should i?

[burton6509]

need spme help here from you guys.....should i keep my running boards on or take them off?????

 

[Mr. Dabadina]

take em off and good luck selling em

 

[JustAnotherT4R]

if your short like me (5'6") then keep them. if you can get in with out them, then take it off!

 

[shootmymime]

thats true for JustAnotherT4R... but i am tall and i keep them on (but wanting to take them off) but my old man sasys it is protecting the body from flying rocks and dirt.

i was also thinking about puting mud guards in the front and removing the runnong boards...

how well does it protect the doors and lower body???

 

[spongerx]

good point about rocks. i just put on All Terrains and those things throw a lot of rocks on the gravel roads over here. And I think my running boards keep those rocks from hitting that paint. But 4runners go look pretty good with them off.

try it out. Take them off for a few days and see how you like it. You can always put them back on.

 

[Sloan]

around how long does it take to remove?

 

[Ohio4R]

Not long, 30 minutes max. I think there is only like 12 bolts on each side.

 

[pat161]

I think the flares have more to do w/ keeping rocks off the paint. Reason I say this is that I had an 00 w/ the 265/70/16 tire package and it had the running boards w/ the really small chrome strip over the wheel wells. The whole side of my truck was chipped from rocks getting past the flares. I now have an 02 w/ the limited/sport flares and the sport tube steps and same tires, this truck has almost no rock chips and I pretty much use them the same way. So it must be the flares keeping the rocks away as I am quite sure the tube steps do nothing.

I do think the running boards keep some of the winter road grime off the paint though.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Which year and model do you have since there is a diff between the Limited/"00+ SR5's flares and running boards?

I have the older thin plastic flares and it never had running boards and had the OEM front mudflaps and they work fine even if they are just a tad less wider than my tires.

Here's a good shot of where the mud was getting past the flaps but my sides are holding up quite well now for a truck that's seen 134k miles.

 

[burton6509]

thats a pretty clean undercarrige for living in colorado... yeah i took them off and didnt really like it its showed the undercarrige and i got some rust under there so i wil keep them on plue i dont really do any mudding so theres really no point to take them off thansk everyone

 

[shootmymime]

yeah i think i might take them off for a few days... but i might also make some mudguard.... and bolt them on to protect the body... just for looks! r

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Actually we have little problems with rust in Colorado since we have very little humidity and no salt on our roads. Sand on the surface streets and major highways get the Magchloride which I give the undercarriage a rinse after every snow storm.

 

[p nut]

I am going to take mine off as soon as I get some sliders in (will have sheet metal welded in the gaps). Or if I can locate some front mud flaps, I would be willing to get rid of my running boards (probably to my GF's opposition).

 

[shootmymime]

hey RonMAIDEN
can u take a picture of ur 4runner (a side view) so i can see the mud guard compaired to the body and tire... do you have a lift?

its a little hard to tell when your on that rock.

 

[954rrmike]

I have a 99 limited and I would like to take the old man out of it by removing the running boards. They obviously add alot of side protection so I am conerned about rock chips on the front of the rear flare. I was thinking I could install rubber mup flaps on the front ferder flares to prevent this somewhat and possibly clear protection film on the rear fender flares. What have you guys done about this?

Thanks Mike
99 LTD Tundra Brake Upgrade

 

[shootmymime]

holy crap! i took the right side off for about 30 min yesterday! what an improvement! i think i will take them off for life! my aunt worked at a dealer for parts so she can get parts so so cheep! mud guards! i might get some for c-mas...

the running boards are comming off!

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Here's an old shot form a fender flare thread but you can see the tire and the mudflap

Even room when the flaps get a little clogged with snow

 

[shootmymime]

hey where did u get your mudflaps?and how much were they? im looking at getting some for c-mas! i wana do it!

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Mine came from the factory and had the running boards deleted.


You can get them here for the SR5 pre '00 of course but for $90 but I think you can find them a little cheaper somewhere else.

http://www.trademotion.com/partloca...8&make=34&model=4Runner&year=1999&catalogid=2

 

[shootmymime]

hey mine is a 96 and i allready have have fender flares... all i want it the botton mudguard for the front... the back came stock...

~original[/IMG]