Running Boards!

[jdmidwest]

The 3rd gen running boards seem to serve a purpose, they catch alot of rocks tossed up from the tires. But it looks better to take them off. Any thoughts?

 

[nquaint]

theres already a bunch of threads discussing it, but the general consensus is if you're a real man then you take them off... then sell them to an elderly couple with a base model on craigslist.

 

[Running-Riot]

theres already a bunch of threads discussing it, but the general consensus is if you're a real man then you take them off... then sell them to an elderly couple with a base model on craigslist.

LOL. I love that.

Now that you mention it though, I rarely see the elderly in a T4R. Oh well, just a side note.

It's all preference, they're not necessary for us able-bodied folks, so if you like how it looks without them, go right ahead.

 

[JohnsD90]

The 3rd gen running boards seem to serve a purpose, they catch alot of rocks tossed up from the tires. But it looks better to take them off. Any thoughts?

Tonight i was gonna take them off but as i was in the process my father told me that when i wheeling if i hit a branch on the ground and it tried to kick up the runinng boards would work as a shield and help deflect it from hitting the doors and denting them, and it also works as mudflaps.

 

[nquaint]

yes thats true but they also hinder you quite a bit while on the trail, expect them to be banged up pretty bad after a day of wheeling. I took mine off and made some money on them instead of destroying them on the trail.

 

[JohnsD90]

yes thats true but they also hinder you quite a bit while on the trail, expect them to be banged up pretty bad after a day of wheeling. I took mine off and made some money on them instead of destroying them on the trail.

i'd rather bang up the boards than the doors but thats just my opinion.

 

[Pikeman]

That is why I took mine off also, I did bang them up pn the trails. I replaced them with some good rock sliders to maintain actual protection instead of very minor protection. Even with my rock sliders ticking out pretty good they are higher and offer better ground/obstacle clearance.

edit: you can have a piece of expanded mesh metal welded as an insert to catch rocks between the tubes but it will still allow water and mud to not collect.

 

[Mr. B]

That is why I took mine off also, I did bang them up pn the trails. I replaced them with some good rock sliders to maintain actual protection instead of very minor protection. Even with my rock sliders ticking out pretty good they are higher and offer better ground/obstacle clearance.

edit: you can have a piece of expanded mesh metal welded as an insert to catch rocks between the tubes but it will still allow water and mud to not collect.

My dad also told me to leave them on because they do act as a huge ass mud/rock guard. But after wheeling it once, the running boards got into some major contact so i took them off. I'm just gonna run rock sliders just like Pikeman stated.

 

[96743runner]

I've been thinking about this topic too. If they didn't keep unwanted crap off the sides of the truck, then they would have been off a long time ago.

 

[jdmidwest]

Just running down gravel roads, they deflect alot of rocks coming off of the tires. It keeps the doors and mirrors from getting banged around. My buddy has a base model 99 and after a day running gravel roads in hunting season, his side windows are mud covered from crap tossed up by the tires.

 

[2000runr]

simple green works wonders in removing grime and other good stuff. remove the running boards, your 4runner will look ridiculously better. unless you have a HUGE lift and a really short wife then you dont need them.

 

[bju96]

I prefer the look without them, but I have one of those aforementioned short wives plus I do use the running boards myself when loading the cargo box on top of the truck. Also, my truck has the black plastic trim pieces around the wheel wells which wouldn't look right without the boards, IMO.

 

[Qyota]

I just took mine off yesterday. I like the look, but I might put them back on for winter. I can see a problem with snow/slush/ice/salt collecting on the door bottoms. Either that, or find some mud flaps for the front that don't look weird hanging off the wide painted flares.

 

[Houston]

If you want to off road ditch the running boards, your going to have to do something crazy to hit the rocker panels on a 4 runner. The running boards easily get damaged and do not provide much protection , I've herd of people damaging the rocker panels from the running boards buckling into them, where as they could have done the same obstacle without them and cleared it.



Stay on the road, keep boards. Go off, ditch them quick. Since your asking this question read up on a lot of basics about off road driving before you venture out, tire pressure, gear selection, entry and departure angles, walking terrain, ect.

 

[Martinjmpr]

It's a no-brainer to me.

Before:

After:

As the people on another board said, it's a lot easier on the vehicle if you take the boards off yourself instead of waiting for the rocks to do it for you. :wink2:

BTW, if anybody in the Denver area wants some running boards, PM me. $20 and they're yours, hardware included.

 

[Pikeman]

simple green works wonders in removing grime and other good stuff. remove the running boards, your 4runner will look ridiculously better. unless you have a HUGE lift and a really short wife then you dont need them.

No longer have the short wife, but I do have a 3 year old and a 6 year old that use my rocksliders as a step and they told me it is easier then the running boards. This is even after the SS 1.2 lift and the 285/75.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Here is my '97 when the boards were removed and added Bushwacker flares and just a set of cheap mudflaps.

And my '99 never had them and came with the optional front flaps from the dealer.

 

[piperoo]

I like mine on....even though I do have a 2WD base model...but with them off you can see the undercarriage...and my undercarriage was all sprayed black too and looks good...I just prefer the running boards.

 

[rubbman]

Well I guess I am one of the lucky few to own a wheeler and a 4runner so I left my running boards on for ease of washing my truck and loading my boy's!

 

[az4runner02]

Below are detailed instructions regarding the removal of running boards...

Step 1: Pull off the running boards

Step 2: Throw them in the dumpster!!

Step 3: :banana: