Home made side steps and rock sliders

[ozrob]

Hi all,
I have done a 1000 km in the new Defender...the only issue which apparently is a big one , is that the wife is unable to get into the vehicle...she is shorter than me...I apparently have mastered the bum up shuffle along technique after driving Army 110's,
In order to resolve the issue of lack of height of the good wife I made some side steps/rock sliders from some scrap metal I had.
Total cost, around $50 including the grinding discs, a roll of MIG wire and paint.
The only issue I see with them is that they may stick out too far as I was only guessing on how wide they need to be, but they are not as wide as my mirrors.
I might put some aluminium checker plate on them?

http://ozrob.smugmug.com/Cars/Defender/i-mJkFSTv/0/M/IMG_20131225_190533_488-M.jpg

http://ozrob.smugmug.com/Cars/Defender/i-frhN58d/0/M/IMG_20131225_190520_096-M.jpg

[130man]

Hi Ozrob, I solved the same problem with the same solution, although probably less elegantly. My extra cab 130 needed shorter steps but they are much appreciated by my wife. We sometimes supplement them with a folding plastic step-stool on a string so she can lift it into the cab conveniently once she is in. The step-stool folds to a thin profile which slides between the passenger seat side and the door post. Cheers, 130man.

[130man]

Hi Ozrob, as a supplement to my last post, I stuck non slip tape to the step to minimise the chance of slipping. 130man.

[ozrob]

Yes anti slip tape might be in order once the shops open, as checker plate costs too much money for what it is....I know I am cheap...:D

[Trundle]

I'm looking at doing something similar for my 130, any chance you can post a pick of the mounts?
Cheers
Trundle

[Didge]

good job ozrob, what size section did you use?
cheers gerald
ps mine are heaps wider, look a bit dicky but great to stand on and because they're alloy are bent (obviously) and will be replaced with homemade steel the same width when I get around to it

[vnx205]

Some time when I am looking to earn a few Brownie points, I must remember to compliment my wife on being able do do something that others find difficult. :)

At 67 years of age and 1.53 metres (just over 5 feet), she easily manages to get in and out of the passenger's side of our 110 Defender.

Perhaps it was the 23 years of practice getting in and out of the Series III that has made the difference.
:D

[Didge]

Now that's a woman to keep vnx205! Good work old son! I bet there'd be many a man who'd swap his for yours :D
What are the younger generation gonna be like in 35 - 50 years time, eh?

[THE BOOGER]

In 50 years the younger gen will have changed wives almost as often as they change cars so they will pick a wife to go with the car

[ozrob]

Here is a picture of the mounts,
the box size is 40x40x3, and the rail is 50x20
the distance from the box to the rail is 50mm,
70461
70462

[Pateyw]

Nice job

[Didge]

Thanks ozrob, gives me something to go bu for reinforcing my alloy ones
Cheers gerald