Running Boards
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 20
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Running Boards
Coming from a guy from MN the whole rocker panel mount running board thing is just a terrible idea, all companies are doing it, but its almost the first thing to rust out on a truck up here. So I take to the web and learn that no company I can find makes a frame mount running board for my 2012 F150. I tried a rocker panel mounted one on my truck, and all 195 lbs of me on it felt about as sturdy as a termite infested 2x4 (although it wasnt a factory running board). My Rockers are still solid, but I plan to own the truck for a good amount of years and dont feel like going to step on the running board and having it fall off sometime down the road. Has anybody been able to fab a mount of sorts and bolt it to the frame is the question im getting to. I know I could fab a mount, Id just rather keep the welding and drilling to a minimum.
Pro Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 683
Likes: 151
From: Pittsburgh, PA
I have a set of NFabs that are mounted to the rockers and I was surprised how solid they are. I haven't noticed any sag when I get in, and I've had two 200+ lb guys stand on them with very little movement. I'm in the rust belt too, but I've also been using Krown undercoat since I bought the truck so I'm not worried about rust.
A few years ago I helped a buddy fab up some mounting brackets for some DIY running boards we attached directly to the frame. We were able to bolt it to the frame, but had to cut some small bolt holes and tack the nuts since there is no access into the box that we could have used. I'm handy with a welder and cutter, so this was simple for me, and I'd do it again if I had to. I'm guessing the newer model years are similar, so I would think your options are limited if you don't want to weld or cut. We also searched around for some easy aftermarket options and found nothing.
IMO I wouldn't mount running boards to the frame on my own truck. The mounts were cantilevered about 12-14 inches from where we actually wanted the running boards. That's a pretty big moment arm, and they flexed a ton when you stood on them. I offered to stiffen them up by welding some more support to the braces, but he didn't mind since this was his beater truck. They worked just fine, but I wouldn't want something flexing like that on my truck personally. If you want to go that route, be sure to make some pretty stout braces. They are going to be heavy. I think we used Grade 8 bolts, which was probably a bit excessive, but welding a bracket to the frame might be your best bet. I imagine some of the flex came from the gap between the mount and frame. There was very little room to properly torque the bolts and get a decent preload to hold the gap. I like a good DIY, but I remember the whole processing be a bit of a challenge. I'll see if I can find any pics or my plans after work if you're interested. Good luck!
A few years ago I helped a buddy fab up some mounting brackets for some DIY running boards we attached directly to the frame. We were able to bolt it to the frame, but had to cut some small bolt holes and tack the nuts since there is no access into the box that we could have used. I'm handy with a welder and cutter, so this was simple for me, and I'd do it again if I had to. I'm guessing the newer model years are similar, so I would think your options are limited if you don't want to weld or cut. We also searched around for some easy aftermarket options and found nothing.
IMO I wouldn't mount running boards to the frame on my own truck. The mounts were cantilevered about 12-14 inches from where we actually wanted the running boards. That's a pretty big moment arm, and they flexed a ton when you stood on them. I offered to stiffen them up by welding some more support to the braces, but he didn't mind since this was his beater truck. They worked just fine, but I wouldn't want something flexing like that on my truck personally. If you want to go that route, be sure to make some pretty stout braces. They are going to be heavy. I think we used Grade 8 bolts, which was probably a bit excessive, but welding a bracket to the frame might be your best bet. I imagine some of the flex came from the gap between the mount and frame. There was very little room to properly torque the bolts and get a decent preload to hold the gap. I like a good DIY, but I remember the whole processing be a bit of a challenge. I'll see if I can find any pics or my plans after work if you're interested. Good luck!
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 20
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I have a set of NFabs that are mounted to the rockers and I was surprised how solid they are. I haven't noticed any sag when I get in, and I've had two 200+ lb guys stand on them with very little movement. I'm in the rust belt too, but I've also been using Krown undercoat since I bought the truck so I'm not worried about rust.
A few years ago I helped a buddy fab up some mounting brackets for some DIY running boards we attached directly to the frame. We were able to bolt it to the frame, but had to cut some small bolt holes and tack the nuts since there is no access into the box that we could have used. I'm handy with a welder and cutter, so this was simple for me, and I'd do it again if I had to. I'm guessing the newer model years are similar, so I would think your options are limited if you don't want to weld or cut. We also searched around for some easy aftermarket options and found nothing.
IMO I wouldn't mount running boards to the frame on my own truck. The mounts were cantilevered about 12-14 inches from where we actually wanted the running boards. That's a pretty big moment arm, and they flexed a ton when you stood on them. I offered to stiffen them up by welding some more support to the braces, but he didn't mind since this was his beater truck. They worked just fine, but I wouldn't want something flexing like that on my truck personally. If you want to go that route, be sure to make some pretty stout braces. They are going to be heavy. I think we used Grade 8 bolts, which was probably a bit excessive, but welding a bracket to the frame might be your best bet. I imagine some of the flex came from the gap between the mount and frame. There was very little room to properly torque the bolts and get a decent preload to hold the gap. I like a good DIY, but I remember the whole processing be a bit of a challenge. I'll see if I can find any pics or my plans after work if you're interested. Good luck!
A few years ago I helped a buddy fab up some mounting brackets for some DIY running boards we attached directly to the frame. We were able to bolt it to the frame, but had to cut some small bolt holes and tack the nuts since there is no access into the box that we could have used. I'm handy with a welder and cutter, so this was simple for me, and I'd do it again if I had to. I'm guessing the newer model years are similar, so I would think your options are limited if you don't want to weld or cut. We also searched around for some easy aftermarket options and found nothing.
IMO I wouldn't mount running boards to the frame on my own truck. The mounts were cantilevered about 12-14 inches from where we actually wanted the running boards. That's a pretty big moment arm, and they flexed a ton when you stood on them. I offered to stiffen them up by welding some more support to the braces, but he didn't mind since this was his beater truck. They worked just fine, but I wouldn't want something flexing like that on my truck personally. If you want to go that route, be sure to make some pretty stout braces. They are going to be heavy. I think we used Grade 8 bolts, which was probably a bit excessive, but welding a bracket to the frame might be your best bet. I imagine some of the flex came from the gap between the mount and frame. There was very little room to properly torque the bolts and get a decent preload to hold the gap. I like a good DIY, but I remember the whole processing be a bit of a challenge. I'll see if I can find any pics or my plans after work if you're interested. Good luck!
Pro Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 683
Likes: 151
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Yeah, my NFab's use the 3 OEM mounting locations. I don't know why any other company would only use 2... Mine are sturdy, but their powder coating was okay at best. The welds started to chip and rust after 2 or 3 years. They do have a 5 year warranty on the finish, but I had to front the shipping. I decided to just get them sand blasted and line-x'd. Couldn't be happier now.
Member
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 1,186
Likes: 182
i have these and love them:
https://www.autoanything.com/nerf-ba...o3-step-boards
i wanted something that did not look like everything else out there. at first i was leery of their strength but my cousin is ~350 and they took all of his weight without a problem. they have 3 mounting points but mount virtually identical to the factory bars i removed.
https://www.autoanything.com/nerf-ba...o3-step-boards
i wanted something that did not look like everything else out there. at first i was leery of their strength but my cousin is ~350 and they took all of his weight without a problem. they have 3 mounting points but mount virtually identical to the factory bars i removed.
