Retractable Running Boards

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skywalkerguy

skywalkerguy

Joined
Jul 26, 2005
Threads
17
Messages
99
Location
S Brunswick Islands, NC
I know I'll probably be flamed for this but hear me out...

I know there are more like me that love this forum but will never go crawling...maybe light expedition/overland but never crawling. It's considered a hill around here if it's 30 feet above sea level...plenty of sand/mud but no elevation or rocks. 5 hours west yes, here no.

Now, we all know the 100 looks much better without running boards but I have a wife and mother-in-law to worry about as well as hauling potential clients around. So, has anyone tried or thought of putting retractable running boards on the 100? Sans running board look while keeping the peace.

Flame or chime in either way.
 
I've seen one commercially available product. I don't know if there is a version that will fit a Land Cruiser.

I also saw a homemade version in the 80-section. I'll get some links up soon.
 
Not having used a step slider myself, this is only from looking at pictures...it would appear the step sliders are much higher than the running boards and closer to the vehicle...obviously by design. So I'm not sure how user friendly they are from a 60 year old woman client perspective.
 
skywalkerguy said:
Not having used a step slider myself, this is only from looking at pictures...it would appear the step sliders are much higher than the running boards and closer to the vehicle...obviously by design. So I'm not sure how user friendly they are from a 60 year old woman client perspective.
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ill try and look for some pictures, but you're probably talking a 6" difference between stock and step sliders.
 
Trunk Monkey said:
It doesn't sound like you need sliders and you use the running boards a lot, just keep them on. :confused:
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That is the cheapest and easiest but I like the look without running boards. Just exploring options...and trying to make all you rock crawlers think about the rest of us. :grinpimp:
 
davegonz said:
AMP Research makes them, but not specifically for the 100.

AMP Research :: Home of the PowerStep, BedStep™ and BedX-Tender™

Funny, they used to make some cool full suspension mountain bikes back in the day.
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I remember their bikes! One of the lightest FS bikes made. Almost got one but went with a Voodoo Ti instead.

Sorry for the hijack. back to the question at hand from the original post: I'd just keep the stock boards. If they serve a purpose and do not hinder your off roading, then what's the harm?
 
skywalkerguy said:
That is the cheapest and easiest but I like the look without running boards. Just exploring options...and trying to make all you rock crawlers think about the rest of us. :grinpimp:
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Even if you do go rock crawling with them you can keep the running boards on, they'll probably get chewed up but nothing a bfh and some kicking cant fix. I've smashed mine up pretty good a few times before I got around to taking them off and getting sliders.
 
davegonz said:
AMP Research makes them, but not specifically for the 100.

AMP Research :: Home of the PowerStep, BedStep™ and BedX-Tender™
Click to expand...

That's the commercially available product that I knew about.

I'm actually developing a product as part of my Master's work that will solve the slider/running board/step problem but I've only gone through the design, engineering analysis and market analysis phase and haven't built a prototype yet. I still want to investigate a patent before I put it out there to the public. But the basic idea is a slider with an outrigger hoop that incorporates some steps that fold down when you step on them and then automatically fold back up into the outrigger hoop after you remove your foot/weight from them. The step will drop down about 6" to make it easier for wife, M-i-L, kids to get into and out of the truck but still have all the functionality of a sturdy slider.

Check out this post for some additional info on what other folks have done, thanks to Beowulf for posting the details up. Go to post #13 for the other ideas.
 
You might want to try the newer style running boards off the 06-07's. They are tucked up and look much better. If I didn't wheel I'd definatley swap the old 98-02 boards for the newer style.
 
Anybody looking to sell boards from a 06-07? Those links were great...man there's some talent on this board.
 
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