tundrwd

paauto - Yeah - no way the factory supplied bracket will work. I didn't have any running boards on mine - and like you - the driver's side was a snap. And two of the passenger brackets weren't a problem at all. Easy-peasy. BUT, that bracket by the DEF tank - no way. I guess if you had a welder, you could modify the bracket to weld a "hanger" or "tab" on it to go into the hole (I think the factory bracket has some hangers on their brackets instead of bolting through) - but I just didn't have a welder. Bad as I'd like to get one - just couldn't justify the purchase of one for this project. Not something I'd used all that much - but like so many tools, "nothing else satisfies like a Snickers". When you need it - nothing else will do. As I said - I paid someone to put them on. I never really installed the drivers side, put the parts out, mated them up, that was easy. So I started with the passenger side. Right away found it was going to be difficult. So I stayed with it trying to finish it (so I had a minimum of parts "messed up" in case I had to send the thing back). Since we were leaving for a trip soon, I decided to get them installed by someone who said it was "no problem". Well, they found out otherwise. Was at least double the time they thought it would be. They found the 2017 wasn't like earlier models - much to their chagrin. But - they've now been installed for over a year - hold up very well, and look nice on the truck. Now, I'm trying to decide on a "deer catcher" up front...

Apologize for the late reply - but wanted to reply with a definitive result. I debated quite a bit, and searched some more for prices, etc. Result was, I went to a truck accessory shop and had the Westins installed. Labor rate was $75/hr. Other places in my area (only 2 others - other than garages, etc.) wanted more since I didn't buy them from their shop. I went this route, as the DEF tank DEFINITELY HAS TO BE DROPPED unless you get some brackets similar to what 15HDriver described. Checked GM prices for their steps - ran $600-700 - from the internet. Was quoted a price of about $125 for 1.5hrs. Took a LOT longer. About 3hrs. The 2017 DEF tank is different than earlier models. Apparently (I never took mine out, but looked at it when they "bared" it), and earlier models had all the sensors, wiring, etc. on the top of the DEF tank. 2017 has moved all that to the bottom of the tank. Took them about 1.5hrs to drop it to install the bracket. Only ONE bracket required this. The other, while tight, could be done by just taking off the DEF tank cover. Anyway, they only charged me what they quoted, but guaranteed they'll charge more for 2017+ in the future. So - the Westins are installed, look good, and seem sturdy enough. I purchased the Westin HDX for the following reasons: Wanted powder coated black - no chrome. Wanted a step area that had some holes to drop mud/crud, and do a partial scrape of shoes/boots to keep it "outside" Did not want a hollow tube - water gets in - rust and corrosion sets in. Westin HDX have a "hollow" back, so you can get a high pressure sprayer back there to get the mud/crud out. Hopefully keep the rust at bay Fairly heavy duty - pretty heavyweight - didn't weigh them. But - the saga is over...

Yeah, I'd agree. What I was suspecting was just the lower portion - NO hook up above to go into the bolt hole (think just the lower half of the pic showing the bracket with hook). So - only ONE mount point on the rocker. And at it's weakest area. With a hook up top, and bolting the lower rocker lip - I think it would work ok.

That's a clearer pic, and I get how that could work with just removing the DEF cover - if Westin is sending a bracket that "hooks" on, instead of bolting up at same location (like the supplied bracket).

I've got a feeling that's what they're sending me. A bracket that just bolts on the lower lip of the rocker. Not very sturdy - but it might work when only one is like that. Provided I can get the front one on. It will be almost in line with the front of the DEF tank, so I may have similar issues with it. We'll see tonite when I get home.

Here's a link to instructions - www.westinautomotive.com/images/ePIM/original/75-1807.pdf Pics of brackets aren't the best (lack of depth to figure out which is which - definitively), parts count is wrong (parts count says they ship 8 brackets, but only 7 in box, and only 6 of which you use). Anyway, the shape of the brackets just won't go in the way the instructions say they will without heavy modification of, or around, the DEF tank itself that I can see.

Is a Sierra fundamentally different in the DEF tank than a Silverado? Cause there ain't "no way" you are installing the bracket on the Silverado without dropping the DEF tank. And I'm not even sure the DEF tank will go back on without modification. The bracket simply will NOT go where it's supposed to - and no, you can't start it from the front/end of the DEF tank and slide it to it's location - and even if you could, no way you are getting a wrench in there to tighten the upper bolt on the bracket. Either there was a redesign, and you have found one with the redesigned bracket - and I got an old one that simply had updated instructions in it - or there is a fundamental difference in DEF tank design/location between a Sierra and Silverado. If it can be done - I'd love a video/pics showing just how it can be done.

Emailed Westin - no reply. Called them Wednesday, they said "oh - due to a last minute design change by GM, we had to come up with a new bracket". Uh - the truck was mfg several months ago. They've got a website - they can't put a quick up date on it - the page specific to the model of running board/step? Anyway, they are Fed-ex'ing a replacement bracket, I should get it today (Friday), so we'll see. Right now, I'm not terribly confident that it will work the way I want it to, but we'll see.

Ordered and have a set of Westin HDX 56-13725 for my 2017 2500HD Diesel. I checked installation prior to ordering, and the instructions explicitly said that dropping the DEF tank was NOT required for installation, only the removal of the DEF tank cover. Received the running boards, checked them out, instructions matched what I downloaded. Removed the DEF tank cover, and I see NO WAY I can get the step bracket in the correct position, and even if I could, no way to torque the bolt. No videos I've found show this model, etc. - so not sure if I'm missing something, or Westin misrepresented what they have and how to install. I've emailed them, but that could take a while for them to sort out, so I'm wondering if anyone else has done this WITHOUT dropping the DEF tank?