The best products are designed for their function and utility — whether it’s a killer bait or a tool for the boat, they make things easier and more efficient. Using the right products for the appropriate job, like the BoatEFX Trailer Steps, is better than using something you cobbled together or another tool being used outside the scope of what it was designed for.
Patching something together with Scotch tape and bailing wire to create some kind of Rube Goldberg machine is never as good as using the product that’s designed for that specific task. Function and form indeed follow parallel paths if you trace them from what they were designed for in the first place.
I tell young folks all the time: “Don’t make the easy things hard.” And rest assured, having the right tools and the best products might cost a little more, but it can ultimately make the whole experience better.
Don’t get me wrong, I am all about customizing and tinkering, but starting with the best keeps us from doing too much of that. My grandpa loved gadgets, innovation, and tools, and he also loved it when things worked as they were designed to work. No question, my grandpa would have loved the BoatEFX Trailer Steps.
Grandpa’s Rule of Thumb
Grandpa used to say, “You cannot make a hammer out of a pair of pliers.” Having the correct and best tools, simply put, makes the job easier plus it also means fewer skinned knuckles. There were no 12-point sockets, wood handled screwdrivers, or Model A Ford knucklebuster wrenches in his shop. “Every tool has its true purpose,” he would say.
I cannot tell you how many times I have gotten in a boat where duct tape, tie wraps, and wire nuts were the rule. Did they work? You bet. But ultimately, the negatives outweighed the positives.
A Better Mousetrap
BoatEFX’s line of trailer step models includes 40 different models with three- and four-step configurations that have different heights between steps to best fit different combinations of boats and trailers. So, your trailer and boat model will determine which steps you buy. They are manufactured and powder coated in-house.
They also come equipped with an optional, adjustable, and sturdy top-step handle with 360 degrees of adjustability that can be used when entering and exiting the boat for even more stability. Even with the handle installed, a trailer will still fit through a standard 7-foot-tall garage door.
The steps also feature glow-in-the-dark step indicators and a two-part powder paint finish that resists scuffs and rock dings. BoatEFX also offers color matching so you can have your steps match your boat or trailer. You can order add-on Foam Trax pads for each step that can also be color-matched to your boat.
Installation
The BoatEFX Trailer Steps are simple to install, with a three- or five-bolt pattern depending on the model. It’s best to tackle the task with two people, but we found they could be installed solo, too.
The strategically placed gussets add strength and provide sturdiness to the steps, plus they look good. Once installed, the BoatEFX Trailer Steps are solid as a rock and even larger guys will trust them. For a step-by-step guide on boat trailer step installation, go here.
Final Thoughts
You may be able to find similar steps for less, but $489.99 retail for the BoatEFX Trailer Steps, to me, seems to be a bargain after using them for a few months. They are also U.S.-made, plus, the company’s customer service is second to none; they can guide you through both purchase and installation. These steps would easily get the Grandpa Seal of Approval.
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