Side steps

[macrisel]

OK.....I'm going to get on my soap box a little bit.    

I finally make it out to my shop last night to work on my Jeep again.  Due to life, my spare time it less than it was when I started the project so I don't get to work on the Jeep nearly as much as I used to.  I usually try to piece together an hour or two each week.....but that hasn't happened much the last two months!  So last night I was almost giddy when I realized i had some time to go out to the shop and work on putting some repro steps onto my jeep.  There the problems began......

First off, I knew the steps were not the most heavy duty around.  They are repro steps I bought from Walck's about a year ago during a buying frenzy of parts.  Absolutley nothing against Walcks (they are awesome) but these steps have a lot to be desired!  The steel is VERY light and I'm skeptical if they will hold up to a "healthy" individual getting into the jeep.  On top of that, the brackets don't even come CLOSE to fitting properly!

I had already read Johnathon's article about mounting repro steps to his jeep and the problems he had with them.  But, I thought "that was over five years ago, they surely have fixed those problems by now".  Guess what.......they haven't!!!  Looks like I'm going to have to do the same things as he did..

Oh well...I guess it just adds to the fun  

[Gunslinger]

Nice update Mac, I'm getting ready to do the same thing and noticed that not only are the steps very light weight, but the paint is a joke as well.  I sand blasted mine and put on a coat of primer as a preservative.  I'll be adding more primer and a solid top coat before I put them on Triple X.  
Todd

[aboyandhisdog]

Interesting about these steps.  The ones I bought from Walcks three years ago were very stout and are working great.  However, they did not fit "out of the box" as Mark suggests.  I had to customize the supports so that they would hang correctly and, as I recall, I turned them around (smooth side out) and used plastic bushings on the bolts that mount to the step.  It can be done with good results but you have to put in some time.  Too bad they cut back on the quality though.  I do like having the step there though and it would be hard to go back to not having them.

[macrisel]

Todd, I didn't even mention the paint!  I was debating if it was actually paint or some sort of primer!!

I'm glad there is a place to find reproduction parts for our jeeps, I just wish when you bought something that is SUPPOSED to fit, it actually did without having to reinvent the part!

[calvinhunt]

I call it, "Finish making the part."  At least we have something to start with.  I don't see that it would be any harder to make a part right than to make it wrong.  Some parts I have returned for credit and reworked my old originals.  Others I have spent hours "finishing" before I could used them, and others I have slammed onto the concrete floor in disgust before throwing them into the trash.  Most of you know what I mean. Others will soon learn.  But I still enjoy my Jeep. I believe it's worth it.

[Chasm]

Mac:

I ran into the problem with the repop side steps a while back. They are made in India and have the round tread pattern as opposed to the original diamond pattern. My repops were so poorly made and flimsy, that I never mounted them! Instead, I kept searching for diamond tread pattern steps. Eventually I found 2 pairs that a local guy had from (I believe) early CJ5's. I got 2 pairs for $40. They had some surface rust, but what a deal!

I had a thread on the old forum. If I can find it, I will move it over here so you can see how they turned out.

[Chasm]

Mac:

Couldn't get it to come up through the old CJ3A forum, but here's a link to a thread that I posted in my local Jeep Club forum (PA Jeeps).

http://www.pajeeps.org/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=bcb1bdffc3de7b5e878cf27de4697a39&topic=2408.0

I tested the link, so I hope it works for you! �;)

[macrisel]

Thanks Mike!

I'm going to keep my eyes open for an original set of steps, but for now I'll probably just follow Johnathon's lead and modify the steps I have.  I have everything in primer now and am trying to locate and drill all my holes BEFORE I lay down paint.

Also, I figure I can use these lightweight steps the same way I use my extremely small back seat on my Harley.  I was told a LONG time ago to make sure I have a small back seat on my bike.  This acts as a filter to keep.......how to put this nicely................"healthier and wider females" off the back!

Gotta love old bikers and their advice!

[Gunslinger]

Sooo you want to use the flimsy steps to scare away the wide bodies.... How cruel    Ilove it!!!

[F Bill]

Does anyone know how to get hold of Ali who used to be over at the 2A page??She and here husband had a stash of NOS step treads at one time.. I am currently looking for at least one step, maybe two. (However they are going on my DJ, as I wouldn't want to bash the steps on a trail jeep.)

[macrisel]

FINALLY!  After being away for most of the last seven months, I finally got to put in an entire day on my little project!  Not only that, but I actually acomplished getting these steps on!  Here is the finished product:



I had to follow the same steps modifying the brackets along with several other things:


Finally, even with modifying the bracket, I had to notch the lip under my tub some to get some additinal clearance.  I didn't want to take off any more material from the bracket out of fear of making it even more flimsy...


So there you have it!  While these steps would not take trail abuse, they should give my vertically challenged wife and little girl a step up into the jeep! 8-)

[aboyandhisdog]

Your jeep is really looking good!  My sweetie is a petite little thing too, but don't kid yourself...YOU will really come to appreciate this step when you get OUT.  I don't use it getting in but getting out is another story.  Allows for a graceful exit and minimal danger!  I did mine slightly different - turned the vertical supports around with the smooth side out in order to clear the rear hat channel.  Worked very well.