I just installed a stainless steel nerf bars for my SCrew. Like most of the designs that I've seen, they have brackets to bolt onto the body and not the frame. When I step on them (I'm weigh 160 lbs) they dip about 0.5 to 1 inches due to my weight.

Is this normal or am I installing it wrong or the design is just bad?

By the way, I bought it from a company selling on eBay. The photos showed the brand name to be "Bully", but when it arrived, the brand was "Dinosaur" and made in China. I'm not very happy with it, but for about $200 shipping included, I guess I got what I paid for.

Nerf not on this photo

 

It's hard to say. I just put Westin Platinum's on my Screw & yes they do flex slightly. I weigh in at 180lbs. If I step on them normally when getting in the truck they hardly flex, if at all. If I bounce up & down on them yes they do flex,but not an inch.

Sorry I could'nt be of more help. This is exactly why I don't buy off ebay unless I can see it somewhere first or have knowledge of what exactly I'm getting.

Could you send them back & tell them you ordered the Bully's & not the Dinosour brand. Just a thought.

Fall

 

Remember, it only costs a little more to go first class.

There is a place to buy things in generic, salt and pepper for example, but I don't think that I would skimp on accessories for the ole F-150. I have the Westin signature series and I have been nothing but pleased with them. I got them from the dealer for free so I don't know how much they really cost, but I can't imagine them costing much more than what you paid for the dinosaurs. Get out of the stone age and get you some Westins. Write the $200 off to a lesson learned.

 

Irhogfan,
I just put Westin's on & have been pricing them. The Chrome Signature series was $340.00 & the chrome platinum series was $399.00. I bought thew platinum's from a local truck shop so I know they would be cheaper on line,but they give me good cust. serv. & are local so I bought from them.

Just letting you know about price's.... I agree with you about going with good quality stuff the first time around.

 

I have Westin bars on mine. They do flex just a little, but not alot. I guess it is to be expected. The mounting brackets are 5 feet apart. I don't like the fact that they are not bolted to the frame as well as the body, but, that's what I have and I am gonna keep them.

If yours are flexing an entire inch, i think you should try to contact the seller and try to do a refund.

 

Guys,

I was unhappy about the flexing but I took the truck for a spin to run errands. When I got back, I decided to go under to check on all of the mounting bolts again. The drive must have jarred some of them from a "stuck" position because I was able to tighten 5 to 10 more turns. The step bar feel MUCH MUCH more firm now, still some slight flexing but I can't tell if it is the shocks on the truck lowering slightly with my weight or the step bar.

In any case, anyone reading this should beware of buying from a company thru eBay where the photos shows the brand name "Bully". You most likely won't get "Bully" but "Dinosaur". The seller technically didn't lie since the description of the product does not mention a brand name at all beside the one photo showing the word "Bully". There are several faults with the "Dinosaur" design which I'll have to spend a dollar or so to remedy. I buy from eBay much more often than from local stores and have been very happy with it so far until now.

 

You should take some pictures so that we can see what they look like.

 

I have the black powder coated Westins. They do flex just slightly. I weigh 200 lbs. Maybe a little more after Christmas. Love them though.

 

I currently have the Ford molded steps and want to replace them with the nerfbars as when offroading they sit too low and tend to get beat up by the rocks, etc.

Now I am a big guy 6'4" and about 260 pounds. The steps I have now don't move at all, they are very solid and I can stand on them with all my weight while washing my truck/front window and can even bounce around on them. They don't budge at all!

Can I expect the same from the Westin bars if they are mounted to the body? Or would a frame monut be better?

 

In my opinion, you probably want some frame mounted bars. I like my body mounted Westins, and they feel solid for the most part. However, like I said, they do flex a little, and I wouldn't feel comfortable standing and jumping on them. I think they'd probably be OK, but I'd just be afraid that I might bend something if I do it enough. I do stand on them to wash the top of the truck, so they do take all of my body weight OK. I'm not small either.

 

I installed the stainless Westins myself also. They do flex a little under my full weight...210 lbs.

They look great but I would have prefered frame mounted bars. Over time I think that the constant flexing, although minimal, will do some damage.

I was worried about the flexing and even torqued on the bolts according to the directions. Still a little flexing.

 

https://www.f150online.com/galleries...w.cfm?num=3203

Here's the link to my photo gallery with the mods so far to my '03 SCrew. I would much rather prefer frame mount any day. Like some people's thoughts, the inevitable flexing of the body mount will take a toll in some way some day. When I was underneath, I noticed 3 locations for mounting brackets. Most designs out there utilize only 2. I wouldn't have minded a 3rd bracket just to firm thing up a little more.

My only 2 thoughts with Dinosaur is the 2 screws holding the plastic step piece to the metal is too short and thus does not hold the middle part of the plastic in place. The second fault is them trying to save cost by manufacturing the left bar exactly like the right step bar. Notice in the photo the 2 black plastic steps not being centered with the length. I know it is tough to notice when you can't see both sides at once but as the owner, knowing it is not symmetrical is a pain.

 

I have the factory bars, solid as a rock, I weigh 265 and they don't move. Don't know who makes them for Ford.

As for the step pads, something doesn't sound right there, someone mispacked or something??

 

I have the Westin Platinum's and very happy with them. The thing I don't like about the step bars you have are the screws holding the plastic step pieces. Other than that, nice looking truck!

 

Here are my Westin Platinums. Theyre awsome!