Why you should install your add-on's yourself!!

ATXMudder

Sep 28, 2026

So I bought a 25 BadSas...It originally came with rock rails/sliders standard. But mine, since it was very slightly used (under 9K Miles) had the rockslides removed and some janky tube steps put on....WHY...WHY...They could have just added rockslider steps such as the IAG's. That said, after Bronco Off Roadeo on Saturday (TEXAS), I decided to get OEM rock sliders and swap them out. Found a great deal on Marketplace with the IAG steps already installed for around 200.00. As I was taking the tube steps off, I found the dealer/installer stripped the heck out of the body mounted nuts for the M10 - 1.5 bolts. I mean really bad, three of them in total, two on the driver side and one on the passenger side with a total of 12 bolts in all for the tube steps. May not sound like much, but the truth is, it should have been ZERO. I am no mechanic, but I am mechanically inclined. There is not an easier process than bolting something on to vehicle. There is no reason whatsoever for the body nuts to be stripped or cross threaded. What should have been a fairly quick process turned into half a day, one new M10 Tap and three repaired nuts. Not to mention a whole lot of loctite just to be sure.

Why is it so hard for someone to do their job properly. When you do it yourself, you know it's good to go. Properly torqued and nothing stripped. I know not all installers and dealers are bad, but it seems more common and often today to have this experience than the one we used to when mechanics were proud of their work and just did stuff the right way.

Buking Bronco, Big Papa

Sort by date

Reaction Score

Sep 29, 2026

Add Dealers as all the Good Techs have moved on to their own shops or working at a Good Independent shop as Dealers lean on them .Wish did not have to use Ford Dealers to clear recalls as know will cause future problems.Going in for wiring harness recall + have taken under hood pictures + removed locking lug nut on passenger front tire as afraid they would misplace.Replaced with regular lug nut + will switch back to locking lug nut after 20 mile drive back home [if Bronco makes it that far after being in Ford Shop] No locking nuts only keep an honest person honest but better than nothing.Need to start a forum of Ford Service F*** Ups .Have more miles on my 2022 WT back + forth to Dealer for recalls than many other drives.Ford has you by the Balls as you can't sell Bronco if it has outstanding recalls.Time for "Fat Freddie Farley" to exit while Ford still is still in business!

Buking Bronco, G Lusted

Oct 01, 2026

I feel for you! I've been lucky... I've bought 12 Fords from a small family owned dealership near me for 42 years starting with my 1984 GT-350 (still got it). Over the years I became friends with thr owners and employees. There were always just 1 or two trusted tech's that were allowed to work on my vehicles which worked out great for me. A few years ago the dealership closed and I wasn't sure what I was going to do, or where to go for service. After a few weeks I found out that my service manager and two tech's were now at another nearby Ford dealership. Now when I need service I contact my old service manager and he makes sure one of "my" techs does the work. If the tech gets held up on something else, my Bronco waits until he can do it. The Bronco goes in for 3 recall fixes in a couple of weeks and my tech has already been scheduled for my job. I count this as one of my lifes blessings!

G Lusted, Gyoja

Oct 02, 2026

Buking Bronco
I feel for you! I've been lucky... I've bought 12 Fords from a small family owned dealership near me for 42 years starting with my 1984 GT-350 (still got it). Over the years I became friends with thr owners and employees. There were always just 1 or two trusted tech's that were allowed to work on my vehicles which worked out great for me. A few years ago the dealership closed and I wasn't sure what I was going to do, or where to go for service. After a few weeks I found out that my service manager and two tech's were now at another nearby Ford dealership. Now when I need service I contact my old service manager and he makes sure one of "my" techs does the work. If the tech gets held up on something else, my Bronco waits until he can do it. The Bronco goes in for 3 recall fixes in a couple of weeks and my tech has already been scheduled for my job. I count this as one of my lifes blessings!

Same here. There are only two techs that I allow to do the heavy lifting on my cars. And I cannot say enough about having a good working relationship with my service guy, service manager and my technicians

G Lusted, Gyoja

Oct 02, 2026

I wonder if those tube steps were installed by the previous owner?
Shame on me for jumping to an over-generalized conclusion, but my assumption about tube steps--especially on Jeeps--is that they are college kid stuff. Looks rad (to some), but real functionalilty is suspect.

G Lusted, Buking Bronco

Oct 02, 2026

I don't know what the deal is with installing these nerf tube step stuff. I went with exactly what the op said. Kept my oe rock rails and installed some IAG's. And it works. I have slammed both into rocks and except for the finish taking a hit, they took the hits just fine. I was out with some guys and one had some non-oe similar "rock rails" on his 2 door. Took a a hit on a rock and pushed it up into the door and messed up the door.

G Lusted

You must log in or register to post here.