Removing running boards

[Sammy]

I still have the factory running boards on my lariat and am thinking of removing them. Anyone decide to remove them? I do have the front mud guards. Any inputs? Pro's & Cons of removing them?

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[AzScorpion]

They're only bolted to the body and should come off easy. I would put the bolts back in just to protect the threads in case you ever want to put them back on one day.

 

[Junior Blue]

I still have the factory running boards on my lariat and am thinking of removing them. Anyone decide to remove them? I do have the front mud guards. Any inputs? Pro's & Cons of removing them?

Hi Sammy
I removed my running boards a few years ago. I installed the power folding boards. The OEM bolts have lock tight on them, they'll be a little to remove. It would be helpful if you have a helper to hold the boards as you loosen them, so that they don't come crashing down as they get loosened. Be careful, have a good time.

Junior Blue 2019 Lariat Screw
Pete

 

[LaBalbe]

I think that the two biggest pros of having them are:
1) You have a roof rack that they would be helpful in reaching
2) There are (temporarily) vertically-challenged members of your family who could use them to enter the truck. If you're thinking about removing them, you obviously don't qualify for this, so the big question is whether you have any munchkins or junior munchkins that might benefit.

 

[Zappy]

I added running boards after I noticed some wear on the edge of the seat caused when I would slide out of the truck. The addition of the running boards gives me something to step on so I wasn't sliding out. So, something minor, but worth considering.

 

[Davidjc]

I think that the two biggest pros of having them are:
1) You have a roof rack that they would be helpful in reaching
2) There are (temporarily) vertically-challenged members of your family who could use them to enter the truck. If you're thinking about removing them, you obviously don't qualify for this, so the big question is whether you have any munchkins or junior munchkins that might benefit.

3. You have a lift kit and everyone needs the steps together in. ?

 

[Tom_C]

I have them on my lariat, and they are awkward for me. I'm not too tall, at 5'11", but not short enough that they help me. I tried to get into the habit of using them, but it just never felt right, and now I just step over them, and get my legs dirty getting out of the truck.

My wife does use them though, so I'd never take them off. And also, they help protect from road debris, and more importantly in my view, idiots and car doors. I still park as far away from idiots as I can, but they have a habit of finding those of us who care about our vehicles, don't they?

 

[Chris M]

I have them on my lariat, and they are awkward for me. I'm not too tall, at 5'11", but not short enough that they help me. I tried to get into the habit of using them, but it just never felt right, and now I just step over them, and get my legs dirty getting out of the truck.

My wife does use them though, so I'd never take them off. And also, they help protect from road debris, and more importantly in my view, idiots and car doors. I still park as far away from idiots as I can, but they have a habit of finding those of us who care about our vehicles, don't they?

Exactly why I have mine. All of what you just said, exactly.

 

[Awg9Tech]

Exactly why I have mine. All of what you just said, exactly.

Same here.

I consider mine rocker guards more than running boards. And to me, they are too close to the truck to be considered a step.

 

[RangerPNW]

I agree with the sentiment that mine act more as rocker guards, I have the GoRhino RB20 steps (my lariat amazingly didn't come with any), and I love how much crud they keep off the side of my truck. Those in conjunction with my Rokblokz mud flaps do a remarkable job of keeping the side of my truck "clean".

 

[LaBalbe]

My lariat came with them, and while I don't use them much myself (I'm 5'10"), the wife and next generation use them all the time. I will occasionally use them when my bad knee is stiff and doesn't want to bend too much; then I can break up the climb into the truck into two steps that don't require as much knee-bend, so for that reason alone, I'd probably keep them even if the family didn't use them.

They probably also saved the passenger side from getting too much damage when the wife took out a wrought-iron fence at Starbucks a couple of years ago, so that was an added bonus.

 

[5thranger]

I leave my running boards on because of the ruggedness I feel when driving my garage queen that never leaves a paved road and never gets put in 4x4

 

[subquark]

I still have the factory running boards on my lariat and am thinking of removing them. Anyone decide to remove them? I do have the front mud guards. Any inputs? Pro's & Cons of removing them?

If you don't need them and prefer the look without them - take 'em off.

I have to have running boards (medical condition - I'm short and fat). =p

As others have said, stick the bolts back in (on my XL, no running boards and just bare painted holes).

how I feel standing on my running boards

 

[hookem57]

I still have the factory running boards on my lariat and am thinking of removing them. Anyone decide to remove them? I do have the front mud guards. Any inputs? Pro's & Cons of removing them?

6 Bolts per side. Easy off. I changed mine no problem.

 

[got3fords]

My running boards are what sticks out the furthest, so it's the first thing that can get hit when people in lower cars slam open their doors. I am 6'1" and use them every time. As someone said, it keeps me from sliding off the edge of the seat. I like to sort of lower myself down onto the seat.

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