Community Forums

Adventure · 06-12-2018, 02:15 PM

We are both 5 feet tall and currently own a 2005 F250 with a sick engine. We need to buy a new truck. We thought this truck was tall and found it difficult when we had injuries. We’ve been shopping for a F250 or 350 6.7 diesel, crew cab 4x4. We shopped and carefully chose the options to meet our needs but what is holding us back from the order is getting in and out of it. The electric running boards sit the lowest of all of them but on the 350 it’s still too high for our stiff knees and hips. From the ground to the step is 17” then another 13 1/2 “ to the truck floor. So it’s a total of 30 1/2 off of the ground. That’s tall for a 60” person to climb in and out of as a daily driver when snowbirding or traveling. To make it more difficult the only grab bar is at the windshield which is a long contorted stretch for shorter arms. Some parking places only allow a partial door opening which wouldn’t be enough to get to the grab bar at all.

So to answer why we don’t just buy a F 150 , we would love to but our Sunnybrook travel trailer weighs 10,000 pds and is 35 feet long and we drive the mountains out west. We are just about maxing out our current F250 V10 with this and our cargo.

Soooo to others who are vertically challenged how do you manage?

tuffr2 · 06-12-2018, 04:21 PM

I know you can pay to have a truck lowered by changing the suspension. Ram makes 1500 models with air suspension that lower I think 3". Maybe look at the bigger 2019 models and see if they can tow that trailer...but I doubt it.

Now, Ram is going to introduce new 2500/3500 models in 18 months. Maybe the new models will have full air suspension. Oh, they currently make 2500/3500 models with rear air suspension. Maybe they will lower enough.

But the best immediate option would be to have the truck lowered.

I think you can have a truck lowered without changing its towing ability.

cfowler55 · 06-12-2018, 04:32 PM

Just for comparison my RAM is 15&1/2 to top of step - add 10&3/4 to floor. It is howeve a DRW which are typically a bit lower. My wife is also 5' and has had knee surgery. She doesn't seem to struggle. I also have fixed factory steps which are a little further off of the body which helps.

Cypressloser · 06-12-2018, 04:37 PM

You may want to be careful with lowering the truck, it can cause problems with the trailer running nose down.
Here is another option I found on Google, but you have to buy a Ram to get it

- just kidding.

tuffr2 · 06-12-2018, 04:44 PM

Agree, if you lower the truck you may need to change the ball hight with an adjustable ball mount.

Unicorn Driver · 06-12-2018, 06:15 PM

My mother who is 5 foot had issues getting in to my Toyota Sequoia until I pointed out the grab handles.

SmokeyWren · 06-12-2018, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adventure

Soooo to others who are vertically challenged how do you manage?

Skip the 4x4 and get a 4x2 with optional electronic locking rear axle. Other than rock climbing and challenging "jeep" trails, my 4x2 with e-locker axle will go just about anywhere you can go with a 4x4, and the 4x2 is built lower to the ground.

And order all the helpers Ford offers. Tailgate step, bed steps, running boards.

tuffr2 · 06-13-2018, 07:37 AM

Easier said than done, but you got to muscle up so you can pull yourself up into the truck.

If you can not pull yourself up you need to exercise, it will become easier if you improve weight to strength ratio.

The truck selling formula is to make your truck bigger than the next guy. All trucks now are higher than 6 years ago. So my plan is to muscle up.

Adventure · 06-13-2018, 08:47 AM

I appreciate all of your suggestions please keep the discussion going. Has anyone found a two step step bar besides the one that costs $2,300. ?

Yeah we can muscle up but at 76 and 66 you will find that parts wear out, get brittle, and injuries happen and take months to heal. This year we’ve both had a leg and knee injury that even with multiple therapies it’s taking a year to heal. We are both active seniors. Still, to enjoy this traveling lifestyle one has to be able to get in and out of the truck safely.

Those who are taller I challenge you to imagine yourself getting in and out of a monster truck as a daily driver then you will understand this challenge that shorter people face with the current bigger and taller truck designs.

About the 4x2 we’d like to do that but our F150 4x2 took forever to sell. People would stop and when they saw it was a 4x2 they left. At our ages we cannot expect to drive this as long as our current truck.

Freqz · 06-13-2018, 08:54 AM

You should be able to find a quality aftermarket set of step bars in the $500 - $1000 range.

FWIW, I really like the three step bars for grabbing stuff from the front of the bed.

I like Ranch Hand for quality, not overly flashy stuff

Adventure · 06-13-2018, 09:19 AM

Ok thanks I will look them up.
For this height we need a double step or at the least one that goes down to 15” off the ground splitting the difference. At the 17” electric step level my knee rests on the step higher than my hip and the grab bar is very far away so I have to put my elbow on the door armrest to lift up enough to reach the grab bar tp pull myself in. That situation is not healthy for knees hips and arms