Running Boards or not?

[Zinarac]

My 93 4Runner did noy come with running boards, but I am considering picking up a pair at the toyota recyclers because I think they look good on the 4runner and also because people seem to have trouble getting into my stock 4runner.

What do you guys think about running boards? I know I will lose some clearance when I am 4-wheeling, but how hard are they to take off?

Will the running boards bolt on if the 4runner did not originally come with them on there?

 

[kiaorabro]

Hey there, My first post.

I am a fan of running boards myself, they look good and if they are mounted and right and solid enough they can protect your vehicle to a certain extent.

 

[Zinarac]

Do you know how easy they are to put on/take off for 4-wheeling clearance?

 

[n8buddy]

each stock running board has 3 brackets, each with 2 bolts. the bolts themselves are pretty easy to get at, so as long as they're not rusted they come off or go on pretty quick. also there are little plastic peices that connects the board to the wheel wells, 2 screws on each i think.

 

[Zinarac]

For the people that don't think I should put running boards on my 4runner, can you tell me why you think I shouldn't?

 

[n8buddy]

personally i didnt like the look. i was ok with them for a while but having them off makes it look more aggressive/more ground clearance. also mine were falling apart the previous owner used wood screws in some places to hold the peices together. the thing i miss is how they protect the sides of the body from stones etc.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

If you off road it only takes one solid hit and they'll fold like the aluminum they are.

I know the easy trails I've done running boards wouldn't have fared well and am glad mine never had 'em.

Don't run real trails and are mostly a street vehicle then slap some on.

 

[K_Labs]

Hi there I am going to have to throw in my 2 cents. Well for starters trying to get in your car fast when u just install the running boards will result in a head smack on the top of the door arch. Been there done that quite a few times... ANY BODY ELSE? And second because of this little problem I still have them on but i never use them.... If u find humor in others suffering install them and laugh at your friends when they hit their heads!!! I know I do.

 

[SlowYourRoll]

Mine came with them,
things i liked-
- more chrome
- protects the side from rocks and mud
- blocks view of big ugly gas tank under thier

I took them off simply because the stance looks much more aggresive especaily when your standing right next to the truck. And because they weigh a lot so the less weight the better the 3.0 will move me around. And for clearance while wheeling: I would recomend leaving them off.

 

[Zinarac]

Thanks for posting the pics of your 4Runner with and without the running boards. I like the look of the running boards but I'm not sure if I want to lose the clearance yet. As of right now, I guess I will hold of on getting running boards, but still may consider getting them.

Where is the best place to pick some up if I ever wanted to. I was looking into the local Toyota recycling place. They are asking $80 each. Does that seem like a reasonable deal?

 

[skywalker1020]

I might go the other way!
I've considered removing my running boards. I've never used them except a few times to load stuff on the roof. I like my truck to look as simple as possible... no extraneous stuff on there. My problem with removing them is that there would be no protection from rocks and debris that gets kicked up by the front tires. I'm a baby about the paint job! Does anyone know if there is a front mud flap available from Toyota or elswhere?

 

[SlowYourRoll]

You can go down to NAPA and buy some molded ones that look almost identical to the rear ones. I just went to the salvage yard and stole some little ones off a pathfinder and then drilled holes through them to match the holes left in the wheel well from the side peices on the running boards. I can post a picture sometime if you want, they don't work near as good as what the running boards provided as far as protection, but they look cool and at low speeds will keep a good amount of mud of te he side of the truck.

 

[Zinarac]

Mine came with front mud flaps stock since it did not have running boards. I never even knew that was an option.

 

[fourwd1]

Great on mall crawlers and grocery getters.

 

[mosshorn]

I have mine on right now, but 'm considering taking mine off and getting some molded ones at NAPA like someone above said

 

[King L0bster]

I've never been a fan of running boards for an off-roading rig. Personally, if you cant get in your truck dont drive it.

 

[Zinarac]

I've never been a fan of running boards for an off-roading rig. Personally, if you cant get in your truck dont drive it.

I don't plan on doing much off-roading considering my 4Runner is at stock height and running stock tires. Any off-roading that I have done and may do in the future has not been anything where clearance is much of on issue.

I don't have a problem getting into my 4Runner without running boards so it is not an issue for me. It is more of a looks thing. I like the way the running boards look on the 4Runners, but realize I would lose quite a bit of clearance.

 

[King L0bster]

Hey man its your rig, if you want em on there go for it. I'm not trying to be one of those people telling you want to do/not to do, thats just my opinion. In the right applications, i.e. NOT a Jeep Liberty, they look good. (Not to rag on Jeeps.)

 

[croatiangirl74]

Running boards or not?

To each its own with that subject, I guess. My 2004 came with it but the previous owner did not have them on. After a while I decided to put them back on for various reasons. One being that I live in Germany the parking spaces are a little tight. If somebody opens their doors too far they hit my running boards not my car, so good luck Second they put a huge amount of salt on the roads here, and in the winter it is nice because the mud flaps and the running board combination keep a lot of dirt away. Just have to rinse the bottoms of my running boards really good in the winter Third my Mom who is a bit older uses them all the time to get into what she calls the "monster mothership"! And anything for my Mom! I find them very practical when you wash your car, I step on them and easily reach the roof. And when I go to Croatia and drive a gravel road you can hear all the little rocks hitting the bottom of the running board, better that than my paint! But if I took it off road, I would take them off, so I do not have to worry about beating the hell out of them. And since they are sooooo easy to take off it is a matter of minutes in the garage, even a woman can do it However I do not discriminate the people who choose to keep theirs off, it is just a matter of personal opinion!

 

[skinnadoor]

I've never been a fan of running boards for an off-roading rig. Personally, if you cant get in your truck dont drive it.

You know i just got my 94 SR5 a few weeks ago, and it's in excellent shape, however i decided just to see what it would look like with the running boards off and i think it looks pretty nice. I'm not just tossing them in my basement, the underneath has been undercoated since birth, and i'm going to remove the plastic off them and take all the rust off with an angle grinder.. and re-paint them.

I'm goign to clean the mounts and paint them as well, underneath where the running boards attatch. I'l post some pics later on today of my 13 year old running boards, before i restor them.

To each his own but she does look a little meaner with them off.