Vehicle auxiliary assist step assembly

Abstract

A step support for mounting an exterior assist step on a vehicle body structure comprises a U-shaped tubular support member having a pair of intermediate portions interconnecting a step-supporting portion and a pair of spaced free ends which are mounted to the body structure, with the intermediate and step-supporting portions projecting outwardly of the vehicle. A plurality of pairs of aligned upper and lower through holes are formed in the step-supporting portion for receiving bolts therethrough to mount the step on the support. A reinforcing collar is formed integrally on the tubing adjacent each through hole by flow drilling to enable tightening of the fasteners to clamp the step and support together without deforming the tubing. A pair of auxiliary support stirrups are each welded to the tubular support member and have their free ends adjustably mounted on the body structure to the body structure to provide a 4-point mounting of the tubular support member on the body structure. Each stirrup is made from tubing that is flattened at the stirrup bottom where it engages the tubular support member and is resistance projection welded thereto.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.