Running boards are excellent accessories to add on your pickup truck. They can improve the look on your truck as well as serve several functional purposes. The best part is most modern trucks have manufactured holes in the frames that allow you to install them with no drilling necessary!
The most obvious reason to have a set of running boards on your truck is to provide a lower platform to make getting into your truck less strenuous. They are mounted anywhere between 4-6 inches below your floor. Some other not-so-obvious benefits of running boards are that they protect your paint by blocking flying rocks and prevent door dings from careless people opening their doors into your truck.
When choosing running boards, I want something durable, functional, not too flashy, and easy to clean. It would also help if the running boards were wide enough to prevent those aforementioned door dings and enable me to reach my roof to load stuff whether or not my doors are open.
Although I’m happy with the current ones on my Tacoma, I’m planning to eventually replace them with the APS iBoard running boards from Amazon. To search for ones compatible with your vehicle, click on the previous link and type “APS iBoard,” followed by your vehicle year and model (i.e.
APS iBoard 2018 F-150).
Main Features
Different Lengths and Colors
The iBoard comes in three widths—4, 5, and 6 inches. Some folks prefer the 4 inch width so that it remains flush with the frame of their vehicle. Others, such as myself, would rather get the 6 inch width. Like I mentioned earlier, running boards that protrude past your truck protect it from door dings. It also gives you a better foot grab when stepping onto it.
The two colors available are: black aluminium matte finish and silver aluminum hairline finish. Both would look great but the silver edges the black one for me. Black finishes tend to appear dirtier faster whereas chrome still looks clean from a fair distance away.
Non-Slip Rubber Pad
The rubber step pads run along the entire iBoard. They are made of premium quality materials and are UV resistant too. They are secured in place by strong adhesive and rivets.
Made of Aluminum
The main bar of the iBoard is made of 6061 aircraft-grade aluminum. That’s just a fancy way of saying that it’s rust proof and lightweight.
Max Capacity 300lbs
Each bar can hold a max of 300lbs per bar whether it’s at a single point or distributed. The iBoard is supported by 3 steel brackets to make this possible.
Why I Like Them
I like the APS iBoard running boards for 2 specific reasons: simple design and easy to clean.
Simple Design
Sure, it may seem boxy at first, but the rectangular design of the iBoard compliments the curvy frame of my Tacoma (or most trucks for that matter). In a way, the straight and flat steps run seamlessly with the flat underbody it’s attached to.
Easy To Clean
With my current running boards on the Tacoma, they are more oval-shaped with the step pads slightly protruding on top. They are still functional overall, but take a little more effort to clean. (Boo hoo for me, right??) Instead of just scrubbing them straight across, I’d have to scrub along its curvatures.
The iBoards are obviously flatter and therefore only need to be scrubbed straight across along all sides in order to clean them.
What I Don’t Like
Step Pad Adhesive
The main iBoard website states that the rubber step pad is riveted onto the bar. However if you look closely at the iBoard, the rivets are only located at the ends. So if the rest of the step pad is glued on, will it stay on forever? That is the question.
Questionable Hardware
The iBoard website does not state whether the included hardware is rust-proof or stainless steel. A few reviews on Amazon state that the hardware did show signs of rust after a while. This is a common theme with many running boards out there. They all claim to be rust-proof except for the hardware holding them up.
I recommend replacing all the included hardware with stainless steel hardware from your local home improvement store or simply spraying them down with Rustoleum paint before installing your running boards.
Installation
Here’s a video showing how to install the APS iBoards on a 2017 Chevy Silverado double cab:
Final Thoughts
The APS iBoard is reliable running board that won’t break the bank. Its simple yet functional design has the potential to prevent door dings, allow for easy cleaning, and promote safety by providing a stable foot hold. For the current price and additional reviews, click this Amazon link.