Hey guys I posted my stepboard mod under the "under 50 dollar mod" thread, but I think this way a lot more people will see the mod and it should save a lot of pain and injuries..

Pretty well anyone with OEM Ford step boards with the plastic step surface can say they had a near death experience while stepping into or out of their truck..just picture Bambi on ice! Those damn things are so slippery once they become wet or snow covered.

I had enough so I went out and picked up 2 feet of 2" grip tape from the local safety store to stick to the boards. Total cost $1.50 and only used about a foot for the front of the two boards.

Just prep the surface with soap/water/alcohol, dry and line up the tape square with the board and cut along each ridge of the board with scissors. Heat up the tape with a heat gun and place in desired position on the board.

To date it's been on for a few weeks and withheld -20 degree C temps, sand, salt, snow..no problems yet! Even if I have to replace the tape every fall before the winter I would be satisfied. Anything beats racking out on the ground!

Both sides completed in 10 minutes and spent $1.50..and it kind of looks OEM.

 

Racking out on the ground indeed. I'm a big guy with big feet so when I get out of the truck, it's just barely my heel on the board and with all the snow we get up north I have been skipping them altogether when getting out.

Looks like this is going to be the first mod I do. Thanks!

 

I just took mine off. I slipped so much I quit using them and just stepped out over them, but when the weather was nasty, I would always end up with dirt and grime on my slacks from bumping them getting in/out at work. So, off they came.

 

I might have to see if I can adapt this idea to work with the chrome package boards I have. The plastic on these is much smaller, but, still dam slippery. Thanks for the idea.

Neil

 

I don't know how many times I've slipped getting in and out of the truck in the past few weeks. My 3 year old daughter had fun getting in and out of it by herself too but then she took a spill and refuses to get in the truck on her own anymore.

This is going to be my next mod too.

 

no snow here in South Texas but I still need to do this. the Mrs. almost fell the second time getting in the truck. now she's paranoid. hopefully I can ease her mind with this.

 

I just had Right knee surgery and my left foot slipped off the step. My Right leg was still in the truck. I couldnt bend my knee more than a 1/4 of the way and it went full bent after i slipped and fell. I never felt such pain in my life.

 

That's a pretty clever idea there

 

Damn good idea since Ford decided to omit the drivers side A pillar handle.

I had that handle on my 02 Screw and it was the first thing out of my mouth to the salesman when test driving a new 2013 model, which I bought. I used it all the time to get up an into the truck and held me up if I was slipping on the running boards.

I see they have brought it back on the 2015 model year. I guess Ford got too many complaints about the missing handle.

 

I did this last year. The grip tape started to peel in a few spots after a few weeks, but nothing else since.