Being a noob to Jeeps, I would like to know if there is any way to gracefully get out of a Jeep?
My wife already slipped and fell out (lol), and I've slipped on the running boards and gashed my leg (ouch).
Seems I have to swirl left and work my way down.
Not that this is a bad thing.
Just a thought.

 

Sorry to hear about the injury - I also have a Sahara, and IMHO, the stock running boards are damn near worthless for ingress/egress (at least when you have size 13 feet or bigger!). On more than one occasion, I've had coworkers point out to me that I have road salt/dirt all over my left pantleg on the calf area (from rubbing against the side steps). The best I can figure at this point is that you swivel in the seat so that you're angled roughly toward the outside of the edge, put your left leg foot-forward (toward the hood) on the running board, then use that footing to move your right leg onto the running board in front of your left foot. Once both feet are on the board, you can move your left leg down to the ground, then finally your right. Seems awfully complicated in writing, but not TOO bad in practice... unless you're trying to "hop down" onto an icy surface - be extra careful then!

In any case, the only reason I have the steps is that they came standard, and because my wife is 5'0"... I have some grab handles on order (for the wife), and am hoping that having a top handle will make it a bit easier to get out without the dreaded "pantleg" effect...

Anyone have better ideas? I think the steps will probably be a nice feature when I finally throw a lift on, and they have done a nice job protecting the sides from mud and rocks thrown up by the front tires, but I wish they were either set out wider from the frame, or else were just wider in general...

 

I agree 100%. The only thing they seem good for is keeping some of the mud and road spray off the sides.

 

My observations:

I think that they are worthless for average sized people. They might be nice to use to get at a roof rack or basket but for getting in or out they are not designed to work well. I think for kids they might help but that is about it.

 

I haven't had much experience with the stock JK sidesteps but I was sure to order them to help those with height issues.

I dont understand though, how can they be poorly designed? They are just steps... a ledge. And any farther out and they might look goofy. What is the solution then?

-Mark

 

They're fine for shielding your doors and lower body from kicked up debris, but as far as steps go (remember - they're STEPS, not "rock rails") they're VERY narrow, and for someone with big feet like mine, they're practically useless as steps. They are a ledge, as you said, but a very narrow one... so it's tough to balance comfortably on them and then lower yourself to the ground without making contact with the outside edge of the step (that's my complaint).

It's a minor gripe, and I'll just have to figure out a slightly more agile way of climbing out - my point is that they're just narrow enough to slip off of pretty easily (as I'm sure the OP and his poor wife would agree with). I'm pretty confident that my grab handles will make the whole affair easier, and if that still doesn't help, then I'm thinking about throwing some grip tape (thoughts?) on the step surface to provide a less-slippery surface.

 

You guys might want to take a look at this;

http://project-jk.com/wp-gallery2.php?g2_itemId=5310

http://project-jk.com/index.php/?p=75

 

Thanks, but that's a bit too "fancy" for my tastes ... I think it's just a matter of getting used to it. The stock steps really aren't bad - I just have big feet that want more of a surface to balance on.

Oh, and by the way - if you haven't already seen the posts from a month or two back, it's already been demonstrated that the Sahara steps will NOT fare too well against any "close encounters of the smashy kind" with rocks, etc... just be forewarned.

 

just slap onna these on the bumper and call it a day...










(actually though, I am sorry for the mishaps. I have the "steps" on my Sahara, they really are thin and rather useless. they flex ALOT if you watch them when someone steps on them. I will likely replace them eventually with some homemade rock rails and weld a wider step on them when i do)

 

Try getting some after market hand grips on the roll bar and hang on to them getting in and out. This may help.