Ohhh...didn't think about that. I'm not clear on where that tank is located but it should still be inboard of the frame rails, right? All of the mounting for the Amp Steps are outboard of the frame rails. Still...a potential complication that hadn't occurred to me. Thanks for bringing this up...
It's not always inside the frame rails on existing trucks, we'll have to see where Jeep decided to put it
I had the exact same problem with the wiring dead on. I’m not to happy about those pinch connectors either.So...finished my install of the AMP Research Powersteps XL. Not what I'd call an easy install but, overall not too bad. Definitely helps to have a second person. Couple of notes:
Bottomline: Steps are on and they look and work great! Install wasn't too bad but could have been MUCH easier with just a few mods to instructions and harness by AMP Research. I really like the steps and recommend them to others, just take your time for install, watch for the above issues and have a good friend available to assist!
- First off - the instructions aren't great. Pictures are line drawings derived from photos. There usually isn't good orientation provided so they take a bit of study.
- Parts list is good but sizes aren't consistently provided - at least not until later steps (i.e. 10mm bolt, 13mm bolt, etc.). I ended up using 1/2" socket for most of install until late when the directions mentioned they were 13mm bolts. Minor thing but would have made it easier in the beginning.
- Some steps are out of order. During wiring phase there is a pic of wire taps in step 10 but they aren't utilized until step 14, two pages later. Again, minor once you figure it out but unnecessarily confusing.
- Biggest single issue is with the wiring harness. The instructions tell you to mount the Power Step Controller between the battery and passenger side fender - this is a good location to control heat exposure to the controller. Unfortunately, with controller mounted in this location, the wiring harness leg to the driver side is ~12" too short. I had to really stretch it to get it to reach the driver rear motor. This condition required some gymnastics to mount the controller correctly. Also, wiring for the driver's side lights was WAY too short. Ended up having to splice in ~10" of wire for rear and ~6" of wire on front to make lights function. Passenger side leg of harness was fine. This should NOT be required on $1800 steps. An additional 12" of wire in the harness would make this installation MUCH easier and result in a much cleaner final product.
- There are NO troubleshooting steps or information related to the motors. For example, the instructions direct you to mount the brackets, then mount the drive linkage, then mount the side steps, then mount the motors. Unfortunately, due to the position of the gears in the motor (and no power yet), the motor is difficult to line up to the drive linkage cog. This isn't unexpected but, nevertheless, results in the the linkages being at differing degrees of extension. Obviously, with the step attached, this becomes difficult/impossible to line up correctly (i.e. the step is crooked). There is no mention of this condition or how to address it. When I called customer service (see below), I was told to remove the step and install this last. If this isn't done, upon power-on for first time, the motors can bend the steps.
Apparently, the motors will self-sync on initial power. Seems like a nice thing to mention in installation instructions. I was lucky in that I asked the question before powering on.
- Finally, customer service was mediocre. When I called to ask a few questions on the install, the person who assisted me seemed completely uninterested in any feedback or suggestions for improvement in instructions, harness or any other issues I was having. His response was simply that the engineers had made these determinations and design, so, therefore, it must be good enough. Hmmm. I will say he did offer to send me a couple of replacement clips for the motor covers missing from the kit, which I appreciated.
Ron
Hey Kyle...know how you feel...the instructions certainly don't inspire confidence. Amp recommended I NOT apply power for the first time with the steps attached to the motors. According to Amp, this can bend the steps as the motors auto-sync for the first time. The instructions fail to mention this.
The wiring isn't in the door. It is in the sidewall of the footwell.
Thanks for posting this Ron. I ran into the exact same issues.So...finished my install of the AMP Research Powersteps XL. Not what I'd call an easy install but, overall not too bad. Definitely helps to have a second person. Couple of notes:
Bottomline: Steps are on and they look and work great! Install wasn't too bad but could have been MUCH easier with just a few mods to instructions and harness by AMP Research. I really like the steps and recommend them to others, just take your time for install, watch for the above issues and have a good friend available to assist!
- First off - the instructions aren't great. Pictures are line drawings derived from photos. There usually isn't good orientation provided so they take a bit of study.
- Parts list is good but sizes aren't consistently provided - at least not until later steps (i.e. 10mm bolt, 13mm bolt, etc.). I ended up using 1/2" socket for most of install until late when the directions mentioned they were 13mm bolts. Minor thing but would have made it easier in the beginning.
- Some steps are out of order. During wiring phase there is a pic of wire taps in step 10 but they aren't utilized until step 14, two pages later. Again, minor once you figure it out but unnecessarily confusing.
- Biggest single issue is with the wiring harness. The instructions tell you to mount the Power Step Controller between the battery and passenger side fender - this is a good location to control heat exposure to the controller. Unfortunately, with controller mounted in this location, the wiring harness leg to the driver side is ~12" too short. I had to really stretch it to get it to reach the driver rear motor. This condition required some gymnastics to mount the controller correctly. Also, wiring for the driver's side lights was WAY too short. Ended up having to splice in ~10" of wire for rear and ~6" of wire on front to make lights function. Passenger side leg of harness was fine. This should NOT be required on $1800 steps. An additional 12" of wire in the harness would make this installation MUCH easier and result in a much cleaner final product.
- There are NO troubleshooting steps or information related to the motors. For example, the instructions direct you to mount the brackets, then mount the drive linkage, then mount the side steps, then mount the motors. Unfortunately, due to the position of the gears in the motor (and no power yet), the motor is difficult to line up to the drive linkage cog. This isn't unexpected but, nevertheless, results in the the linkages being at differing degrees of extension. Obviously, with the step attached, this becomes difficult/impossible to line up correctly (i.e. the step is crooked). There is no mention of this condition or how to address it. When I called customer service (see below), I was told to remove the step and install this last. If this isn't done, upon power-on for first time, the motors can bend the steps.
- Finally, customer service was mediocre. When I called to ask a few questions on the install, the person who assisted me seemed completely uninterested in any feedback or suggestions for improvement in instructions, harness or any other issues I was having. His response was simply that the engineers had made these determinations and design, so, therefore, it must be good enough. Hmmm. I will say he did offer to send me a couple of replacement clips for the motor covers missing from the kit, which I appreciated.
Ron
Hopefully you got the steps installed appropriately? Did all turn out well? Now that I'm past the installation woes, I'm pretty happy with the steps! They work well and my wife loves them.
Yes all good. Fun project.
Agreed! I attempted to provide feedback regarding the need for more harness length and was met with a very lackadaisical attitude. The Amp Rep responded with something along the lines of "...that's how the engineers designed it so it must be good enough". Not sure any of those engineers actually installed the steps in their garage on an actual Gladiator.
No, not these.
