Running boards?

[Jigfishn10]

15 hours ago, gimruis said:

May I ask why?
 

As far as I can tell based on the responses, it primarily seems to be an age-related thing.

No, not just age. I don't get vertical (jump) like I used to.  

[J Francho]

Nope, they look terrible.

[volzfan59]

1 hour ago, MN Fisher said:

I want my old '98 WT-1500 back. V-6, 2WD, 5-speed manual...sucker got 27mpg highway...ya, that was the stated rating and a trip from MN to MA proved it to me.

My Dodge gets a whopping 13 mpg! I keep the tires properly inflated, tuned up, change the air filter twice a year. Still, 13 is the best I get around here.

 

1 hour ago, gimruis said:

2WD trucks are a bad idea here.  Actually anything rear wheel drive is a bad idea if its you're primary vehicle.  Sandbags and wheels spinning...been there done that.

I live in southern Arkansas, nine miles from Louisiana. It's flat and we rarely have snow or ice. If I look west, I can see TX, east and I can see MS. Okay, that last part is and exaggeration ?

[CountryboyinDC]

 

 

The best 'running board' I ever saw was on a truck in Grundy, VA.  The truck had 40+" tires. In Grundy, they put 35 inch tires on Ford Escorts. The guy took a piece of logging chain, welded about 6 links together for a "step", and then just welded a length of  2' or so of freely-swinging chain on either side to the frame of his truck.  I guess it could still get hung, but to rip it off would take some doing.

[throttleplate]

3 hours ago, gimruis said:

I never really thought of that part even though I've lived here for many years now.  I could see why something that close to the ground in the winter would rust quicker.

heres a pic of my truck back in 1996 with the running boards that would pack snow in the rear and the front of the full enclosed boards which were aluminum.

 

 

[Scott F]

My F150 doesn’t have any running boards. I’m 6’3, and I slide into my truck easily without them. A running board can actually make it harder for me.  My short wife who doesn’t ride in the truck often could use a boost to get in, but I’m not adding any.

[TOXIC]

If you’re like me and keep your vehicles 200,000+ miles, and are a tad bit anal on looks, you do everything in your power to keep your truck looking nice.  The steps really do help you drop more straight down on the leather seat and not slide in and out.  Seat covers are not an option since I have heated/cooled seats.  I did have both of my side steps replaced under warranty because the chrome coating peeled off the hard plastic base.  It came off in a pattern that looked like you ran through some mud and it splattered up on the steps except it was a caustic chemical.  Drivers side did it fairly quickly after I bought the truck new and then the passenger side did it right out of warranty.  They covered it under goodwill but not until the service manager crawled all over the underside of the truck looking to see if I off roaded it.    The replacements have held up fine.  Hard for them to rust when the only metal is the brackets that hold them on.  

[DaubsNU1]

3 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

Buddy - I had that truck for 18 years living in the same place I am now. Other than a couple times I had to rock it to get out of the driveway, never had a problem.

 

Course, I took my behind-the-wheel training in Bemidji, middle of winter, in a 76 Ford LTD. Strange feeling when you come to a complete stop at a stop sign...then the car starts sliding towards the curb...that's the conditions I learned in.

 

Also - other than a '84 Jeep Cherokee that I had for 3 years, and the current Silverado I've had for 6 years...all my vehicles were RWD...and other than the 4 years in the Air Force that I was in Omaha, I've driven in MN since 1976.

 

It's all depending on what you're experienced with.

 

Oh - and in the six years I've had the Silverado - I think I've dropped it into 4WD maybe half a dozen times.

 

I am with you @MN Fisher. My first vehicle was a 1971 Chevy C-20 two wheel drive...it had 250cid 6-cylinder with "three-on-the-tree" and open differential. Getting around in the snow was not a big problem...you learned quickly, and learned what to avoid. 

 

I managed to get in to 4x4 in college...and was surprised how little I used it. I've always had 4x4's since then...would rather have it an not need it, than need and not have. 

 

That said, my current truck sits 95% of the time...I drive the Accord for the 65+ mile round trip to work and back. Probably once or twice a year I actually "need" the truck and 4x4. It's nice to have 4x4 when I'm out chasing deer, or need to pull someone out of the ditch, or want to blast around in a snowstorm. 

 

 

 

 

[throttleplate]

4 hours ago, gimruis said:

2WD trucks are a bad idea here.  Actually anything rear wheel drive is a bad idea if its you're primary vehicle.  Sandbags and wheels spinning...been there done that.

During high school in 1978 i bought my aunts farm car, a 1967 chevy Biscayne so i could park my nova for the winter.

It had a 250 ci straight 6 with 3 on the tree. That car with studded snow tires would plow through anything i pointed it at, deep snow, sticky clay mud while hunting the backroads, farm fields chasing grouse....

Why could i basically go anywhere with that beast? because it came from the factory with posi-traction rear end.

The car from the factory came with nothing, no air-con, no carpet on the floors, just an ugly car inside and out but for some reason it had a posi rear end.

Here is a pic of my car with our old dog sittin on the hood.

 

[gim]

5 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

Oh - and in the six years I've had the Silverado - I think I've dropped it into 4WD maybe half a dozen times.

That's kinda what I was getting at.  Why not get the 4WD for when its needed than to just have the 2WD (rear) that can cause sliding and traction issues.  I am with you on the 4WD, I rarely use it other than when I am hunting.  I do occasionally use it in the winter when the road way is covered in snow, but nowadays that is rare because I simply wait for the road conditions to improve.

2 hours ago, Scott F said:

My short wife who doesn’t ride in the truck often could use a boost to get in, but I’m not adding any.

So far you are the only one who was willing to make this decision on your own without caving into the needs of  your better half!

 

Some men run their house and some men run AROUND their house.  Then there's this guy.  He just runs.

 

 

[LonnieP]

My 04 Silverado came with them and is the first truck I’ve owned with them. I don’t like the looks of them and I’ve almost tripped over them a couple times. Went to take them off and the first body mount bolt I went to loosen snapped so they’re staying on for now.