grab the rail of the bed, or are you saying that you don't need to do that either? and what about those who have say a knee joint replaced or arthritis or a war injury which restricts their movement and makes it tough for them to climb up on that tire, which, when you're up there offers little in the way of stability. Having a step at the bottom of the bed or having running boards that extend back to in front of the rear wheel well would be so much better than perching on the top of the tire. But you're tough you'll be alright, and anyone who can't keep up is a wimp I guess.

swines · Sep 30, 2012

Mine does, one on each side. Easy peasy, but I have a flat bed on a duallie.

Then your comments are totally inapplicable to a pickup with a box.

Can you REALLY not use what are generally known as REAR TIRES to step on and hop up ? Big round black things, may have raised white lettering on the sides - or not.

Not "easy peasy" on a dually with a box. You can't get close enough to the bed to grab the top rail to pull yourself up. Also not easy for someone with arthrictic knees. I have days where I can't bend my left knee more than about 20-degrees...I know...I should just "man up" and tough it out so I can be like you....naaahh...I think I'll just use the rear tailgate step.

OK, not easy if I am carrying something, but it is generally unwise to carry anything HEAVY on large steps or stairs anyway.

Yeah..Mr. Safety...we'll all keep that in mind...as we watch you climb up using the rear tires...

I agree with the previous comment. The built-in tailgate step is nice to use and a PITA for sliding things in/out of the bed. Also a PITA to clean out if you haul a load of sand, gravel, or move trimmings from bushes, trees, etc.