Stepping Out
When Jeanne Wilterink steps out of her lifted 1999 Ford F-250 Crew Cab, people often smirk or make a comment: At 4-foot-11, it's a long way down to the pavement. The only way to make this tall truck workable for her was to install electric runningboards. The steps automatically extend when the doors open, so Jeanne can easily climb in and out. Standard runningboards were way too high for Jeanne to use without having to hop.
Jeanne, who works as a surgical nurse, and her husband Brian love to work and play hard. They want a truck to haul motorcycles, camping gear, and home-improvement supplies. Jeanne prefers a crew cab with a bench seat to fit as many people as possible. To reach the pedals, she moves the driver's seat all the way forward, leaving her 6-foot-2 husband with his own challenges to get behind the wheel.
Inside the center flip-down console, Jeanne is organized and fully prepared for any emergency with pens, wet wipes, antiseptic swipes, dental floss, a tire gauge, and a Leatherman multipurpose tool. The exterior provides impressive storage space for bringing along friends and camping equipment. Practical additions include a Roll-N-Lock retractable bed cover, a brushed-aluminum fuel door, and a bed extender to secure everything from bikes to building supplies. Jeanne says it gives her great joy to have friends call to ask to borrow the truck."I have a sense of accomplishment that I'm driving this thing," she says. "I feel more empowered." She's noticed she gets more attention in her truck--especially when she steps out of it.