My wife is small and is pregnant

What's up guys? Everything good? Having a good day?
I wanted to ask you for ideas; you see, my wife is having some difficulties getting in the truck, and it isn't even lifted. She suggested adding interior handles above the doors, but I'm thinking of a running bar (don't know if that's the proper english name for that) below, outside, so she can use it as a steppy.
Interior handles would require drilling the ceiling and adding threaded rivets (which are fairly expensive and hard to find here), but I don't think the ceiling can take that much weight; I reckon there must be a simpler way to add the steppy bar (?) by fitting it to the frame. I do have the materials to build the bar (?) but if you guys know or have experience with aftermarket ones (or tell me how they're called so I could search for designs), I'd appreciate it.
Or if you have any other, simpler solutions, I'd be very grateful for your suggestions

Look up running boards or tube steps. There have been lots of variations over the years.

Reading the title I immediately thought "she won't be small for long"! You can source a collapsing step that could be easily stored under the seat or behind. You'll have to be a gentleman & grab the door & step for her this way though.

HS

It’s harder to find running boards for squarebody trucks, since the side gas tanks get in the way of the mounting brackets they use on other trucks.

I have hoop steps on my truck and they are similar to these. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008E9Z1OE/

They give you somewhere to step, but they are not very big/wide. The steps mount to the bottom of the cab, so they don’t have to reach around the gas tank and bolt to the frame.

A set of steps is about the easiest way to go. I added these for those folks that seemed to struggle climbing into The '87.

Thank you so much for the replies, I completely forgot the saddle tanks being right there by the frame. That amazon hoop step design did give me an idea for a removable one that could be hooked from inside to outside and under the door, so long as I don't damage the weather rubber thing. That, or I'll just get a collapsible steppy; whichever comes first and can handle the weight (about 160 pounds in about three months? Growing more by the day)
PS: I meant short, not small lol.

Redfish said:

A set of steps is about the easiest way to go. I added these for those folks that seemed to struggle climbing into The '87.

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That's one gorgeous truck, wouldn't those steps worsen the rust in that area, though?

CmuCmu said:

Thank you so much for the replies, I completely forgot the saddle tanks being right there by the frame. That amazon hoop step design did give me an idea for a removable one that could be hooked from inside to outside and under the door, so long as I don't damage the weather rubber thing. That, or I'll just get a collapsible steppy; whichever comes first and can handle the weight (about 160 pounds in about three months? Growing more by the day)
PS: I meant short, not small lol.



That's one gorgeous truck, wouldn't those steps worsen the rust in that area, though?

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Thank you! No Sir, the bolts should not have any effect on rust IF the rust is just light surface rust and IF you take decent care of the metal. What you see on my truck is really light and is due to the original owner driving on gravel roads. I hope to be able to paint The '87 in the next couple of years and all that will go away.

Those steps are relatively cheap, they are an easy installation and they work...okay. You have to install them a little far forward because of the gas tanks. That was as far back as I could fit them.

They are fairly useful even if they are a little farther forward than I wanted them. They are much better than nothing.

I didn't know where this thread was going to go based on the title.

i know where your coming from. want to see hilarious? try watching your preggo wife climb up 35 inches into yer truck. she was using the door for a handle which kept blowing out door pin bushings, so i did like you and mounted a handle, but i put it on the windshield pillar-plenty strong. also bought these bully adjustable steps. two things i like about them, if you snag them on something, they have a break point so your rockers don't get all tore up, and they also come with a frame brace which takes about 95% of the load off your rockers
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I have the same steps as @Redfish has. They work decent.

Side hoops, running boards, a-pillar handles or a well placed finger. They all work, just depends on the situation.

Alright, seems this is a more common situation that I thought hahaha, I actually found that amazon step model for sale here... At USD 247 for each side, ouch. The Bully kit wasn't available unless for import to arrive in a couple of months. The handles were cheaper, but a non-decorative one costs USD 76, the decorative ones have really thin screws, more appropriate for a drawer or a closet than to pull a person's weight. However, I found a (good used) collapsible 2 step ladder at 25. Plus I can use it for something else any other time.
So, wife, ladder time.

I used a folding step for my grandmother, and short girlfriend for years in my Blazer, and my 2500HD GMC Sierra. I actually keep one in the truck for my sister as well as she used it to get to the running board on the 2500HD for additional balance.

It collapses and goes in the back seat or under their feet .. I always walk around and set it up. If we go somewhere, I leave it open and set it on the floor board so I can get it back out and have it ready for use .

This looked really good...


This is what I used


Thanks,

Heres a true story.
I've got no pics but when my wife was pregnant with my youngest she couldn't get into Big Yellow without help, so I had a small step stool and attached a pull rope starter to it so she could pull it in after she sat down. Used a 5 gallon bucket for a while before the pull start stool.
Got some good looks in parking lots lol.