OEM bed step install without changing out the bracket

I would leave it as is , emailed sparks parts and their technician confirmed that it is like that .
Now being me , I removed everything and grind the shim in a 45 angle , it helped a bit .

 

I just did a bedstep for 2021. It took about 3 hours taking my time. I swapped the bracket out for the new one. I wanted it done how the dealership is "supposed to do it". If you dont want to be cutting on your take your time with the bumper retaining clips. A long set of double hindged needle nose did the trick no problem. The bumper cover only needed to be disengaged from driver side to hitch. That gives you enough room to get the bolts out. It turned out nice. I was happy i didnt cut any corners. To each his own on there truck. One last thing i need two different size torque wrenches. Its close quarters in there. This is how it turned out in case anyone wanted to do this way.

 

I ordered an OEM step for my 2018 today. Having a hard time getting into the bed now that its lifted.

 

Installed mine today by cutting the existing bracket. I figured if I didn’t like it that way I could always install the bracket that came with the kit. Being really anal, my step isn’t perfectly parallel to the ground; a little crooked. But I haven’t torqued anything yet, so I’ll loosen the bolts on the frame and readjust it. I think there’s a little play there to straighten it a bit! At the end of the day, pulling the bumper apart would have been a bitch. My truck is coated in crude underneath since I had NH Oil treatment sprayed the last two falls. What a mess; may skip it this year!

 

I installed my Amp bed step yesterday.
I got it for Xmas, but Toyota had my truck from November to July.

Having my casual OCD issues, my first thought would be to use the bumper part that came with the step.
But being I've taken all that off before, I can't remember why, I decided to do the "cut the existing bracket" method.

Thanks to @lehminh for starting this thread.

OEM bed step install without changing out the bracket | Toyota Tundra Forum (tundras.com)

I laid out and made a pattern of what the Amp bracket looked like.
Compared that to the existing one so I knew what to cut.
I first tried my jigsaw, epic fail, and then the Sawzall.
Dulled the sharp cut edges with my Dremel and painted the cut.
It saved A LOT of time not taking the rear bumper apart.

I would have liked the step to be more even/level with the angle of the bumper, but oh well..
It certainly does make getting in and out of the bed easier, especially with bone-on-bone knees.

And whoever mentioned needing a breaker bar to get the 19MM bolts out, thank you.
I picked up an iron pipe just in case, and I did need it..

 

Bumping this thread and hoping to get a response by tomorrow because I plan to install mine!

I absolutely 100% will use the cutting method on the existing bracket. What is unclear to me is, how much more of the installation instructions can be disregarded now? Do you still have to take off the bumper cap up top to access anything? The license plate light? Tow hitch plug?

Or do you literally just climb under and bolt it up after cutting the needed section(s)?

It's raining here tonight and possibly tomorrow so maybe I will get to it Sunday but I'm hoping to do it tomorrow if possible. I already assembled the first part in the vice. Can't wait to have this thing on the truck!

 

Nothing needs to be removed. Just cut and bolt on.

 

That's incredible, thank you!

 

Wow, that was unbelievably easy! All done and it's perfect. Thank you so much to the OP and everyone that contributed in this thread.

 

Totally agree with Maddog94. This would have been so much more difficult dealing with the bumper and new bracket. I cut the existing bracket and used the OEM installation instructions. Easy peazy. Thank you guys for this thread.

 

if I am understanding correctly. The oem way is to unbolt and completely disregard the oem bracket at which point you are suppose to install the supplied bracket to reinforce?

but if you are going about it with the cutting method. This is where you do not remove oem bracket you just cut it but at the same time you do not use the supplied bracket in this case. Am I following correctly?

 

That’s right! You can put it side by side and see that it’s basically the same except for the section you are cutting off.