Step bars on the crewcab....

[thrashingcows]

Over the last 3 days I have been working on getting my step bars installed on the crewcab. I bought these a couple years ago...they were damaged and I got them super cheap...I think $175 shipped to my door....regularly around here close to $600! They are made by "Go Rhino" and were for a 3rd Gen Dodge crewcab I believe.




But the way the doors and body is built I had to use them on the opposite sides...Pass for Drivers, and visa versa.

[thrashingcows]

Now to the install.....

I had to figure out brackets and how I was going to mount them, since they did not come with brackets, nor would they have worked due to fact that the bars were being used on the opposite sides.

So after thinking and pondering this, and looking at how others have mounted steps and bars, I decided to use a bunch of 2" angle iron.

I cut 12 pieces or 2" angle at 8" long and welded 2 pieces of them together to make the brackets from the body to the steps.



Drilled 6 holes in each bracket and used some self tapping screws to hold them in place.



And once in place I screwed 2 more from the front side through the pinch weld seam at the bottom of the rockers, into the bracket....very stable and secure now!

[thrashingcows]

Once the brackets were in place I had to mount more angle iron to the steps themselves. Had to mount them with clamps and then drill holes to line up with the holes in the brackets on the steps. I also added an extra bolt through the top of the step mounting brackets.



Coat of brush on Tremclad and then mounting the angle iron brackets.



The idea was that the flat brackets off the body, and then the angle iron on the brackets, would give me a nice flat surface to get the steps positioned easily. Just clamp them in place once everything looked right, and then drill holes to mount them permanently.

[thrashingcows]

Once I was actually able to hold them up in place I found that the front section of the step bar tubing was to long, so started by cutting off 4".



I eventually had to cut off another 2" and then grind the front edge flat to clear the mud flaps.



Clamped in place.....



Drilled and bolted in....

[thrashingcows]

And all done....





I like how the rear section (actually front section... ) of the step bars follow the body line of the cab!



A bit of flex in the steps...but I think it's because of the thickness of the long angle iron piece on steps...seems to have a bit of rotational flex....the body to step brackets don't move at all.

Over all Very happy with how it turned out!

[Remps]

Nice! I need something similar but smaller for my 96. Running boards don't like flooded river crossings at -25 Celsius. Neither does the front suspension for that matter, I didn't have any front suspension till I hit a few potholes.

[matthewh]

Looks good. Been wanting to build a set for my ext cab dually, something that starts behind the front wheel, and goes all the way back to the duals. That way its easier to change cab lights, or get something outta the bed.
Something like this

[thrashingcows]

That would be a sweet looking set up!