Great feature...especially when you're 65 yrs old!

 

I do use the step some and I have a truck cap.

Not sure about your concerns about gravel dust entering the cap area as the step is hidden in the tailgate and your truck cap lip should cover the small gaps for the step, even at that it the step is sealed pretty tight. You are going to have bigger gaps along the side and bottom of the tailgate with or without a step that will potentially allow more dirt in. Gravel dust is 'easy' compared to powdered dirt/sand.

A truck cap only will keep dust out as long as it's positively pressurized and the entering air to pressurize it is clean. Few truck caps provide such a feature, but here's one - http://caravancamper.com/options/
Scroll approx. 3/4 of the way down the page under Vent and Fan

 

Thank you for the replies and definitely about the tailgate step not making much of a difference regarding gravel dust getting back into the box if you have a truck cap also. I didn't realize about getting a truck cap that can be pressurized to help keep finer dirt or sand dust from entering into the truck cap. Interesting!

Both features will be nice when going off the beaten path for camping also.

 

The step in the 2013 is also an available option in the XLT and above maybe even lower trims I never checked for $300 for Ford Trucks in Canada.

Side note the company I work for designed, developed and manufacturers the tailgate step for (no ties to the stripper pole though) Ford trucks plus several other OEM components. It's a fine piece of equipment if I say so myself.

 

I have the step and couldn't imagine my truck not having it. Makes loading and unloading the truck super easy. I just hate how that handle is in the way all the time. I hope that in the next gen trucks ford redesigns the handle to be out of the way and not on the tailgate surface. Maybe a self contained handle that slides out from underneath the tailgate surface like the step itself does.

 

Agreed. I use mine all the time. I only find the handle an issue if I am sliding something in. It's pretty quick am easy to use. I rarely use the handle though.

 

Use the step all the time and never use the handle. Only used the handle when people ask about it to demonstrate.


I plan on deleting the pole and putting in the blank plate then line X the tailgate.

I have an STX and when I was looking at trucks this one had everything I wanted and it just had the step. My truck was an impulse buy. Lol

 

My last two trucks have had the step and pole. Would not be without it, makes it so much easier to get in and out when you are 60 and arthritic.

 

One of the features I wish I had on mine.

 

It's the only available feature not on my 13 XLT. Really wish I had it. Buddy of mine has a basic XLT but has the step and it is great to use. Makes it super easy to get in and out of the bed. Its a lot taller then my brothers ranger. lol