Getting into the bed of a VERY tall pickup...

[AnnieD]

so i was thinkin about pickups.... this new years day.

tell me..... if you dont have one of those tailgate steps that folds down. what do people use?
yes i know the answer is obvious LOL but i thought i would see who uses what to get up there.

i guess a well placed folding step ladder would work. trucks today are so tall with all the springs. i dont remember my old f150 being so tall i couldnt easily get into it. LOL

maybe i am just getting too old.

so... those of you with no attached tailgate step.... what do you use?

thanks and happy new year!

[Al - K4GLU]

pogostick

[Gene]

I guess it's too late for human growth hormone, so go to any hardware store and buy a plastic bench—they are about 8 or so inches high and cost $8-12. Or find a tall man.

Gene

[AIR-Quarius]

You hike up your jeans on one leg(the left) then grab the side wall at the rear, -hoist your favorite leg up, then pull your self in with a grunt. But like crawford said, your favorite smaller step ladder will be your best bet!

[85MH325]

Sit on the tailgate, swing your legs up and stand up. I'm 6'5" and I still have to do that from time to time when I can't reach something over the side rails.

Roger

[ROBERT CROSS]

I don't recall any of the newer 1500 p/u being too tall, what exactly are you looking at?

Some say the 2500 thru 3500 suspensions are too stiff, (some of those can be VERY tall).

A lot of the recent model trucks have a high hitch height, above 22inches but that is a design issue with the receiver.

Auto Hitch Step

Truck steps / Truck Side Steps

And a cool item from the Airstream Store,
https://store.airstream.com/product_...roducts_id=118

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by 85MH325

Sit on the tailgate, swing your legs up and stand up. I'm 6'5" and I still have to do that from time to time when I can't reach something over the side rails.

Roger

This is how I get into the bed of our Silverado.
Plan "B" would be a concrete block to stand on. Maybe both, depending on how tall you and the truck are.
Worst-case would be to deflate the rear tires, though that would make driving afterward an adventure.

[AnnieD]

uh.... yeah. OK.... i got it. LOL
i know how to get in and out of the bed under my own steam.... i did that for 17 years with my old truck. what moron doesnt know how to get up into the bed of a truck when the tailgate is down.

that wasnt what i was asking.
i was just wondering what people used when you are loading the bed and you are getting in and out alot.
a step ladder or maybe something else i might have not thought of.
something ELSE besides swinging your legs around to get up there. LOL

so never mind about my question. my fault for not making myself clear.
i guess it was a dumb question.

now i am going to walmart to see what would work best.

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by AnnieD

uh.... yeah. OK.... i got it. LOL
i know how to get in and out of the bed under my own steam.... i did that for 17 years with my old truck. what moron doesnt know how to get up into the bed of a truck when the tailgate is down.

that wasnt what i was asking.
i was just wondering what people used when you are loading the bed and you are getting in and out alot.
a step ladder or maybe something else i might have not thought of.
something ELSE besides swinging your legs around to get up there. LOL

so never mind about my question. my fault for not making myself clear.
i guess it was a dumb question.

now i am going to walmart to see what would work best.

A Rubbermaid PVC 2 step stepstool. I use one of them to get in and out of trailers I'm working on, many of them have missing steps.

[MrRivet]

I use a folding, two step, step ladder which also helps to access the toolbox in our F-350. Can't climb like I did at one time. I store it under the tool box when not in use. Its also been handy around the campsite from time to time. Have been thinking about one of the short folding camp ladders like is sold at Camping World which would fit nicely into the tool box.

Tim

[Ike T]

Originally Posted by AnnieD

what moron doesnt know how to get up into the bed of a truck when the tailgate is down.

More than once I've gone "over the side" when the tailgate is down.

We carry a non-folding step-stool like this:

[CanoeStream]

I really should get my picture taken standing on the rear tire while I jigger with the canoe straps on top of my truck cap...

[coastal me]

COSCO 5’ Step Ladder Deals In-Store at Pep Boys in Reno, NV | ShopLocal
E Z Fold Step Stool Black - Buy Affordable Step Stools

I prefer the step ladder. It gives me something to grab on to, and is multi-purpose. I also like the folding 2-step stool. Step stools like this do not have anything to put your hands on, and getting in and out of the pick-up bed there is not much to steady yourself, with your hands. At least if one has a cap and no bed rails.

[wmarsha]

never owned a p/u. always had a cargo van. always wondered (kinda) how ya effectively got stuff in and out...shells really make me wonder-then ya got a van that you can't get anything out from back of the cab easily...I have been thinking about p/u's (2011 fords have some interesting engine/trans combos-but not in vans, yet) but, this thread has changed my mind.
thanks, and I am sorry, I do not know how you get into bed or out of it either
ol' bill vanside

[crispyboy]

I would install full length running boards that go from the front wheel to the rear wheel.

[stufarmer]

I use the AMP Research bed step. It bolts to the rear bumper and it swings down with a touch of your foot. Very simple, and does't look bad either.

[Chipster]

My former gazelle days with the ability to jump into the back of a pick up truck are long gone. the need to load/unload stuff is solved with a "bedslide " now a days. The bedslide, contractors version, can hold up to 1200 lbs. of gear. The bedslide easily slides like a big drawer out the back of the pick up, and everything is reachable without the need to climb up or on to anything.
Check them out on their website, I would not leave home without one !!

As an alternative, I hope this helps
Chip

[Aage]

A neighbour I once had kept one of those plastic 14"x14"x14" cubes that were originally used for milk.

It was handy to put stuff in the bed that was small and roundish (baseballs?), plus it made a good step.

[slowmover]

Home

I couldn't say whether this type of aid is good. There is more to it than convenience.

Better, IMO, that one thinks safety first over convenience. Opening the tailgate and sitting on same to to swivel and "enter" truckbed is still best. My height is an advantage at times, but being off-balance never is. One always needs handholds and secure footing to climb in and out. Three points: two hands & one foot, or two feet & one hand must ALWAYS be in practice. No step, swing and jump. I usually had to "fight" to get a 53' trailer with ladder-steps and handholds on one job.

There's a reason we rely on -- and import -- disposable people in our economy: safety training and ergonomic equipment detract from the bottom line. Don't be among them by using cheap, non-sturdy aids.

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Originally Posted by AnnieD

so i was thinkin about pickups.... this new years day.

tell me..... if you dont have one of those tailgate steps that folds down. what do people use?
yes i know the answer is obvious LOL but i thought i would see who uses what to get up there.

i guess a well placed folding step ladder would work. trucks today are so tall with all the springs. i dont remember my old f150 being so tall i couldnt easily get into it. LOL

maybe i am just getting too old.

so... those of you with no attached tailgate step.... what do you use?

thanks and happy new year!

Hi, I guess people have not noticed that the pick-ups [F-150] not only sit higher, but the beds are deeper too. I would hold onto the top of the tailgate and make my first step onto the recessed area where the bumper hitch and license plate are. Then I would step onto the top surface of the rear bumper. Then I would swing one leg over the tailgate, then the other one. There are all kinds of aftermarket steps: Hitch receiver steps, flip-up center [bumper] steps, 1/4 panel, and side body steps. Also, another option that soooooo many people don't know about, is that the tailgate is very easily removed although there is a weight concern; Ask some-one for help.