When I got my new ranger Sport home from the dealership today, the first thing I did was to remove the side step bars. Very easy to do on a new truck with no gunk on the bolts.

Question. I left the two front mounting bolts on the truck on both sides. I tighten the nuts up snug and on the bigger hole, I put on big washer on the bolt to cover up the hole. Is this what I should do or should I lift up the rubber mat and remove the bolts from the inside of the cab, and if so, is there a rubber piece I should put in the bolt holes. Stupid question I know, but I like to do things right on a new vehicle. Thanks!

The dealer might have some of those rubber plugs from installing step bars - maybe yours?

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2006 4.0 5 spd auto 4x4 Super Cab
BF Goodrich Commercial Traction T/A's
Royal Purple Throughout
Alpine Head Unit with some Infinity Noisy Stuff
NW Oregon

The main thing was to keep water from getting up into the holes. I guess a big washer is just as good as the actual step bar mounting bracket for covering up the holes when you put the nut back on the mounting bolt. I like the non step bar look for now, but in the future, I may want to put some back on so I am going to leave the bolts in place for the future. I am way to anal when it comes to this type of stuff!!

I would just leave the bolts there. Unless you plan on selling them.

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i just left the nuts on the studs when i took mine off

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2021 F150 5.0 Screw

Past:18 F150 2.7, 16 F150 5.0, 14 F150 5.0, 07 F150 5.4, 03 Ranger 4.0

Master Certified Ford Parts / Warranty Admin

you guys have holes in the inside of your truck for the step bars??

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2001 Ranger Edge Super Cab
4.0L SOHC 4.10 l/s Rear
3" Summit Body Lift
15x10 D Window Rims 3.76" Backspace
33x12.50 Goodyear Duratracs

Just a hole through the floor for the bolt to go through.

There is a rubber grommet over the access hole.

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Man I feel stupid!!!!! I just did not water to be able to collect somewhere in my cab. When I take something off the bottom of a vehicle, I cant stand to see an open hole. In my mind, when I took the steps off, I saw these two big holes in the bottom of the cab and I told myself that I had better seal then off to keep water out. Of course, if the truck did not have the steps to begin with, those holes would still be there but the rubber would keep water out of the cab. I managed to turn something that took all of 30 minutes to do and turned it into something to be super anal about. In other words......this thread is a big wast of your time to answer a dumb question. Sorry About that!!

Ok lemme revive this for a sec, because i'm going to be doing the same thing this week.

My dealership said those hole wouldn't be covered anyways without the steps' bolts, since they were meant to evacuate liquids.

So you guys say there are supposed to be rubber plugs from factory? Can i buy them from an auto part store?

I'm really tired of arguing with ford, i'd rather ask here now.