Cheap Side Steps For Rubicon

[Outback_Joe]

Hi All, I built a set of steps after looking for something that would fasten to the OEM Rock Sliders. I didn't want to pay some of the prices of aftermarket steps.

I used a 6" wide x 18" long x 1/4" thick Aluminum bar stock. I used three of the holes that are partly punched into the bottom of the Sliders. I drilled the three holes in the sliders out to tap them for 3/8" NC bolts. I also needed to make three tapered washers to keep the steps level with the truck and the ground. I faced the top side of the steps with a 6" wide safety step tape and used bed-liner undercoating on the bottom.

I used aluminum for the steps because of the ease of cutting, drilling and shaping it to my wants and needs. After a winter of driving in mostly snow they are holding up well. I think I have about $80.00 in the pair and maybe 4 hours of labor. When needed the safety step can be replaced by removing the steps warming them up make the adhesive back soft and pealing it off. Overall these have been working well for entering and exiting the Jeep.

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[Idlethunder]

Hi All, I built a set of steps after looking for something that would fasten to the OEM Rock Sliders. I didn't want to pay some of the prices of aftermarket steps.

I used a 6" wide x 18" long x 1/4" thick Aluminum bar stock. I used three of the holes that are partly punched into the bottom of the Sliders. I drilled the three holes in the sliders out to tap them for 3/8" NC bolts. I also needed to make three tapered washers to keep the steps level with the truck and the ground. I faced the top side of the steps with a 6" wide safety step tape and used bed-liner undercoating on the bottom.

I used aluminum for the steps because of the ease of cutting, drilling and shaping it to my wants and needs. After a winter of driving in mostly snow they are holding up well. I think I have about $80.00 in the pair and maybe 4 hours of labor. When needed the safety step can be replaced by removing the steps warming them up make the adhesive back soft and pealing it off. Overall these have been working well for entering and exiting the Jeep.

My rock rails have been in the garage since the day I brought the Gladiator home. My wife is short and had problems getting in, so the dealer installed a set of Mopar running boards. I’ve thought about something like this over the Rubicon slider steps I’ve seen online that seem overpriced for what they are. Our weather is supposed to clear up this weekend so I may get under there and see what that would entail. I much prefer the rock rail look over the running boards and would rather have them back on.

With your method of attaching the steps to the sliders, how hard would it be to lower the step a couple of inches? After reading your description, my thought was to either use longer bolts with washers as spacers to drop the step down, or use pieces of short 2" or 1 1/2" tubular steel to the sliders then bolt the step to that. With your experience making these, would either of these ideas to lower the step create a problem securing them in a way that would reduce the rigidity of the steps? Or do you see any problems with either of those ideas?

 

[Outback_Joe]

What you are proposing sounds like it should work fine. You can try the longer length and cut shorter if needed. The rock rails don't seem to twist when I step up on them and I am 275. Unless you are way heavier than I am you should be fine.

 

[Idlethunder]

What you are proposing sounds like it should work fine. You can try the longer length and cut shorter if needed. The rock rails don't seem to twist when I step up on them and I am 275. Unless you are way heavier than I am you should be fine.

Thank you that is what I was hoping. We are supposed to get rain the rest of the week but when I have a little time and a dry driveway, I am going to give this a try.

 

[JeepTaco]

Hi All, I built a set of steps after looking for something that would fasten to the OEM Rock Sliders. I didn't want to pay some of the prices of aftermarket steps.

I used a 6" wide x 18" long x 1/4" thick Aluminum bar stock. I used three of the holes that are partly punched into the bottom of the Sliders. I drilled the three holes in the sliders out to tap them for 3/8" NC bolts. I also needed to make three tapered washers to keep the steps level with the truck and the ground. I faced the top side of the steps with a 6" wide safety step tape and used bed-liner undercoating on the bottom.

I used aluminum for the steps because of the ease of cutting, drilling and shaping it to my wants and needs. After a winter of driving in mostly snow they are holding up well. I think I have about $80.00 in the pair and maybe 4 hours of labor. When needed the safety step can be replaced by removing the steps warming them up make the adhesive back soft and pealing it off. Overall these have been working well for entering and exiting the Jeep.

Looks great. Any photos zoomed out? Also, photos showing mounting points under the rock rail?

I also like the look of the factory rock rails but needed steps. I've had the factory rails stored in my garage since I added nerf bars but would prefer factory rails with steps mounted to them honestly.

 

[Outback_Joe]

I hope these photos will help. If not I can take more in the AM. Mounting holes are dictated by the partially open blind holes in the bottom of the rock rails. I am sure that the hole spacing is about the same from one JT to another but you never know.

 

[Idlethunder]

I hope these photos will help. If not I can take more in the AM. Mounting holes are dictated by the partially open blind holes in the bottom of the rock rails. I am sure that the hole spacing is about the same from one JT to another but you never know.

I took a quick look at my rails yesterday and I am guessing there is maybe a 1/4” of steel to drill and tap if you count the rail and the attached bracket. Was this about what you found? I would prefer a little more to catch the bolt, but it sounds like yours are holding up well.

 

[Outback_Joe]

I took a quick look at my rails yesterday and I am guessing there is maybe a 1/4” of steel to drill and tap if you count the rail and the attached bracket. Was this about what you found? I would prefer a little more to catch the bolt, but it sounds like yours are holding up well.

I feel that the 3 - 3/8" NC bolts that are treaded into the bottom of the rails give more than enough shear strength to hold my weight plus. I have been in and out of the truck for the past 6 months and haven't seen any signs of the bolts becoming loose. BUT, if you feel uncomfortable with this I would say don't do it. I always try and keep any designs on the very safe side.

 

[plumber802]

OP, this is a freakin' awesome idea!!! I immediately removed the rock rails on both our Jeeps in favor of side steps. Great idea and finished product!!!

 

[Idlethunder]

I feel that the 3 - 3/8" NC bolts that are treaded into the bottom of the rails give more than enough shear strength to hold my weight plus. I have been in and out of the truck for the past 6 months and haven't seen any signs of the bolts becoming loose. BUT, if you feel uncomfortable with this I would say don't do it. I always try and keep any designs on the very safe side.

Thank you for the quick reply. It isn’t that I’m uncomfortable with it, I was just asking if ¼” was about what you tapped for the bolts. It was almost dark when I got my rails out yesterday and I couldn’t see well enough to be sure. Because I’d like to add another inch or so drop to my steps, I’d honestly prefer a little more thread contact but if I feel it is needed after trying one, I can always add another bolt or go back up closer to the rail.

 

[Outback_Joe]

Idlethunder, I misunderstood your question, sorry about that. At 66 and still can't understand English!

Yes, 1/4" is about the thickness at the bottom of the rails. Adding a 1" spacer should not add that much of a lever to the step.

If you do drill a hole and don't like what you see you can add a bolt to the hole and call it a drain plug.

 

[Idlethunder]

Idlethunder, I misunderstood your question, sorry about that. At 66 and still can't understand English!

Yes, 1/4" is about the thickness at the bottom of the rails. Adding a 1" spacer should not add that much of a lever to the step.

If you do drill a hole and don't like what you see you can add a bolt to the hole and call it a drain plug.

Thank you again for posting how you made your steps and for the pictures. It took a little longer than expected to get the aluminum but it came in last week. Over the weekend I swapped out the plastic Mopar running boards for the oem sliders and got the aluminum steps cut and installed. After some test fitting with the wife's help, I didn't need to lower them. I ended up cutting the aluminum in a shape similar to the vents on the hood and I'm happy with how they turned out.

 

[Outback_Joe]

I am glad that these worked out for you. They look great!

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