Hello.

I have a 2001 Sport Quad Cab (NOT Off Road Pkg), bought used about a year ago. I'm in the process of switching out the old rusted black step bars for new blackSS and I'm curious about something. The bars that came on the truck when I got it always seemed to hang low compared to other similar year Rams, plus it always has looked slightly higher as well. I just thought it was the bar itself.

Anyway, while looking at the new bars (Westin Platinums) they too will be "hanging low" compared to the body. When I got the truck I was told that it was all stock, and a "truck guy" friend of mine said it looks stock to him. I'm savvy enough to know what a suspension lift looks like or a level lift, but wouldn't know a stock body mount from a body lift or anything else. So, what exactly do I look for? What distances or spacings are "stock" for this pig? Yeah, I'm a noob so shoot me, but'd it be cool to know.

Thanks.

 

Any of those step bars I have dealt with can be installed nearly touching the body. If they are hanging much lower, then there is a good chance you have a body lift because that will cause a gap between the body and the step (and it will not adjust tight against it anymore do to the design of the mount).

To determine if you have a body lift, just simply look and see if there is a block above each of the body mounts on the truck (typically a black polly type block).

 

Thanks. I'm going to get under it as soon as the weather breaks, I'll look around to see what I see. There is no way the step bars are going be anywhere close to tight on the body.

 

I was gonna get a body lift and I have side steps too. Is there anyway at all to fabricate brackets to make it fit flush?

 

anything is possible if your going to fabricate something, it just depends on how good you are

 

Like helms said, you can do anything you want depending how good you are at fabricating.

The steps I had were the normal westin type tube ones. I was going to do some fabing to get them up the 3" to the body, but they were so dang rotted out I just threw them away (they sure don't last very long).

When you look at the mounting system for them you will realize the rear mount would be a breeze to fix, its the front that will take some work. It is basically directly below the body mount on the frame and to raise it 3" the actual tube will have to be shortened, a new nut welded back in it to mount the bolt to, and then some type of mount fabricated up higher/around the body mount. Pain in the ****.

 

Well I'll be dipped in s**t ...

My truck DOES have 3" body lift!

So now the mounting bolts are too short as are the support straps. This was supposed to be a quick job, erg.

EDIT: Anyone know offhand what size bolt this is (diam/thread )?

 

bumpski

 

You don't need to get new bolts, you use the same bolts that are securing the body now.

 

And as far as the straps go, they will work too. I used them on my truck with a 3" body lift. For some reason I think I switched the front straps with the back to make it work.... but I cant remember.