The "man-step"
By goldeneagle
@goldeneagle (6743)
United States
March 16, 2009 11:57am CST
I just saw a Chevrolet commercial that was making fun of the so-called "man-step" that Ford has started putting on the tail-gates of some of its pickup trucks. Howie Long was in the commercial, and he stood there watching some guy climb down out of the cargo bed of his Ford using the step on the tailgate, then forget to return the step to its storage position before heading to get into his truck to drive away. Howie told the man that he had left his "man-step" down. Howie, of course, was depicted as being a Chevy driver.
Now, here is my question. Why haven't the Chevrolet engineers seen the usefulness of such a step on the tail-gates of THEIR trucks? The purpose of this step is to assist people in getting into and out of the cargo beds of their truck if they need to. I own an SUV right now, but I am going to be buying another pick-up truck probably within the next year or two. I have had pick-up trucks in the past, and I have used them to do a lot of hauling. There have been countless times when a so-called "man-step" would have been a great help to me. I have a physical handicap that limits my ability to climb, but often, the man-step would have made it a lot easier for me to climb into the bed of the truck.
I have always had Chevy trucks, except for once when I bought a Dodge, and I have been looking a Chevy trucks again since I have decided that the SUV thing is not for me. However, Ford has really caught my attention with that step they have put on their tailgates. I have actually started to consider buying a Ford next time, because of this feature, and for a few other reasons. Maybe Chevrolet should follow Ford's lead instead of making fun of it? What are your thoughts on this???
3 responses
@hidden1money1secret (191)
• United States
16 Mar 09
Of course, Chevy is making fun of the step because they did not think of it first. The commercial is very effective at making the step seem silly. Perhaps Ford has a patent or something preventing others from putting the same thing on their trucks. The step is a good idea though, there is probably a warning buzzer or something if you leave the step down.
@goldeneagle (6743)
• United States
17 Mar 09
I don't know, but Ford Sure got my attention when they added that feature. Dodge also has a feature I like as well that is available on their new models. They have tool boxes built right into the side of the truck that run the entire length of the cargo bed. When I saw this on their commercials, I also wondered why nobody had ever thought of this before. you can buy after-market toolboxes of this nature and add them to the truck yourself, but Dodge was the first company I know of that actually built them in. Both Chevy and Nissan (Maybe Toyota as well) offered very small storage boxes like this on a couple of their models, but the one that Dodge came out with was the best idea of this nature I have seen. Now, if a company would only build a model that had the built-in toolboxes on the side of the truck AND a "man-step" on the tailgate, I will buy one on the spot when I see it...
@moondancer (7431)
• United States
16 Mar 09
That's what some of the companies do, put down other companies in the hopes that people will buy theirs instead.
I like Fords and we have 2 trucks one is an extended cab F-150 v8 with 3 doors(or sons) the other one is my truck a 4x4 dual cab V10 off road. I love my truck as it has tons of room for the grandchildren and me. It can actually seat 7 people and I have enough seat belts for all (4 in the back 3 in front).
It has dual air bags and a wonderful stereo with surround sound and cd player. I want to have a dvd player installed in the top for the children and our trips out of state that we take as much as we can to see my mom. It will help keep the younger ones occupied since they have seen the scenery so many times.
I think it is great to have a step at the tail gate on the new trucks. I will get me a new truck in the next year or so, when my hubby's truck is paid off. But I will keep the one I have. It will probably be handed down to our youngest son, since it's way too much truck for our oldest grandson. He may inherit our sons F-150 who knows. That's mostly up to our son he may want to keep both, since he has loaned his car to a lady with 2 babies and she had no car to go to work or stores for her and the babies. He felt bad for her.
@kris182_2000 (5475)
• Canada
16 Mar 09
I think it's a great idea. I remember when I first saw the commercial for the 09 Ford. I was so amazed, and really wanted to buy one myself. But I'm a woman, and people would probably think that it's perfect for me.
But for guys, it's a modern convenience, but also a safety feature.
I would buy one myself.
