Height of Badlands door sills?

Bob Blaylock
Feb 28, 2022

Rank V

Feb 28, 2022

Can someone tell me what the height is above the ground, of the door sills on a stock, non-Sasquatch 4-door Badlands?

———

I know that both @Seanette and are are going to want to add some kind of step to ours to help us get in. @Seanette is short, and my legs do not work quite as well as they did before I broke one of them a few years ago.

My original plan was to have the dealer remove the rock rails and install Ford's tube steps in their place. I'm becoming increasingly convinced that I really want a solution that leaves me both with rock rails and with usable steps.

And I am beginning, now to think that I'm going to want to wait until I actually have the Bronco, before I figure out what solution to apply. But if I do that, then I need to know that even without steps, @Seanette and I will be able to get in and out without too much difficulty.


I initially had high hope for Ford's newly-announced hoop steps, but I've seen something that casts doubt on whether those will really coexist with the rock rails.

I'm now thinking that perhaps this product from looks good:


Or, I may just end up building something myself out of Unistrut. Of course, to do that, I'd have to have the Bronco, and be able to figure out how I would attach any such thing to it. Dare I drill holes through my rock rails to attach my homemade steps? Would doing so weaken them too much as far as being usable as rock rails?

A clear disadvantage both to Ford's hoop step, if it is able to coexist with the rock rails, or to a no-drill step like IAG's, is that it would have to be removed for rock crawling, and reinstalled afterward. Something that can be left in place, even for rock-crawling, would be much better.

I know that there are also aftermarket rock rail/step combinations that are what Ford really should have done in the first place, basically rock rails that stick out far enough to the sides to also serve as steps, but they are more expensive than what I really want to spend for such a solution.

———

I suppose we can use this thread to discuss various solutions to the problem of affordably having steps and rock rails that coexist; but my primary question is to ask how high a climb it it into a 4-door non-Sasquatch Badlands, to be able to judge whether this is something that @Seanette and I can live with from the time we pick up our Bronco 'til the time I am able to implement a good solution.
May the Ford be with you, always.
On Order: Badlands 4-door 2.7, Lux Package, Velocity Blue, non-Sasquatch
BostonBadlands, SIDJake
Last edited by a moderator: Feb 28, 2022

Rank VI

Feb 28, 2022

#1
862051EB-3897-4863-9ACE-A111B571AB9C.jpeg

Rank V

Feb 28, 2022

#2

So 23.1 inches on one of the models with 32-inch tires, so adding another half or full inch to that to assume 24 inches for a Badlands with 33-inch tires. I just performed an experiment that shows I can step up on something as high as 27", but @Seanette has more difficulty stepping up 24". If we don't get steps of some sort installed by the dealer before we pick it up, it looks like it will have to be a significant priority.
May the Ford be with you, always.
On Order: Badlands 4-door 2.7, Lux Package, Velocity Blue, non-Sasquatch

Rank VI

Feb 28, 2022

#3
So 23.1 inches on one of the models with 32-inch tires, so adding another half or full inch to that to assume 24 inches for a Badlands with 33-inch tires. I just performed an experiment that shows I can step up on something as high as 27", but @Seanette has more difficulty stepping up 24". If we don't get steps of some sort installed by the dealer before we pick it up, it looks like it will have to be a significant priority.
Yeah, sounds that way.

Rank VI

Feb 28, 2022

#4
So 23.1 inches on one of the models with 32-inch tires, so adding another half or full inch to that to assume 24 inches for a Badlands with 33-inch tires. I just performed an experiment that shows I can step up on something as high as 27", but @Seanette has more difficulty stepping up 24". If we don't get steps of some sort installed by the dealer before we pick it up, it looks like it will have to be a significant priority.
I measured my BL on 33”. It’s 22” to the sill and 24” to the floor. So your numbers are good.
One thing to keep in mind. You don’t really “step up” into the Bronco with just the rock rails. You kinda throw a leg onto the floor and then use the wheel, roll bar, or seat to pull your body up as you slide in. Hard fo explain but hopefully that makes sense. Some have bought the bartact straps to aid this process.

getting out is likely done by swinging your legs out and then sliding off the seat edge to the ground. Not great for the upholstery in the long term.

the IAG ones you mention look promising and easy to install and remove. I’d buy the ones that set flush with the bottom of the rails, the V2.

