side step / running board FAIL!

wildkarde · Jan 28, 2016

so this happened today... i guess being 250pds isn't the prescribed weight limit for daily use on these oem steps. :banghead:

I've seen some other options. And I've noticed the 2013+ OEM steps either mount at either end of the body or have 2 separate steps for front and rear.
I'm sure I can either have a reinforcing plate welded over the hangers and holes and remount these but what other options does anyone suggest? Because I only want to fix this once if possible.

I ran without steps for a while but the 6" lift on 37s tends to make getting in and out a chore. Plus if I remove them from the passenger side I have to extend chivalry to EVERYONE and who has time for that :roflsquared:

Hootbro · Jan 28, 2016

Yeah, not a fan of the rivnut design and how these steps attached.

wsutard1 · Jan 28, 2016

If this is OEM then you should be under warranty. Unless you added them and the truck didnt come with them.

wildkarde · Jan 28, 2016

It's a '12. My full warranty ended last 2015. Just power train active now. But I'll check.

wsutard1 · Jan 28, 2016

Ouch. Its all the salt they use in NY!

blackbetty14 · Jan 28, 2016

Take a plate prob 3/16" thick cut into squares the same size as the clean area. Then drill holes in pattern of bolts on steps for bolts, insert bolts through the plate so they poke out and towards the driveshaft and weld heads to the plate. Remove/cut/ drill existing bolts in step brackets, drill holes so step bracket slips over bolts. Attach with thick washers, lock washers and nuts. That's one way.

Another is to do same thing but weld nuts onto 3/16 plate and use new bolts to attach steps. Or if the metal is thick enough, drill and tap for studs and attach that way. Would be a hell of a lot stronger than the OEM thin steel.

Wow my $115 aftermarket steps attach better than those.

derag2 · Jan 28, 2016

Look up ici magnum rt steps... Email them and ask them for 6 of there triple t mounts for the steps... That will take care of it... I'll try and get a pic for you tomorrow when installing my steps what I'm talking about.

ICEChargerRT · Jan 29, 2016

That's scary. I'm about the same weight as you and recently installed the OEM boards on my truck.

avolnek · Jan 29, 2016

I went with Tough Country steps for this exact reason. the factory and many other makers mount these damn steps to the body... Tough country has the old solid style of bolting in with the body mounts... mounting to the frame is the only smart way so i am unsure why they are using the body...

SportyJames · Jan 29, 2016

I put the AMP power steps on mine. I will never go back to the conventional steps you can see again.
But, like the OPs falling off, I have to deal with a motor fail possibly.

derag2 · Jan 29, 2016

You put it in behind the sheet metal. Top bolts sticks out for a but and your bottom holes line up with the bottom holes that your nutserts ripped out of... Now the only way It's comming off is to rip the whole chunk of metal off.

BigA · Jan 29, 2016

Ooch, I only step on mine to clean the roof and I'm about 290lbs. I guess I won't do that anymore.

bigolayne · Jan 29, 2016

It's sad that almost all of the steps are attached at the rocker. I've been looking and found some universal rock sliders that attach to the frame.
In the Spring the rock sliders are going on and they are meant to support the weight of the truck and also allows for a highboy jack.

derag2 · Jan 29, 2016

Here's another picture of the bracket behind the metal.... It would be much better set up than the factory......

But I will say it would be nice if they all would mount to the frame, but if you do body lifts them you steps will stay in the same spot... With the body mount the steps are were they belong no matter what lifts you do.

gofishn · Jan 29, 2016

ICEChargerRT said:
That's scary. I'm about the same weight as you and recently installed the OEM boards on my truck.

known issue. If your boards are recently installe,d pick up teh amp research backing plate, then reinstall boards suung it. helps to spread otu teh weight acvorss more metal

oops, just say above postings. Pretty much same thing as AMp Research brackets.
works better than welding a plate acct welding weakens teh metal and surface area, across which the weight is spread, is not as much vs goign with backing brackets.

luck to you

SportyJames · Feb 2, 2016

gofishn said:
known issue. If your boards are recently installe,d pick up teh amp research backing plate, then reinstall boards suung it. helps to spread otu teh weight acvorss more metal

oops, just say above postings. Pretty much same thing as AMp Research brackets.
works better than welding a plate acct welding weakens teh metal and surface area, across which the weight is spread, is not as much vs goign with backing brackets.

luck to you

Dad is that you? Looks like one of my Dad's texts. LOL.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

AustinB · Feb 2, 2016

Hahaha

IMO

wildkarde · Feb 2, 2016

BigA said:
Ooch, I only step on mine to clean the roof and I'm about 290lbs. I guess I won't do that anymore.

If the truck wasnt lifted 6" I probably wouldnt use it either but alas that's a big step up with no step LOL

derag2 said:
Here's another picture of the bracket behind the metal.... It would be much better set up than the factory......

But I will say it would be nice if they all would mount to the frame, but if you do body lifts them you steps will stay in the same spot... With the body mount the steps are were they belong no matter what lifts you do.

Where does that bolt that sticks out go? thru the top where the step hangs?

gofishn said:
known issue. If your boards are recently installe,d pick up teh amp research backing plate, then reinstall boards suung it. helps to spread otu teh weight acvorss more metal

oops, just say above postings. Pretty much same thing as AMp Research brackets.
works better than welding a plate acct welding weakens teh metal and surface area, across which the weight is spread, is not as much vs goign with backing brackets.

luck to you

thanks gofishin. those brackets look simple as well.

one of these solutions gotta work. the weld or the behind the metal hangers from ici.

wildkarde · Feb 2, 2016

avolnek said:
I went with Tough Country steps for this exact reason. the factory and many other makers mount these damn steps to the body... Tough country has the old solid style of bolting in with the body mounts... mounting to the frame is the only smart way so i am unsure why they are using the body...

I might have to give them a call. They dont have any local dealers though so shipping would be a big factor. Frame mounting looks nice and safe, was just trying to avoid buying a whole new step package.

blackbetty14 · Feb 10, 2016

My cheap $118 black SS steps off eBay mount to the body and brace/support off the body mounts. I'm like 210lbs and they work great.

side step / running board FAIL!

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