My truck is raised 8" over stock. Finding anything in the way of steps for an older Toyota truck is about impossible. I want to bolt a side step to the frame (not the rocker panel) which will allow easier entry/exit from the truck. Ideally, a drop of 6-8" would be perfect.

I'm not interested in nerf bars because all of them appear to come out straight from the frame and wouldn't give as much of a drop I'm after. Plus, there just doesn't seem to be any made for the older Toyota's before 99.

Had my eye on a set of Kodiak Sidewinder retractable steps but I'm not sure they'll fit an 85. I called these guys up and they weren't much help in knowing if these would work. I like them because they drop 8" when the door is opened and retract when it is closed. Here's a link to their site:

http://www.kodiaksidewinder.com/

So, would you guys and gals mind sharing your experience and knowledge in assisting me in this search for a set of steps for my truck. I know too many short people who have problems getting into my truck and I'm tearing the crotch outta all of my Levi's from the spread!!

Thanks much!

You would probably have to make your own brackets to make any of those steps work. But they should work.

well if you wheel..

I would do a set of rock sliders.
one friend has a drop bracket that he stores in the truck.
pulls it up with a rope.
a second guy has a horse saddle sturip with the leather strap he lets hang.

One guy put a bolt-on step on a set of my rock sliders:


Held on w/ 2 bolts and when he went off-road, they were easily unbolted.

If you wheel at all, those kodiaks would likely get ripped right off.

I would start with a set of rock sliders and have a hoop fab'd up the length that you need. I would then notch the outside rail of the slider to the rear of the door, and install the hoop there. When the hoop was in its up position it would fill in the space cut out of the slider. I would make a quick release spring pin that when pulled allowed you to lower the hoop and lock it into place using the same spring, then once in the truck reach back pull the pin the hoop would move back into the up position via a spring, and the pin would lock the hoop in place.

The drawing isn't the greatest(don't have a good drawing program), but something along the lines of this.