step ladder ideas? (1 Viewer)

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my wife is 5'2". that's the operative element to this post. the other essential bit of info is that i put a 3" lift on the fj62, and she can't easily get into it. i need some help with an idea for a step ladder for her.

traditional sliders aren't ideal, since they're so high and tucked into the rocker panels. and step down ladders aren't great because -- in her mind -- they take too much aim.

does anyone have any good ideas (or pictures!) of step ladders or nerf bar things that work well for stepping up into the cab? and by "work well," i would likely discount purely round bars, unless they have some bit of traction on them.

oh, and i wheel about 0.05% of the time i'm behind the wheel, so don't think that body armor is a motivation for me.

thanks!

mark
 
why do i feel like i'm being conned into something bigger? ;)
 
My wife's 5' and the best thing she thinks I ever did was add a grab bar to the A pillar (by the windshield) like is on the drivers side. That with sliders with an outrigger make it easy for her to get in.
 
My wife's 5' and the best thing she thinks I ever did was add a grab bar to the A pillar (by the windshield) like is on the drivers side. That with sliders with an outrigger make it easy for her to get in.

x2. The A-pillar (for the front) and B-pillar (for the rear) handles really do help a lot.
 
x2. The A-pillar (for the front) and B-pillar (for the rear) handles really do help a lot.

b-pillar? you mean the diagonally mounted ones? and you use the rectangular, a-pillar handles for that, right?
 
sliders with an outrigger make it easy for her to get in.

sliders with an outrigger? i think i know what you mean, but do you have any pics? was yours a homemade job?

jason at jk customs can make what i need, so tell me a little about it. thanks.
 
b-pillar? you mean the diagonally mounted ones? and you use the rectangular, a-pillar handles for that, right?

Yes and no. By b-pillar I do mean the diagonally mounted ones. But they are different handle than what is mounted in the front. On my 1985 FJ60, I had the threaded holes for the B-pillar handles, but had to install nut-rivets for the A-pillar handles. Here's my thread on that subject

https://forum.ih8mud.com/60-series-wagons/157615-grab-assist-installation.html
 
I have seen steps that drop down with the opening of the door and come back up with the closing of hte door. Normally such a thing wouldn't be a good idea because you'd wipe them off on the first rock, but somewhere I saw one such step that was set to live up above the rock sliders when the door was closed. AMP Research is the name that I recall being on the best of those that I've seen. I'm sure that, being AMP, they aren't cheap and I'm equally confident that they're not some cheesy gimmick and are worth considering.
 
Little bit of skateboard tape on the sliders and the A pillar handle (sometimes also the jebus handle and my arm) allow my slightly short other half drag herself into my 60. She's gonna be in trouble if I ever get bigger tyres :D
 
I am installing an "oh-sh!t" handle (the 60 series one over glovebox) to make it easier for my :princess: other half to get in. She's not short, but not coordinated either.:lol:

I may see if i have the bolt holes for the A pillar grab handle as well. She's about 5'9" so shouldn't need it, but does... Boy am i dead if she reads this.:doh:

rob
 
sliders with an outrigger? i think i know what you mean, but do you have any pics? was yours a homemade job?

jason at jk customs can make what i need, so tell me a little about it. thanks.

Not a great pic but should show you what I mean. x2 on the Oh Sh*t bar too. With the slider to step on, the O bar and A pillar handle :princess: has no trouble getting into mine. If she can do it with my lift & 35's yours can too.
1988 FJ62  - 16.jpg
 
Jim made mine too. One more thing AustinMark. My wife & I are in our late 50's so you can always shame :princess: by telling her us old farts can do so she sure should be able to as well. ;)
 
I am installing an "oh-sh!t" handle (the 60 series one over glovebox) to make it easier for my :princess: other half to get in. She's not short, but not coordinated either.:lol:
rob

i hear you loud and clear. my better half always screams for a drive in the truck and when she scratches/dents/runs into things she says "but you always say it is just a wheeling truck and you don't care for external appearance" sigh... they just don't understand.
 
I saw a stirrup dealio in an off road mag one time. It was basically the tab end of a seat belt with a regular stirrup attached to the other end. I assume the connector end bolted into the floor somehow. It looked like a slick solution, a step when you needed it but nothing to get snagged on rocks while you drive.

I did a quick google and found the "Redneck Concepts Cowboy StirrUp Step"
 
seems like u could fab sumptin like that ^ to mount on the seat rail.

One of my buddies welded up a chain step on his 40 for the :princess:, I'll try searching for his post w/pix.
 
i vote for sure on the O $#!T handle. i dont have em (wife doesnt ride with me much and Rooth's not that tall yet) but, my ex-sami was real tall and even i had a hard time getting in. after a while my steering wheel started having more play in it from being used as a "pull up bar" of sorts. make the sliders look like a "P" if that makes sense.
though i do kinda like the stirrup thing
 
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