I especially loved that the coating used on top of the steps has some grit to it, which gives them excellent traction underfoot in all weather conditions, including ice and snow. They’re sealed in a black powder coat for corrosion resistance, which also gives them a clean look that blends in with the undercarriage of your truck or SUV. The PowerSteps are made right here in the USA from hollow channeled aircraft-grade aluminum, which reduces weight while making them sturdy enough to resist bending with up to 600 pounds of weight per side. We recommend checking out the free PDF instructions online before determining if you want to install them yourself or pay a professional to do it for you. The official installation time estimates are between three and five hours, but it may take longer depending on your experience level and the complexity of your vehicle’s wiring system. When you close the door again, the sensor signals the step to retract, restoring your truck’s ground clearance while also “reducing drag,” a point that AMP Research makes note of even though we hardly think running boards will make that big of an impact on fuel economy. This extends the armature linkage, thus deploying the PowerStep. The step is wired directly into each door’s sensors so that every time you open one, it triggers the electric motor on that side of the vehicle. Installation of the AMP PowerSteps isn’t overwhelmingly difficult, but it’s certainly not a simple plug and play accessory either. The eyes of everyone at AMP Research are trained to look at everyday life, and envision new products that prove themselves in the marketplace.” But before there’s either, there’s observation. Thomas Edison remarked that invention is 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration. “Finding the simple, functional solution to a complex design challenge is the goal of every AMP Research innovation. They address the shortcomings of traditional running boards by utilizing the most obvious solution: being present when you need them, and retracting beneath the vehicle when you don’t. Although their long-term durability remains to be tested, we are pleased with every other aspect of their performance thus far.ĪMP Research is all about making simple products to solve common sense problems, and the PowerStep is the embodiment of that ethos. They’re produced in the USA, and undergo strenuous testing in mud and salt, with temperatures ranging from -40° to 200☏. We found the steps to be well made, with practical design elements and a clean look. This makes them an ideal way to improve the function of your truck or SUV in day to day life without reducing its capability on the trail. It didn’t take long to find a solution in the form of AMP Research’s PowerStep.ĪMP’s PowerSteps automatically deploy when a door is opened and retract up underneath the vehicle when the door closes. I hopped online and started searching for running boards that could stand up to off-road use, and wouldn’t reduce the truck’s breakover angle or get caught up on the trail. At that point, I had already been experiencing ankle and wrist pain myself from hopping in and out of the truck, so her fall was the straw that broke the camel’s back, and fortunately not her back. Unfortunately, it’s not always as easy as just discarding your running boards and never looking back, a realization that struck me hard when my girlfriend’s mother fell onto an icy road while attempting to get into my Excursion. Worse, many of these steps are tucked so close to the body that they offer little advantage-it’s no wonder why they quickly find their way to the rubbish bin. That’s because they significantly reduce the breakover angle and are usually the first thing to receive damage on the trail, often harming the vehicle in the process. The overland community certainly has its debates: Toyota versus Land Rover, wide tires versus tall skinny tires, roof tent versus ground tent and so much more, but there’s one thing that almost all of us can agree on, and that’s the removal of factory running boards.
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