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Joanne Elves/The Globe and Mail

Carr HD Hitch Step

Available at: Canadian Tire, Action Car and Truck Accessories

Price: $49.99

Jumping in and out of the box on any sized pickup truck is always a struggle. You have to get that one foot up on the bumper, grab the gate or the side rail and pull yourself up. Maybe that's easy for some people, but I have never done it with finesse.

Finally there is a gadget to give me a stylish, fold-up step that mounts in a standard hitch receiver that took seconds to install.

Now I can pull the spring-loaded 6-by-12 centimetre sturdy aluminum step down with the toe of my shoe. It's the perfect height for a graceful step. I use only one out-stretched hand for balance rather than to awkwardly pull myself up using both.

When the step is not in use, it folds flush with the hitch face so that anyone walking by doesn't gouge a shin.

The Carr HD Hitch Step is heavy weight and solidly constructed with a load capacity of 650 pounds.

If you have questions about driving or car maintenance, please contact our experts at globedrive@globeandmail.com.

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