Archetype Racing makes some as well, look nice and they pricey.
https://www.archetyperacing.com/product-page/ar-stirrup
IMO anything that you put on to make it easier to get in will reduce clearance and off-roading capability. So something that can be removed is nice, but then it’ll be hard to mount / dismount when you’re on the trail! Ugh!

Sorry for the length of this, but allowed me to think as I typed it in….

to keep the stock rails, I’d get the IAG or Archetype steps and the bartact grab handles. This seems like the easiest thing to test.

if you determine something more is needed, there are other permanently mounted options like the rockslide power steps. But this solution pushes $3k!

https://rockslideengineering.com/product/bronco-4-door-step-slider/
hope this helps. Others may have Better ideas!
2021 badlands, 2.3, MT, rapid red, soft top
BostonBadlands

Rank VI

Feb 28, 2022

#5
The IAG V1 step (flush with the top of the Rock Rail, reduces the step-in height by 5", the V2 by 7". That would bring the height of the step to about 19" and 17" respectively. I'm probably going for the V2 steps as my wife is 5'3" tall.
BL EG 7MT 2.3L Lux O-=====-O Michigan
Order: 10/26/21, Blend: 8/8/22, Built: 8/30, Driveway: 9/20/22

@elwood.bronco.blues

Feb 28, 2022

#6
I'm really liking the look of the IAG V2 steps and like that they are removable from the factory rock sliders, but in reality, I probably won't be doing any "rock crawling" in my off-road adventures so that may not really matter to me. Another product that I've been looking at that provides a step and keeps the functionality of rock rails is the DSS steps from Go Rhino. And their pricing is similar to the IAG steps.

https://www.gorhino.com/i-30506902-dominator-xtreme-dss-slider-steps-with-mounting-brackets.html
Follow Jake & Elwood's adventures on Instagram @elwood.bronco.blues

2022 BL 7MT High pkg in Velocity Blue | Ordered 2-25-2022 | Delivered 9-8-2022
Crawler Green

Rank V

Jul 01, 2022

#7
I guess I'll use this thread to keep track of options that look promising to me.

I'm now thinking, depending on how much of my inheritance is left after we pay for the Bronco, and on what other things we think we need to spend it on, that I'll either go with the fancy power steps from Rock Slide, which look like an ideal, albeit pricy solution, or the Go Rhino Dominator steps, which look like a good, more affordable solution.

But I don't yet even have a build date, so there's still plenty of time for other solutions to convince me to consider them instead.
May the Ford be with you, always.
On Order: Badlands 4-door 2.7, Lux Package, Velocity Blue, non-Sasquatch
Bonnie6G

Certified Un-Influencer

Jul 26, 2022

#8
I called IAG. They told me they're working on back orders for their step solutions. I like that and will probably go with the V2, full--length for my 4-door Badlands Sasquatch. I fully agree with Shorsey:

"One thing to keep in mind. You don’t really “step up” into the Bronco with just the rock rails. You kinda throw a leg onto the floor and then use the wheel, roll bar, or seat to pull your body up as you slide in. Hard fo explain but hopefully that makes sense. Some have bought the bartact straps to aid this process..." Especially: "IMO anything that you put on to make it easier to get in will reduce clearance and off-roading capability."

I'm 75, in good shape, but aware that physical limitations will be setting in. I did my 1st serious off-roading since 1965, and my first actual rock crawling yesterday, and can affirm Shoresy's remarks. One thing I learned: getting in and out (a lot! I went solo, no spotter) there were several times the ground below the driver's door was a serious drop, and I really had to slide out carefully and drop to the ground, then haul myself up and in with some effort. So as you consider your step or running board options, remember: you won't always be getting in and out on pavement!

(Unless you restrict your adventuring to mallcrawling!)
Deano Bronc, Jakob1972

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