My wife is small and is pregnant

rwjtexas said:

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...

https://www.collectionsetc.com/products/2-Step-Stool-that-Folds-Down-for-Compact-Storage/?srsltid=AfmBOoqydybkLtOktQDdWFLg6bzl1znLwKjmCqphG2JUCEDNev_hk00PvhI

This is what I used

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014WOXB6O/

Thanks,

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Those gave me flashbacks (have broken a few). They're fairly reliable for home use, but once they get some heat, the hinges are vulnerable.

This is the one I found for 25 dollars, folds flat, can be set behind the seat, and the long handle will allow the wife to pull it after getting in the seat (when i was telling her the steppy idea she stated "I won't pull that up").

squaredeal91 said:

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.

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Speaking of pulling up, you mean after getting in the truck she had to lift the bucket with a rope like water from a well? (also, feel guilty for laughing at the scene haha)

CmuCmu said:

Speaking of pulling up, you mean after getting in the truck she had to lift the bucket with a rope like water from a well? (also, feel guilty for laughing at the scene haha)

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No worries bud,
yes thats about the correct description lol.
the thing was as lighter than her purse so it was easy.

My memory is coming in now. The bucket worked good but meant I had to stay with it and pick it up and put it in the back. The pull rope stool was so I could get the others and myself in lol.

squaredeal91 said:

My memory is coming in now. The bucket worked good but meant I had to stay with it and pick it up and put it in the back. The pull rope stool was so I could get the others and myself in lol.

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So, wife found this thread and made the call. A foldable steppy as long as it's rated for 200 pounds (around 100 kilos, more to be safe), and tie a rope to the door so she can pull the steppy after being seated. I reckon I could tie it to the B pillar where the seatbelt bolts since it shouldn't need to be a thick rope.

My vertically challenged (unpregnant) wife struggles to get in the '81, but I am nice and say come on shorty you can do it. Crusty Biscuit has a handle above the door on the inside, she prefers Crusty Biscuit, of course.

collapsible 2 step ladder

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Yep, that was going to be my suggestion. I keep a 3-step Ladder in the back of Blaze. It's the perfect height to allow my wife to climb in. Also comes in handy when working under the hood. I didn't want to add the hoop step because it eats-up ground clearance.

You can also build a temp handle that hooks to the striker bolt/ pin on the door frame. You can buy them commercially for loop style latches but I think the ones I've seen for our strikers were all custom. They are sold at medical supply places.

rwjtexas said:

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.

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Wait, what??? Your grandmother was your girlfriend. Dang, I'm from Texas but that is some Arkansas sh.. right there.

Bennyt said:

You can also build a temp handle that hooks to the striker bolt/ pin on the door frame. You can buy them commercially for loop style latches but I think the ones I've seen for our strikers were all custom. They are sold at medical supply places.

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I think I have a bent motorcycle handle bar I could cut and drill to fit the striker. Would be a lot less weird to find laying around than that particular handle design in the picture.

"Dude, what is this thing I found under the seat while looking for my keys in the dark?"
"Oh, that's the tiger handle"
"Tiger handle?"
"Yeah, a handle that hooks with the striker so you can grab it and get in"
"Right, of course, and why is it 'tiger'?"
"See the hook near the tip"
"Ooooh..."
Yeah, nah.

Bennyt said:

Wait, what??? Your grandmother was your girlfriend. Dang, I'm from Texas but that is some Arkansas sh.. right there.

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Amazing how leaving out a couple of words can change a statement ...

'grandmother and a short girlfriend"

Hope your day is a good one ...

Rumbledawg said:

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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Did you have any problems with the saddle tanks? These are the only side steps that I've been able to find for these trucks that don't have the disclaimer of "will not fit vehicles with saddle tanks". I see you said they come with a frame brace, does it use existing holes or did you have to drill new ones?

Silver Square said:

Did you have any problems with the saddle tanks? These are the only side steps that I've been able to find for these trucks that don't have the disclaimer of "will not fit vehicles with saddle tanks". I see you said they come with a frame brace, does it use existing holes or did you have to drill new ones?

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no probs with saddle tanks. they clear the tanks.
on my crewcab i was able to use the braces on the front doors, the tanks were in the way to use the braces on the back doors, but even without the braces, they are plenty strong.
i don't currently have them on the truck (wife is back to a step and handle) but here's what they look like. no holes needed in the frame for the braces, the snug up against the frame.
as you can see they are adjustable 10 ways from sunday, hi or low as you want, brace lengths are also adjustable.


the mounts are cogged so you can put the steps whatever height ya want. this is also the break point...ask me how i know....


one thing i would suggest to buy if using these steps is this. there is no way in hay you will get a drill bit between your rockers and gas tanks.
think i paid a whopping twelve bucks for this goofy little gadget, but made life waaaay easier and faster

Well, if getting in is the issue then maybe a collapable step. Tie a rope to it and pull it into the cab.
Getting out is just a slide off the seat.
Doesn't require any hole drilling.

Cool, thanks for the info. I'm about to put a 6" lift and some 35s or possibly 37s on, and I'm too old and fat to get in there lol. Hopefully this will make it easier.