AMP bed step install tips

[zhauler]

hey all,

decided to try out the amp bed step and there are some things not included on the instruction sheet that will save you some time...



first step is to assemble the bracket... they have you install the two bolts shown, when you do this, do not tighten them fully.

Thread the bolts through the remaining holes, or they might not line up correctly and you'll wind up loosening them again...



step mechanism bolt holes....



frame/bumper cover bolt hole....



will also need a shorty socket to fit the frame/bumper cover bolt shown above... can't hit this with a wrench when its under the truck...



retracted, from under the truck...




its just a cob web.... (gotta love the orange peel from the factory though)




and extended..... i wish they offered a billet step, not too crazy about the plastic... it flexes when i stand my fat ass on it (250lbs)... its not really the steps fault, i need to lose some weight



overall, i'd give it a "meh".... just got it installed and it hasn't proven its worth yet...

again, would prefer the option to have a billet aluminum step, the screws that hold the big plastic step on don't instill much confidence...

i would be cautious trying to use this for loading.... this is more of a "help YOU get in the bed" not "help you get your **** in the bed" step...

hope this helps someone!

-drew

 

[skaiskaiskai]

Great write up, those pointers will definitely help when I go to pull the trigger on one for my truck!

 

[MikeXM]

Good write-up. Installed one and had gone through all those problems.

Two more issues that I had to deal with:
- One of the larger electrical connector would not let me install the bracket as is. I had to unplug harness and pass wires differently than factory.
- The welds around the round tubing that goes to the hitch were larger on mine I guess. In order for the bracket to sit flush, I had to shave off about 1/8" of the bracket with an angle grinder.

Overall not really that difficult to install, but it wasn't the most fun one either.

 

[zhauler]

yeah I was able to just gently tug the large harness out of the body hole, but no clearance issues on my end...

this was on a 20 3500 ho mega 6 foot bed

 

[Trooper]

Did you install the stabilizer? maybe i missed that piece in the install pictures but doesn't seem you did. That is the thin long bar on the lower left in your first picture.
It fits to the main support. i found this made the step more sturdy.

 

[Scott_65]

hey all,

decided to try out the amp bed step and there are some things not included on the instruction sheet that will save you some time...

View attachment 6189

first step is to assemble the bracket... they have you install the two bolts shown, when you do this, do not tighten them fully.

Thread the bolts through the remaining holes, or they might not line up correctly and you'll wind up loosening them again...

View attachment 6182

step mechanism bolt holes....

View attachment 6184

frame/bumper cover bolt hole....

View attachment 6183

will also need a shorty socket to fit the frame/bumper cover bolt shown above... can't hit this with a wrench when its under the truck...

View attachment 6185

retracted, from under the truck...

View attachment 6186


its just a cob web.... (gotta love the orange peel from the factory though)

View attachment 6187


and extended..... i wish they offered a billet step, not too crazy about the plastic... it flexes when i stand my fat ass on it (250lbs)... its not really the steps fault, i need to lose some weight

View attachment 6188

overall, i'd give it a "meh".... just got it installed and it hasn't proven its worth yet...

again, would prefer the option to have a billet aluminum step, the screws that hold the big plastic step on don't instill much confidence...

i would be cautious trying to use this for loading.... this is more of a "help YOU get in the bed" not "help you get your **** in the bed" step...

hope this helps someone!

-drew

You don’t seem overly thrilled with it, any particular reason you chose this one over the Mopar?

 

[MikeXM]

You don’t seem overly thrilled with it, any particular reason you chose this one over the Mopar?

There is a recall on the Mopar's one with still no date of availability for replacement. So basically, wait for Mopar or use AMP's now.

 

[zhauler]

trooper good eye! yeah I didn't take a pic after I installed it... but I have the step setup to be as far out on the driver side, so the support on the actual step isn't centered... not sure if it's able to be positioned differently, but there are more bolt holes for mounting that I didn't try

I was looking at bed step stuff from mopar, but was seeing it was recalled and it was just easy to grab the amp kit off the zon..

the step appears well made for the most part, I'm not going to return or replace it, I feel it will do what I need it too, but it just doesn't have that heavy duty feel the rest of the truck has..

again, just my opinion, and it's staying on the truck since I don't want to use the wheels to drag myself up and over the side of the bed

 

[John Jensen]

Great writeup. I too experienced most of your and MikeXM issues. The most important for guys yet to install is:
"first step is to assemble the bracket... they have you install the two bolts shown, when you do this, do not tighten them fully.
Thread the bolts through the remaining holes, or they might not line up correctly and you'll wind up loosening them again..."
Took us (my son and I) a few tries before we got smart and did the above.

We thought we had a hitch clearance problem like MikeXM. So my son made a drop-down bracket mount. Turns out that the original would have worked. I left it on the drop-down bracket because it lowered the step approx 1 1/2" making it easier for me to drop it down with my foot and easier to step up to when down. Stock install would have been okay, but the bracket was made and the step installed on the bracket, so left it that way. Here's pics of that bracket and install if interested:




Step up w/bracket


Step down w/bracket

 

[Scott_65]

There is a recall on the Mopar's one with still no date of availability for replacement. So basically, wait for Mopar or use AMP's now.

I knew about the recall, I ordered the updated AE version on 7/20 and picked it up 7/24 and installed it last Sunday.

 

[John Jensen]

I knew about the recall, I ordered the updated AE version on 7/20 and picked it up 7/24 and installed it last Sunday.

Scott,
What was updated? Makes me wonder what version I may have and why an update.

 

[Scott_65]

Scott,
What was updated? Makes me wonder what version I may have and why an update.

John,
I honestly have no idea what the changes/updates are. I tried ordering the AD version and the parts guy told me it was now AE version so I didn’t question him on the change knowing of the recall. It was a simple install, replace two existing bolts with new longer ones and remove and attach frame to long existing bolt and attach provided small bolt to bracket. It took all of 10 minutes and seems super sturdy.

 

[MikeXM]

I knew about the recall, I ordered the updated AE version on 7/20 and picked it up 7/24 and installed it last Sunday.

Ohh... I missed it then. Oh well. Too late now.

 

[John Jensen]

John,
I honestly have no idea what the changes/updates are. I tried ordering the AD version and the parts guy told me it was now AE version so I didn’t question him on the change knowing of the recall. It was a simple install, replace two existing bolts with new longer ones and remove and attach frame to long existing bolt and attach provided small bolt to bracket. It took all of 10 minutes and seems super sturdy.

Thanks,
I think we are talking about different brands as my AMP step has no AD or AE versions.

 

[Scott_65]

Thanks,
I think we are talking about different brands as my AMP step has no AD or AE versions.

Yes, mine is the Mopar.