trik396

Spending some quality time with my new truck and recent birthday gift from my lovely wife (mig welder). Check out my pics and let me know what you think. I'm also taking suggestions as what to coat them with..... it'll be a satin black... maybe a brush on liner or chassis paint???

Thanks in advance
Tony

AK RAM

Looks good. Love the step. My tube steps sit a little too close to the truck to be functional. I beat my rocker panels to death getting in and out. A step like that would be perfect. I wonder how that would have looked with round stock? I'm a little partial to round vs square myself.

If it were me, I would have them chromed. If black is your goal, the cheap roll-on bed liner stuff from Wall Mart holds up really well over time.

trik396

I wanted to use the 2" round tubing for the entire step but my tubing bender isn't strong enough to make the bend. So.... I came up with the idea of using the plate plus the tubing. The angular look is starting to grow on me and I may incorporate it into more of the truck.

You think that the roll on bedliner stuff will hold up to getting stepped on everyday???

AK RAM

It's not going to last forever, but it will definitely outlast paint. That step will probably be a bear to keep looking good no matter what you use.

HURA1

think you could make a step with the ram logo on it? like that sighn on the left here <<<<. that would be cool. i would be interrested in that

trik396

Not a bad idea.... I'm a novice at this metal fab thing, but I love a challenge.

Vulcan

Nice work. Great to see there are some other do it yourselfers out there.
Vulcan

charcoal600

Good woork, as for coatings, powdercoating or sprayed on bed liner would be tough and look great.

trik396

I ordered some rust encapsulator primer from Eastwood and just bought some spray on bedliner from Walmart (Duplicolor). When I get it all done I'll post more pics. Thanks for all your input. Tony

guzzirider

how did you attache it

CRXsi

Another thought is you could take them to an industrial chrome shop in your area and have them chromed. Industrial chrome is very, very durable and would look pretty slick. I don't know how much but don't think it would be to rediculous. Where I live there are several companies doing industrial chroming (Moores and Alberta Chrome and Grinding) so there should be some in your area I would think.

trik396

I sandwiched the frame rail with .250" plate bolted together w/ grade 8 zinc plated 3/8" bolts. I also used spacer over the bolts to avoid crushing the frame. These are .750" tubing with .400" id which is a bit larger than the bolt. I'll take some pics and add them to my gallery.
As far as chroming them.... I had two bumpers de-chromed once and it cost $150. I can't imagine what chroming them would cost. Maybe jet-hot coating?? Anybody know what chroming rates are these days?

CRXsi

The other option could also be powder coating them, could have it done to almost any colour you wanted (this may be what you have already refered to as jet-hot coating) and it is relatively durable also.

trik396

More pics in gallery that show final fab work prior to primer. All welding complete. Check it out.

Reel Native

Thats nice work, I would just use the coating you bought seeing as most step look bad after a year or so, you can just touch them up. Are you planing on addd steps for the back? Any way nice job!