5 extras you should retrofit on a used GWM Steed 5E
Wedging open a crack in the South African bakkie market is a tough task, because our buyers are extremely brand-loyal. But that’s exactly what GWM managed to do with their Steed range: low-priced and sturdy bakkies, capable of doing proper bakkie things, and robust enough to survive actual work. There’s always room for improvement, though, and these 5 extras will help to make your Steed 5E even more capable (and look better too).
Seeing as the GWM Steed 5E is only available in double-cab format, these accessories have all been chosen to enhance double-cab Steeds. Similar items are available for single-cab models as well, but the pricing and appearance may differ from those for the double-cab Steed. Some items are also available from the dealership, and be fitted there as well.
1. Running boards (from ~ R3 200)
In keeping with the Steed 5E’s slightly utilitarian slant, the basic Steed 5E (SX trim) does without side steps. They are added to the more-upmarket Xscape derivatives as standard, but these aluminium side steps look a lot more upmarket, and should be sturdier than the Xscape’s standard items as well.
2. Tonneau cover (from ~ R3 000)
This isn’t available as standard from the factory, but is a sensible and affordable aftermarket add-on. The clip-on cover depicted in this image is really easy to operate, and need no rope-tying skills to open or close. This way, you can gain a little extra load bay security, reduce your fuel consumption, and improve your bakkie’s appearance – all in one go. For more security, you could also consider a solid load bay cover or a rolling shutter, but those are a lot more expensive. Those do make it more difficult to carry physically large items in the load bay, though, because the solid units can be more difficult to remove when needed.
3. Tow bar (from ~ R3 500)
When you need to move a bigger load than the Steed’s load bay can handle, you can always expand the available capacity by towing a trailer. It’s important to invest in a quality tow bar, however, as failure at this point will have a disastrous result for yourself as well as other road users. In addition, a strong tow bar can act as an additional rear bumper, reducing the chances of body damage to your bakkie in the event of a light rear-end collision.
4. Canopy (from ~R8 000)
If you need even better security for the load bay, a wide variety of canopies are available for the GWM Steed double-cab. The least-expensive canopies are made of fibreglass, before progressing through metal canopies to foldable stainless steel/canvas units. Accordingly, their prices will also vary considerably, so choose the one that best suits your budget and requirements.
5. Nudge bar (from ~R7 500)
This is a purely cosmetic upgrade, and serves very little practical purpose. It does however add a nice measure of extra attitude and aggression to the Steed’s frontal appearance, and could even help to mitigate the effects that a (very) light collision can have on the condition of the bakkie’s standard bumper. It also provides a convenient mounting place for extra spotlights in front, which will bring obvious appearance- and practical benefits of their own.
