Heininger HitchMate Hitch Truck Step

The TruckStep 4045 DOES work for a 2022 RAM 1500 with 6" lift & 37" tires. I was concerned that I needed the XL but felt the XL might be overkill. I was happy to pull the TruckStep 4045 out of the box & within 5 seconds have it installed & three seconds later have the tailgate down checking out the length. Happily the length is perfect in the second hole (see pics) with the entire step being visible when standing on the tailgate. I plan on Bungee'ing the TruckStep in the very rear corner of the bed (I have a tonneau cover) & pulling it out whenever needed since it installs in 3-5 seconds. I needed a solution that would work on the sand since I am on a drive-on beach 3X-4X per week & with my lift & tires it is nearly impossible for me to hop into the bed to pull out chairs, umbrellas, coolers, grills, firewood, etc., without some kind of aid. For folks on solid ground a step stool would work, but for me, a stool would sink into the stand, so I needed something that did not rest on the sand. Since I'll be pulling the TruckStep out of the bed & installing it every time I need a leg-up, it doesn't matter to me if this it in the first or second hole. As mentioned, the second hole allows the step to be fully visible when standing on the tailgate & looking down. (See all pictures to view the TruckStep on my vehicle.) Since I'm on the beach all of the time, I will periodically be coating all metal parts of the TruckStep with CRC 6-56 which is an awesome protectant against corrosion due to the salt air. I was really worried about the TruckStep 4045 not being long enough - but very happy it is & works perfectly in giving me a leg-up to easily climb into my very high truck bed.

My GMC Denali is a lot higher than my Fords very difficult to get in the bed of the truck with this step works great to get in with the tailgate up or the tailgate down my wife can use i it very happy good product well built. Great design

Awesome idea. Doesn’t fit on my truck because it hits the spare tire so can’t be collapsed.

I put it on my 2010 Ram 2500 4x4 SLT Sport. Due to the package, the bed is really high off the ground. I am 6' and getting into the bed or reaching over the tailgate is pretty tough. Climbing in is really hard.. When I have my quad in the back of the truck, it is a real pain accessing the bed or climbing up to get onto the quad.It installed it in a snap. It came with a 5/8 receiver pin, but I used my locking pin to keep good people honest. It is really nice, because the step is wide and has three positions. One is stowed and on my Ram it is just behind the bumper so no worries about damaging it if I back into something. Next position is slightly out, which allows you to easily step up with the tailgate up and reach in the bed or step over the tailgate to get in. The last position is fully extended which allows you to step up and onto the tailgate if the tailgate is down. The step is very stable so stepping on it out you shouldn't loose your balance. Each position locks in place by a spring loaded pin, so all you have to do is pull the pin outward and move the step into whichever position you need, release the pin as your sliding the step and it locks into the next position. The tube bottom profile is pretty high, so I don't see it bottoming out unless I am driving off a cliff. Overall the construction is sturdy and straight forward simple. It seems to be pretty corrosion resistant, but time will tell on that. I live in a rain forest on the ocean in SE Alaska so we will see how long it lasts....

Works great misses spare tire perfect if you have to get in the back of your truck

Did not feel secure, rattled too much. Returned

Love this product, fit and finish is perfect, functions perfectly.Its very stout product, handles my weight well, and trust me, I weigh a lot!However, there are a few suggestions I want to give you ....- For longer tailgates, like the one on my 2015 F150, you will need to install the HitchMate on the first hole on the tow hitch so the step clears the tailgate when fully extended. However, even when in the stored position, this puts the HitchMate farther out on the hitch than I prefer.So I installed it closer to the hitch, on the 2nd hole so it doesn't stick out to far when stored. However, this does mean the step is slightly covered by the tailgate even when the HitchMate is fully extended, but I have no issues stepping up on to the tailgate. This can be tricky if you need to use the step when stepping back down. I don't use the step when stepping down, I only need a bit of help getting on the tailgate because of how high these new trucks are.- Pulling out the step to store can be a little tricky if you are trying to pull it straight out. You need to push it slightly down as you pull it back towards you to get it to disengage properly and put back in the stored position. I almost returned it thinking it was stuck until I figured out to make sure it pulls out properly

It's TOO SHORT. Max measurement from receiver to back end of step is only 21.5", and not the 23.5" as described. PLUS - unfortunately, I assumed they would measure from the receiver to the front side of the step, since that it what matters. When down, the end/top of the tailgate on 2013 F150 is about 19.5" our from the receiver. The step would need to be at least that far out. A little more would be better. This step is mostly under the gate. Makes it less than optimal to use getting up, and completely useless for getting down.If your gate size and/or receiver placement gives you 19" or less from receiver to end of gate, ten this will probably work for you.It seems well built. Aside from the issue with the length of the step bar, it looks like a good design.Heininger website shows a Truckstep XL, #4037, "coming soon", with no spec's given.