Power side steps, who has them?

So who has put on power side steps on their truck?

Amp Research has a set of steps that will work after cutting them for length, and then you have to wire tap a bunch of wires. That does not sound like fun.

https://www.amp-research.com/powerstep-running-board


Rough Country has a set, states that they only work on the double cab, but are plug and play. From what I can see online through pictures and reading the instructions, it looks like you can leave the rear door pig tails unplugged and the steps should still go up and down, because of the way the door pin works. Lights come on when the pin makes the connection. But I would still have to cut them to length some how...which would probably be the hardest part of this set.

https://www.roughcountry.com/rc-tacoma-electric-running-board-steps-psb81620.html


If you have these, which set do you have?

Did you put them on, do the steps have a t channel in them to allow you to slide the bracket to a different location? Access cabs have different mounting location distances than the double cab.

If you put them on an access cab how did the cutting go?

 

I have the AMP Research and love them.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/electric-sliders.662076/#post-23176467

 

Yeah saw this. I am guessing I would use a fine tooth hand saw or band saw. My real problem is with the wire taps. Hate those things. And with the way these truck act sometimes to wiring taps and voltage drops. Just gives me the willies. Really like the plug and play wiring of the rough country. This is why I am looking for who has done this install already...even on double cabs.

 

You might not need to cut them. The AC and DCSB share the same wheel base so they would still fit. For side steps and rock sliders they are completely interchangeable so I don’t see why that would change for the power steps.

 

The wheelbase is the same. But the length under the cab is shorter on the access cab. That is the reason for cutting off 10". I think it would look weird if the board went the length of the cab plus the bed. Which is about where is would end up just in front of the rear wheel.

 

Fair enough. I figured you wouldn't really notice most of the time when it's tucked up under the rocker panels.

 

I have the AMP Research running boards on my 2021 DCSB, I installed them myself. The instructions were written for a 2016 and it seems there have been some changes since then. For example the instructions wanted me to run the wires through a gromet in the floor that doesn't exist in mine. I ended up partially rebuilding the wiring harness and doing things my way(TM). I didn't install the silly little LED lights. The mounting blocks on the frame are aluminum, it's easy to mess up the threads in those...ask me how I know. It's also real easy to drill the front frame holes in the wrong spot. The little paper template they included was either wrong or I wasn't smart enough to use it. It's best to just hold the mounting block in the proper spot and use that as a guide. Tapping the door open/close button was a pain. I ended up having to get the wiring diagram and trace wires.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vaHMp7eLDc

 

@pocket_geek Thanks for your honest review. Greatly appreciated!

 

I’m thinking about replacing the stock Tacoma running boards on my 2020, can you tell me how much lower these are vs the stock ones or how far they hang down in the extended position?
TIA
Jim

 

If you live anywhere near salt, DO NOT BUY THESE.

We've warrantied pretty much every set we've installed.

Even the new 4runner Nightshade edition has its own issues with them.

Also I ran double cab boards on my access cab. It looked dumb.

 

I don’t have a numerical measurement. I went with these cause they are way lower that non-electric steps. Here’s a picture with the steps in the “up” and “down” positions.

 

I got this for much the same reason. Wife is short, dad has bad hips, and my joints are getting worse by the day. Needed something a bit lower.

 

Thanks for the info, they do appear to be lower than what is currently on my Tacoma. Has anything changed to rethink you getting these? I’m getting closer to making a decision…

 

Same here. Wife had a hard time getting in, especially with a tight skirt.

 

Nope, I love them. I have had them for a couple of years and I daily drive. They work great. They are also great for washing the truck.

 

getting the AMP boards next week on my 2018. Can't wait!

 

Where did you get the wire diagram?

 

Signed up for the cheapest account at https://techinfo.toyota.com/ I think it was something like 3 days for $20.

 

Ok cool thanks! can you tell me how to find it since you were right there? is locating that section easy? could you send it in message?