Steps for pickup bed access

[caver]

I'm looking at a side step so I can access stuff that migrates to the middle of my pickup bed. I'm also interested in anyone who has installed a tailgate step.
I saw some up at Cabelas in St Louie yesterday. Bully brand for the side step but I can't remember about the tailgate step.
Discuss.......

 

[archerm3]

I just buy/drive trucks that I can reach over the side of the bed. Which pretty much limits me to older models and El Camino's. If I needed a step to get into the bed, I would sell the truck and get a Tahoe/Excursion and just use a flatbed trailer. Got's me one of them too.

To me, it's just absolutely nuts how high the trucks are these days. Fer Pete's sake, you can see frame rails above the tires inside the wheel well these days. Mama's gotta have that high driving position so she can tailgate better, don'tyaknow.

 

[Highbeam]

I race off road motorcycles and have to load bikes into the bed of my truck. I got a great deal on a stock height F350 with the diesel engine for towing tractors and the RV. Some bozo at Ford decided that the bed height of that pickup should be about 36". Way too high. The bed rails are about chin high so there is no way to even rech into the bed level from outside of the truck.

Loading bikes has become an ordeal. Lowering the truck is actually possible and the first 3-5 inches are very easy. That's how I plan to deal with it.

In the meantime I just climb into the bed like every other american truck owner. I have gotten into the habit of strapping gear against the tailgate though so that I can get to it without climbing into the bed.

 

[ragkar]

I bought a fold out step for my pickup on the web about ten years ago. I'll look and see if I still have the bookmark. It, and cab sidesteps and a tailgap filler were very handy purchases.

Here's the link
http://www.toplinemfg.com/html/tsv-tailgatestep.html

 

[dmccarty]

"Steps for pickup bed access"

Use the rear tires as a step?

Tis what me and the kids do.

Later,
Dan

 

[LBrown59]

1*I just buy/drive trucks that I can reach over the side of the bed. Which pretty much limits me to older models and El Camino's. If I needed a step to get into the bed, I would sell the truck and get a Tahoe/Excursion and just use a flatbed trailer. Got's me one of them too.
2*To me, it's just absolutely nuts how high the trucks are these days.
3*Fer Pete's sake, you can see frame rails above the tires inside the wheel well these days.
4*Mama's gotta have that high driving position so she can tailgate better, don'tyaknow.

1*Why I have a Toyota Nissan and D 50 pick ups .
2*Agreed absolutely insane.
3*Who wants ta look at the frame rails when you need a truck you can load with yer loader.?!
4* Never mind how bad that screws up getting it loaded with a FEL!

 

[LBrown59]

I bought a fold out step for my pickup

Use the rear tires as a step?

I'm sure both of these ideas will work to load a truck with A FEL.
All u gotta do is simply drive the tractor up on the tires or the step and dump the FEL into the truck bed

 

[tommu56]

It is a little different but I keep a aluminum cane (one of my dads old ones) in the bed of my truck to get a hold of stuff and pull it back to tail gate in stead of climbing in.

I do only have a short bed truck and it saves my back and knees.

tom

 

[kevindsingleton]

I welded up a little square that bolts onto a drop hitch, and use that as the first step into the bed of my Silverado. The new Fords have a neat tailgate step, but the tailgate has to be down, and I think it takes up space in the bed, too. There are fold-up ladders for that, but stepping up on the tires, or on my little step, is all that I've needed, so far.

 

[ChevyHDGert]

Same here, I use my tires but they're 33" tall.

I also keep my ball hitch in to use as a step.

 

[Highbeam]

The 2008 and newer Ford super duty trucks have a step that folds out of the tailgate and then stows away for zero wasted bed space. The 2008 tailgate will fit all super duties after 1999. It won't be cheap. Fact is, you 2008 owners might be careful that it doesn't get stolen.

 

[CurlyDave]

I climb up into the bed of my F-150 by reaching up and grabbing onto the lumber rack. I open the tailgate but step on the top of the bumper.

A lumber rack might not be the "look" you want, but I use mine several times per month: culvert, pipe, even lumber sometimes. When we go hunting it becomes a rifle rest...

 

[impdaddy]

The good thing about leaving your ball hitch on is that you can always check to see how much abuse your shins will take before they bleed. ROTFLMO.

 

[wedge40]

The good thing about leaving your ball hitch on is that you can always check to see how much abuse your shins will take before they bleed. ROTFLMO.

I also leave my ball hitch on, not only to use as a step, but if someone is not paying attention and happens to run into me, it'll minimize damage to my truck and maximize it to the other vehicle.
And it's true about the shins, but believe me you remember its there after smacking it a few times.

Wedge

 

[caver]

I bought a fold out step for my pickup on the web about ten years ago. I'll look and see if I still have the bookmark. It, and cab sidesteps and a tailgap filler were very handy purchases.

Here's the link
Tailgate Step: Bed Hopper

Thanks ragkar, that's the one Cabela's had for the tailgate,,,,I couldn't remember the name.

 

[rcrcomputing]

Wonder why they "ford in particular" make them so high? What's the point? I'm sure there is one..

 

[ragkar]

I forgot to mention that I solved the problem of things sliding forwards in my long bed pickup by using a grapple.
I use a four tine garden rake with the handle extended using pvc pipe.

lbrown59 I don't understand your concerns about my tailgate step. If you will follow the link that I posted, you will see pictures of it. It doesn't get in the way at all.

 

[tallyho8]

I climb up into the bed of my F-150 by reaching up and grabbing onto the lumber rack. I open the tailgate but step on the top of the bumper.

A lumber rack might not be the "look" you want, but I use mine several times per month: culvert, pipe, even lumber sometimes. When we go hunting it becomes a rifle rest...

You're the first person who I've heard call it a "lumber rack". Everyone I know calls it a "headache rack".

 

[Highbeam]

You're the first person who I've heard call it a "lumber rack". Everyone I know calls it a "headache rack".

In my part of the country a headache rack is simply the vertical barrier that protects the rear window from being broken out. Sometimes they are steel mesh, but usually louvered or something. I suspect the headache term came from the lack of a headache caused by the sunlight or the cargo on your head.

A lumber rack is the local term for the whole superstructure that allows you to carry twenty foot sticks of lumber or pipe above the truck on the rack. Also to tie down the large tall items like refrigerators.

 

[CurlyDave]

I have the same understanding of the meaning of the terms as Highbeam.

As I understand the origin, a headache rack prevents your cargo from coming forward and hitting you in the head.

My lumber rack does not have a headache rack as part of it, but it is just the right size for a 4' x 4' piece of plywood to fit into it and act as a temporary headache rack. This is not by accident, but is part of good design.