Need help with Tyger Star Armor Side Step/Running Boards install...

[OnSale]

So I started to install the Tyger Star Armor Side Steps / Running Boards yesterday. When I bought my truck it had already had the OEM Mopar Side Step rails installed so I figured the holes and mounting locations were already there and it would be a breeze to install the new ones. Welp... I was wrong lol.

I got lucky that my truck had the threaded holes for the 4 main 8mm bolts, but where I am running into trouble is the holes for the “supporting mount brackets”. These brackets have 2 smaller holes for bolts to go through and the directions say that if there are not holes already there, I need to drill new ones. The location is the pinch weld that runs along the bottom of the truck under the doors. So I need to drill 4 holes on each side of the truck, 2 at the front of the step and 2 at the rear. My issue is that I tried using the drill bits that I had and they just slid right off the spot every time I turned the drill on. I even tried applying as much pressure as I could, but the drill bit just slid around and would not stay put.

What type of drill bit should I be using to drill through the pinch welds? I don’t have much experience with drills and drill bits, I am more experienced with impact wrenches and impact drill drivers. Anyways I do have a Dewalt drill but I don’t know what type of bit to use.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

*** Pictures for the hell of it

- Off with the old


Truck looks a lot higher without side steps


On (barely) with the new!







Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Cdrakely]

Did you try pilot holes. Start small and work your way up in size might take 3 to 4 bits to get there. Also make sure it’s for metal and not wood type bit.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Wild one]

So I started to install the Tyger Star Armor Side Steps / Running Boards yesterday. When I bought my truck it had already had the OEM Mopar Side Step rails installed so I figured the holes and mounting locations were already there and it would be a breeze to install the new ones. Welp... I was wrong lol.

I got lucky that my truck had the threaded holes for the 4 main 8mm bolts, but where I am running into trouble is the holes for the “supporting mount brackets”. These brackets have 2 smaller holes for bolts to go through and the directions say that if there are not holes already there, I need to drill new ones. The location is the pinch weld that runs along the bottom of the truck under the doors. So I need to drill 4 holes on each side of the truck, 2 at the front of the step and 2 at the rear. My issue is that I tried using the drill bits that I had and they just slid right off the spot every time I turned the drill on. I even tried applying as much pressure as I could, but the drill bit just slid around and would not stay put.

What type of drill bit should I be using to drill through the pinch welds? I don’t have much experience with drills and drill bits, I am more experienced with impact wrenches and impact drill drivers. Anyways I do have a Dewalt drill but I don’t know what type of bit to use.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

*** Pictures for the hell of it

- Off with the old


Truck looks a lot higher without side steps


On (barely) with the new!







Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You need a center punch to put a dimple in the metal where you want to drill. A step or unibit drill bit will give you a cleaner/nicer hole then a standard drill bit will.

General Tools & Instruments 6-in Auto Center Punch | Lowe's Canada (lowes.ca)

High Speed Steel Hole Cutter Wood Metal Drill Bit Titanium Plated Step Drill Bit HSS Power Tools for Sheet Metal, Steel, Wood, Aluminum, Plastic | Wish

 

[OnSale]

Did you try pilot holes. Start small and work your way up in size might take 3 to 4 bits to get there. Also make sure it’s for metal and not wood type bit.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You need a center punch to put a dimple in the metal where you want to drill. A step or unibit drill bit will give you a cleaner/nicer hole then a standard drill bit will.

General Tools & Instruments 6-in Auto Center Punch | Lowe's Canada (lowes.ca)

High Speed Steel Hole Cutter Wood Metal Drill Bit Titanium Plated Step Drill Bit HSS Power Tools for Sheet Metal, Steel, Wood, Aluminum, Plastic | Wish

Thanks. I’m about to take a trip to Home Depot.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Wild one]

Thanks. I’m about to take a trip to Home Depot.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

As stated above a small 1/8" pilot hole will help center your bigger drill bit,but i'd use a step bit if i was drilling the holes,as they give you a round hole that's alot cleaner /nicer hole then a normal bit gives you.Look for a high speed step drill bit,the Titanium coated versions are okay,but they wear out fast.Drill bits are one of the things that are worth spending money on,the better bits are high speed steel bits,try to avoid the cheaper titinium coated bits,as they're only good for wood,and not long lasting if used in steel.In other words spend some money on a good set,lol

 

[OnSale]

Center Punch and starting with a small bit and then moving up to the 1/4 worked perfectly. This was way more involved then I expected, I thought since I had the OEM step rails these would be a direct swap lol. I should have known better.

