I bent my side step...

[ShayneB]

So I had my first ever truck (I've had a lot of cars/ SUVs) - a beautiful cherry red RAM 1500 Express Crew Cab - Short Bed for about six weeks before I banged it up.

I went to my brother-in-laws cabin where the turn-around space is tight. So, I decided to go down the path beside the cabin (which I've traveled in my minivan with no issue) and ended up bending my OEM Premium cab length Chrome side step and forward mounting bracket on the passenger side. The truck sits higher than the minivan and I had to veer slightly to the right to avoid some overhanging branches. During this maneuver, I felt a lurch and heard a loud bang and wondered what the hell I had hit. Everything seemed okay, so I decided I would check out any damage just up the road at my in-laws. When I got there a quick inspection revealed a functional, but bent passenger side step. The front side step mounting bracket took some damage, but mostly the side step buckled slightly at the mounting bolts for each of the brackets. In other words, the outer edge of the side step is angled slightly up for the full length and the side step section around the forward mounting bracket is bent up.

A trip back to the cabin revealed a short rock wall covered in leaves. During my branch avoiding maneuver, my front passenger tire dropped off the edge of the rock wall and the front side step stuck out low and wide enough to land on the rock. My only consolation is that the 2" thick, flat rock broke in the process.

I removed the side step to see if there was any way to bend it back into shape, but it looks like attempting that would only make matters worse. It did crack the aluminum and break loose one of the mounting nuts welded to the side step, but the other one is still holding. Luckily, there is no damage to the body where the side step brackets are fastened.

I replaced the rock (which now consisted of two pieces) and told my brother-in-law what happened so he wouldn't wonder about it.

I called my dealer about getting a replacement (which would have to be the set) and he quoted $750 installed. I've been scouring ebay, craigslist and salvage yards hoping to find a used set or even just the passenger side brackets and side step, but no luck so far. I'll replace the brackets and side step myself once I find a replacement - probably a fifteen minute job.

Dang, I wanted to keep that "new" feeling for more than a few weeks - I just bought the truck in the middle of October....


2013 Ram Express Crew Cab - Cherry Red, Premium ARM Topper, Spray-on Bed Liner, Bed Rug, Premium OEM Chrome Side Steps, Front Tow Hooks (installed them myself), WeatherTech Floor Mats.

 

[TruckTime19]

That sucks! Hope you are able to find replacement parts for it.

 

[quietpeen]

wow that sucks, but this truck is a lot wider than the mini van was so the same maneuver in the minivan probably wouldn't have resulted the same way

 

[JohnD72]

If there's a bright side to this, it sounds like the side step might have saved your rocker panel from being crunched. THAT would have truly sucked.

 

[willee51]

Correct.............

If there's a bright side to this, it sounds like the side step might have saved your rocker panel from being crunched. THAT would have truly sucked.

VERY true!!!!!!! The side steps look good, and make it easier to get in/out of the truck, however, they can be looked at as sacrificial elements to protect more expensive components of the truck!

Keep smiling, keep trucking, there is a lot of "out-of-the -way places" in America to see!!!!!!!!!!!!! What better way to make the Adventure than in your "RAM"

 

[Coop]

I don't think the OEM bars are anything special... but the dealers sure do. You can get aftermarket nerf bars for a lot less than the $750 the dealer quoted... Check a site like autoanything, they have a wide selection, and the reviews are pretty decent there.

 

[ShayneB]

I don't think the OEM bars are anything special... but the dealers sure do. You can get aftermarket nerf bars for a lot less than the $750 the dealer quoted... Check a site like autoanything, they have a wide selection, and the reviews are pretty decent there.

You are correct, I've seen the variety of side steps available and may have gone with AMPs if I'd done a little research before my truck purchase. However, I do like the OEM side steps and I'm still hopeful I'll find something used sometime in the near future.