JKChuck
03-20-2010, 09:43 PM
Well to my knowledge AEV doesn't make a side step which may make this an ideal place to pose this question. The other forum pages have sponsors and those are the products that are recommended. My guess is that at least some of people who have installed one of the AEV lifts (and who read this forum) have also installed some type of step. A four and a half inch lift and 35s or 37s is pretty high. I noticed that a few of the completed vehicle pics on the AEV site have the Mopar type side steps. Most have no step which for a daily driver who occasionally has female passengers just doesn't seem practical.
Within a day or two after purchasing my jeep I bought some cheap nerf bar type steps that were in stock at a local tire dealer. At the time I thought a step is a step - not true.
I have now lifted the jeep and installed 35 inch tires. My non jeep friends, particularly the female ones, seem to have a hard time getting into the jeep. In fact, I was not aware that so many of my friends were amateur contortionist. I blame part of it on the step. Its not much of a step. I step on it with my foot turned sideways (parallel with the jeep) and climb on up no problem. Everyone else seems to step on the bar with their foot at a 90 degree angle to the jeep (toes pointed at the jeep). The step is not very wide and they instinctively grab the handles on the roll bar which always seems odd to me because they have to go beyond the handle to get to the seat. At any rate they then proceed to twist in all manner of strange positions while cursing about how high the jeep is and how I need a better step. Prior to the addition of the 35s I could climb on in without using the step. Since I am only 5'6" I have to admit the added height of the tires is putting me at my limit for no step. And again, my friends are used to cars and don't seem to get why I want my vehicle so high. I guess there is something to the slogan. It must be a Jeep thing.
I like the look of the Mopar steps except for the fact that you can see the pinch seam. They are wide and would likely be easier to get your foot on even in heels (which by the way I don't wear). I don't like the fact that they provide zero protection and they are pretty high themselves. I probably don't need the protection. Most of my off road driving is in the hills on logging roads and soft dirt. But you never know. I have considered purchasing the Mopar steps and swapping out my stock Rubicon rock rails in the event I intentionally go rock climbing somewhere.
I think I like the look of the the MBRP rails with the removable step but I have only seen pictures. What are you guys using if anything? If you don't have any step do you get the same complaints I get? Any thoughts about my idea of swapping out between Mopar step and stock rails? Anyone with personal experience with the MBRP rails?
Within a day or two after purchasing my jeep I bought some cheap nerf bar type steps that were in stock at a local tire dealer. At the time I thought a step is a step - not true.
I have now lifted the jeep and installed 35 inch tires. My non jeep friends, particularly the female ones, seem to have a hard time getting into the jeep. In fact, I was not aware that so many of my friends were amateur contortionist. I blame part of it on the step. Its not much of a step. I step on it with my foot turned sideways (parallel with the jeep) and climb on up no problem. Everyone else seems to step on the bar with their foot at a 90 degree angle to the jeep (toes pointed at the jeep). The step is not very wide and they instinctively grab the handles on the roll bar which always seems odd to me because they have to go beyond the handle to get to the seat. At any rate they then proceed to twist in all manner of strange positions while cursing about how high the jeep is and how I need a better step. Prior to the addition of the 35s I could climb on in without using the step. Since I am only 5'6" I have to admit the added height of the tires is putting me at my limit for no step. And again, my friends are used to cars and don't seem to get why I want my vehicle so high. I guess there is something to the slogan. It must be a Jeep thing.
I like the look of the Mopar steps except for the fact that you can see the pinch seam. They are wide and would likely be easier to get your foot on even in heels (which by the way I don't wear). I don't like the fact that they provide zero protection and they are pretty high themselves. I probably don't need the protection. Most of my off road driving is in the hills on logging roads and soft dirt. But you never know. I have considered purchasing the Mopar steps and swapping out my stock Rubicon rock rails in the event I intentionally go rock climbing somewhere.
I think I like the look of the the MBRP rails with the removable step but I have only seen pictures. What are you guys using if anything? If you don't have any step do you get the same complaints I get? Any thoughts about my idea of swapping out between Mopar step and stock rails? Anyone with personal experience with the MBRP rails?