Just ordered a new Escape for my wife that will be here shortly!
It will have the black, factory-installed step bars on it.

Anyone have any experience with detailing these? I'm not sure if I would necessarily want to wax them - I'm thinking more like something along the lines of "Back To Black" by Mother's...

 

From my experience, the majority of these bars are either painted or powder coated. Either way, I'd go the wax route on them so that they are protected. A product like BTB really won't provide the necessary level of protection for metal in my honest opinion.

RP

 

I could see using BTB on the black steps, but if you're getting tubes, wax 'em if they're painted, or just clean them if they're powder coated

SL

 

They're the tube type with a black plastic foot tread that is similar to the trim that is put on F-150 step bumpers.

Not sure if the tubes themselves are painted or powder-coated...

 

By all means wax them...I had the black step bars on my '01 XLT. Just don't get any wax on the plastic "step" pads...you will find out what the underside of your Escape looks like while you are flat on your back!

 

You could always use some grip tape made for skateboards on the plastic steps.

SL

 

Thanks for the thoughts, guys!

Guess I'll have to play around with them a little bit and try some different combinations of things -- maybe my normal Meguiars #26 on the metal bars and Back To Black on the plastic treads...