Running boards to ditch or not

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Schargedtaco

New member
Need solid oppinions. So for the longest time I've been running with the running boards on stock height. I've felt at least on my rig the add to the body lines and give the truck a more luxery look although not as rugged. I just had a lift installed and although it looks good with them still it just seems like there allitle more out of place now do to the new lift. Also it would obviously make the truck that much more lifted. It sucks as prelift I actually liked the whole boards look more than non running board stock runners but it seems i have no choice now but to pull em. Any views on this would be awesome. I rarely heavy offroad so clearence issues wouldn't be of concern.
 

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I took mine off, due to the more rugged look that you described.

The running boards also made getting in and out of the T4R a little awkward, so I was glad to ditch them.
 
I have a 4th gen so obviously mine is a little different, but I took my running boards off last weekend and I love it!! I don't think I'll ever put them back on. :biggrin2:
 
I was skeptical on taking mine off for months, then I got bored and took them off, I regret don't doing it sooner.
 
If you don't drive off road, I would keep them. A little easier to get in and out (would have made a huge difference driving my wife home from surgery), and they will save you seats from additional wear and tear since you can stand on the board and plop yourself straight down.
 
I like the look of the boards, I think they keep some of the crap off the body as well. I'll keep mine on and if I end up bashing them off road I'll remove them then. I'm not sure why guys take em off....looks?
 
I prefer the look of sliders plus the added clearance is nice.
They are also great to defend the side of your truck from Cadillac doors in parking lots.
 

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Suncoast said:
I like the look of the boards, I think they keep some of the crap off the body as well. I'll keep mine on and if I end up bashing them off road I'll remove them then. I'm not sure why guys take em off....looks?
Click to expand...

I took them off because my feet barely fit on them anyway, and I can't tell you how many times my pants got dirty from sliding up against them.

Although yes, I do also feel the truck looks better without them.
 
Leave them on. No clearance issue. They no longer visually lower the stance now that your truck is lifted. They assist ingress and egress. Most important, they are excellent mud flaps. They offer complete coverage and protection from the grit, sand, and other debris thrown by the front wheels. I took them off my 99 Ltd and installed front mud flaps. I like the removed look to my unlifted 4r but mostly want to avoid trail damage and increase ground clearance. Come winter I saw how much crap was getting flung past the mud flaps so i reinstalled the running boards. I'll figure out a way to install longer removable mud flaps this spring
 
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I think this is a common issue to address for most of us.

Being a new owner I just went through this myself. Here's what I came up with for my situation:

Keeping them on
Wife and kids get in/out easier
Keeps road gunk off doors
Gives the truck a nicer luxury aesthetic

Taking them off
Pant legs won't get dirty during entry/exit (this was happening a lot)
Truck appears lifted and has more aggressive stance
Increases ground clearance for future offroad adventures

I decided to take them off and try it out to see if I liked it. Now I'm a fan!

My Runner is my daily driver, so I didn't mind setting up to be optimal for me and not potential passengers (we have a minivan for that stuff). It's a 13-year-old truck so I'm OK if road grime splashes up on it. I prefer the more aggressive stance better than the luxury look. My pants legs no longer have white lines from road salt on them. I rigged up a grab handle for the 5-year-old who had some trouble getting in the back seat.

Here's a crappy cell before/after picture of mine:
v5bmh4.jpg


Ultimately I think it comes down to personal preference and how you use your truck. There is no 'right' or 'wrong' answer here. As one poster above suggested, try it and see if you like it because you can always put them back on rather easily.
 
I'm in the Keep Them On camp. I personally like the look.

Also not sure how much "ground clearance" is achieved by taking them off. Although I've never run a straight edge under the belly of the 4runner with them on, but at first glance it looks like the cross member and skids hang down just as low. I supposed you do gain clearance between the front and rear wheels when negotiating obstacles but I doubt you gain much in total break-over angle anyway.
 
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