As anyone who uses the bed of their pick up knows, it's difficult to climb into and out of the bed. For years, Joe DiCarlo and Dave Armstrong of Hopkinton, MA have either stood on the rear wheel hub or the trailer ball to hoist themselves into the bed to retrieve tools and equipment. Neither option is particularly appealing since it's easy to slip off of both. Joe and Dave work in construction landscaping and stand about 5' 8" and as their pick up trucks have gotten taller and their youth has slipped away they decided it was time to solve this problem. They wanted a step that didn't interfere with the trailer hitch and that was accessible when the tailgate was down.

They say that necessity is the mother of invention... well I am not sure that Dave wants to be called Mom but he did design the Hitch Side Step. After looking around the back of the truck - lightening struck and the simplicity of the idea hit him. Both Joe and Dave own F350's and their class 4 factory trailer hitch frames are made with 2" square tubing... which are open and face outward toward the side of the truck just behind the bumper. PERFECT! With 2" steel tubing and his trusty welding torch in hand Dave set about fabricating the first step. He tweaked and tweaked the design to get the correct angles and heights to make sure the step was inside the profile of the truck and yet easy to access with your foot. Splitting the distance between the ground and the open tailgate is important for safety just like stairs in a house are consistent heights.

While running boards help you get into the cab of the truck, Hitch Side Steps help you get into the bed of the truck. With the tailgates of many pick up trucks 3' plus above the ground - jumping off isn't child's play anymore. Prevent back injuries by stepping off the truck as easily as you stepped on.

Bill Hubley, owner of Maximum Grounds Landscaping in Upton immediately saw the value of the Hitch Side Step and ordered several for his fleet of trucks. Says Hubley, "This is a great product because it's so simple and solves such a basic problem - makes you wonder why no one thought of this before. Everyone who sees my step on my truck asks where they can get one."

Joe and Dave actively promote the product locally and nationally through auto part stores, hitch accessory retailers, rental centers, catalogs and on the web at www.hitchsidestep.com.

Says Joe and Dave, "The Hitch Side Step makes it possible for anyone who's not 20 years old and 7' tall to use their pick up trucks a lot more because getting tools and equipment in and out is so much easier. Think of women who use their pick ups to haul horse equipment, the farmer hauling vegetables, landscapers and contractors, and even children retrieving coolers and camping equipment. No more pulling up your jeans and throwing your leg up to make it into the bed."