A door-operated boarding step for trucks, and the like, has a first step member and a second step member telescopingly attached to one another, with the first step member being mountable on a vehicle beneath a door of the vehicle so as to permit the second step member to be extended relative to the first step member on opening of the vehicle door by an operator connected to the second step member and the door for providing a step beneath the door which facilitates movements between a cab of the truck and the surface supporting the vehicle. Extension of the second step member is done against the bias of a spring connected to the first step member and second member, which spring is deflected sufficiently to retract the second step member relative to the first step member when the door is moved from an open mode to the normal, closed mode.

A step assembly for mounting to a vehicle frame under the vehicle door. The step assembly includes a rotatably mounted bracket which carries a tread plate. Also included in the assembly are a small reversible electric motor, a screw actuator for the movable bracket, and an electrical system which positions the step tread either in an extended position in front of and below the vehicle door, or in a retracted position nested against the frame of the vehicle. In its preferred form, the electrical system of the step assembly automatically moves the tread plate to extended position when the vehicle door is open, and retracts the tread plate to nested position when the vehicle door is closed.

A boarding step for trucks, construction equipment and other vehicles having hinged entrance doors comprises a telescoping support arm having on its inner end means for attachment to a first frame member beneath the vehicle and on its outer end a step. One end of a lever is pivotally connected to the vehicle frame and the other end to the outer segment of the telescoping support arm. Flexible link means interconnects the outer segment of the support arm and the door. Resilient means interconnects the outer segment of the support arm and a second frame member. Opening the door swings the step outwardly and downwardly to its extended use position. Closing the door permits the resilient means to shift the step inwardly and upwardly to its retracted storage position.

A folding step apparatus (38) is provided for vehicles having either a hinged door (26) or a sliding door (26'). The apparatus includes two parallel step supporting members (44) pivotally attached to the underside of the vehicle for adjustably supporting a step (42) or plurality of steps. A spring member (46) is used to bias the supporting members (44) and attached steps to a retracted position beneath the vehicle. A cable (64) has a first end attached to the locking end of the door and a second end attached to a front one of the supporting members (44). The cable is at least partially disposed within a hollow cord (70) which extends through portions of the vehicle frame. Opening the vehicle door causes the folding step assembly (38) to pivot about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal horizontal axis (36) of the vehicle, thereby extending the step assembly (38) for facilitating easy boarding of the vehicle.

A step holding member has a first end which is insertable into a receiver-type trailer hitch and a second end which is adapted for holding a step member for stepping onto the tailgate of a pickup truck. In another embodiment of the invention the step holding member telescopes in and out towards a side of a pickup truck allowing for easy storage when telescoped in. In a third embodiment the step holding member folds inwards from the pickup towards the trailer hitch for storage. A fourth embodiment is adapted for mounting directly onto a trailer hitch drawbar so that the hitch may be used for towing with the step in place for use.