But they look amazing compared to my old steps which I hated.

Here are my old OEM Mopar Steps



And here are the new Tyger Star Armor steps:










Just fits the overall vibe of my truck way better.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Cdrakely]

You got a badass truck for sure


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[tron67j]

I put in the Blades from that company. PITA! Middle support bolts would not go in and support was nonexistent. Feel your pain.

 

[OnSale]

You got a badass truck for sure


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks bud. Still a lot more stuff to put on over this week and upcoming weekend. The vinyls are coming off, hood is going to stay blank without a vinyl and I have a new design for the rear bed sides that is not a stripe, it is an actual design. I have some other goodies too.

I put in the Blades from that company. PITA! Middle support bolts would not go in and support was nonexistent. Feel your pain.

Yea I wish I knew going in that 09-14 Rams do not have threaded holes and what Tyger calls the “pre-drilled support bracket holes” in the pinchwelds. Surprisingly my 2012 had threaded holes where there should have been just empty holes so that made things a lot easier I didn’t need that weird bolt adapter plate, but I did not have the 2 holes for each support mount in the pinchwelds. It was a real PITA trying to drill them without hitting my trucks paint with the drills chuck. Happened once and rubbed a bit of paint but it buffed out.

FYI to anyone with a pre 2015 Ram, you will need to drill holes in your pinchwelds for the support brackets and you will need to (most likely) use the weird brackets they include that need to be installed into the 2 open holes at each mount. Even if you have OEM side steps, you will not have all of the required holes. 2015 and newer has the predrilled holes in the pinchwelds.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Purplert]

Plan on color matching those fender flares? Also I think rebadging the doors would make everything look so much better.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[hunterdan]

You have more pics from the side? I want to see how far down down the bottom tube hangs. I like these, but I want as much clearance as possible, especially compared to the oem steps.

 

[Adamcr68]

You have more pics from the side? I want to see how far down down the bottom tube hangs. I like these, but I want as much clearance as possible, especially compared to the oem steps.

I have & like these steps also, they are very sturdy but do make truck “look” not as high

 

[hunterdan]

I have & like these steps also, they are very sturdy but do make truck “look” not as highView attachment 247030

I'm sitting on a 2-2.5" front level with a 1.5" rear spacer with the oem steps and stock tires, plan is to go 35s eventually. I like the look of these, but not a huge fan of the bar that hangs down.

 

[OnSale]

Plan on color matching those fender flares? Also I think rebadging the doors would make everything look so much better.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Yes to the color matching and as for badges, I have all new badges sitting here just waiting to be put on. They are OEM Red & Black badges from a 2019 Ram. Should be put on this weekend.

You have more pics from the side? I want to see how far down down the bottom tube hangs. I like these, but I want as much clearance as possible, especially compared to the oem steps.

I will take some pictures of this angle for you today. Here is what I have right now.

I have & like these steps also, they are very sturdy but do make truck “look” not as highView attachment 247030

I don’t think it changed how high my truck looks compared to the OEM steps I had on there. Now, compared to NO steps, yea it definitely makes it look lower.

OEM steps


No steps


New Tyger steps

I'm sitting on a 2-2.5" front level with a 1.5" rear spacer with the oem steps and stock tires, plan is to go 35s eventually. I like the look of these, but not a huge fan of the bar that hangs down.

Well the 4 door Rams have ALOT of options for side steps. Like 50+ options. The regular cab Rams, we have maybe 6-8 options ranging from OEM, iBoards, Tyger Star, iStep and some cheap eBay sets that look like oem and then a actual step bar where all it is is the step itself.

Not many options so these are the best looking and look the most off-road and truck like.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk