How high is it to the average Tacoma tailgate? Power Wagons are 41" from the ground to the top of the open tailgate.
To be fair, I’m not sure, but I also installed a 2" suspension lift. I use one of those little fold out stools - they’re like 15bucks at any box store. My wife’s 5’3" and it works fine for her. I’m 5’8" and it’s a bit of a jump to get into the bed
I do know that my truck still isn’t as tall as my buddy’s stock Power Wagon though.
EDIT: The open tailgate is ~32" from the ground on a stock TRD.
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2019 Power Wagon here, on 37” tires… step ladder helps my 5yo kids get in. I’m 6’ and can get in butt first, with no step… or put a foot on the bumper, and hand on the GFC frame (V1 with panels open), and climb up.
A built in ladder sounds neat, but I also use my truck as the family minivan, and everything in between, so I try to keep the bed flexible; drawers and GFC are my only permanent/full-time mods.
You win the internet today!
The Yeti option would work for me, but exclusively camp in bear territory and have had a buddy lose a yeti to bears… So, I’ll keep the yeti in the cab for now.
Seems like the best option to make for an easy entrance while maintaining bed functionality is the step ladder. I appreciate the feedback guys! Worth noting, my wife is still recovering from a spinal injury that required surgery… Hints my attempt at being proactive in trying to find a solution.
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I’m 5’1 and use a small foldable step stool to climb in and out of the bed of my Tacoma. I’m recovering from a fractured toe and ankle and it works great. My Tacoma also has one of those dealer installed under bed steps, but don’t use that much. The side ladder is great, but after an injury, I’m still a bit unsteady on the ladder.
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this what i’ve using for a couple years now. 3/4" marine plywood screwed to the top of a milk crate. I always kept it in the bed for a step and it also works great to put stuff in so it doesn’t slide around. then when I got my Ranger and used herculiner on the bed and door sills, I also did the top for slip resistance.
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AEV Prospector XL owners be like:
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I read that Tacoma owners can enter their side doors by standing on the rear tire. On a Power wagon it is ~5’ from the top of the tire to the bottom of the tent door. I imagine on a Prospector you would need an elevator to do that 
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the gorilla ladder also folds flat and weighs nothing and will support well over 300lbs. My buddy and i were using it to put his roof top on and he weighs 260lb and I am 215lb and it was solid. it is 48" long 12" wide and 20" tall and folds to about 2" flat and weighs no more than like 5lbs. It really is a great camp item.
we use one of these(see below), and the gfc has josh edgar designs ‘step up’ which is magic (esp for the kids)
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This is what I have.
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Do the legs on the ladder adjust for unlevel ground or is that an illusion? I like how the GFC lip overlap allows play for uneven surfaces.
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If you stick to mild roads/trails, I think that bumper step would be great. Unfortunately I’ve seen it ripped off another truck when running Poison Spider in Moab.
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The one you saw probably wasn’t the Amp step. It’s bolted directly into the frame with grade 8 hardware. Not saying its not possible, but that would be quite the hit and id be worried about more than the step. When retracted it hangs about as low as the tailpipe on my tacoma.
Yea, perhaps it wasn’t ripped completely off (I can’t recall) but it was definitely damaged. It may have been the MOPAR step, I’m not sure.
Personally, I’ve banged up and bent that same corner of my bumper, so at least for me, I know that step wouldn’t work. I plan to cut the bed fenders, and get a mercenary offroad high clearance bumper, once I can afford it.
I’ve banged up my exhaust tail pipe a bit too, and plan to cut it to get it out of the way; I’ve also seen that get smashed nearly closed and need to be cut off on the trial, on another PW.
So, I might not be the typical owner, but I bought the PW and GFC so I can pretend it’s a full-size Wrangler… and because of the length of the truck, the factory approach/departure angles can get be the first things to get in the way.
If the truck is more of a strictly overland/camping vehicle, then I think that step would be perfect. Doesn’t take up bed space, and always there when you need it.
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100% same intentions with the PW + GFC combo. I have been wheeling a pretty built TJ for the last 10 years. I’ve had my PW less than a year and have already hit the exhaust a few times and nearly drug off the rear parking sensors off the bumper.
Same concern with the amp step. They look great, but I don’t want to give up any additional departure.
Yup, I damaged my rear sensors on the trail as well, and then properly removed them afterwards. Those were the first things to go. No idea why they put them in that location on these 5th gens. I think they are higher and integrated into the bumper on previous years.
Don’t mean to hijack this thread, though…
I built a slider for my hitch which helps keep in most situations from damaging the sensors and acts a step when the tailgate is up. Does no good when tailgate is down tho. it is pressed flat against the bottom of the receiver so no real loss of ground clearance. It is 1/4" plate so takes a pounding and easy to touch up with spray paint.
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Yea, I mean… that definitely wouldn’t hurt, and the hitch itself does a pretty good job of that already… but even still, the corners are left unprotected, so depending on the angle, that may not help. I’ve had cases where my hitch dragged, and prevented anything else from hitting… and cases where, due to the obstacle/angle/etc. the hitch did not hit, but my bumper corners did.
That might double as a nice step to open the tent, though… and then, if you use a ladder to get in once open, no problem about it not helping with the tailgate open.