How to disable deployable running boards?

2020PW · Apr 13, 2022

Dean2 said:
WHY?

If you want them to stay down, when they are down pull the fuse. No power, no workie.

Jim113 · Apr 13, 2022

jejb said:
I have a Limited Longhorn on order, and one thing I don't think I'll care for is the deployable boards. I've been in trucks with them and have not been impressed. My 18 2500 Laramie has fixed boards, and I like those. I know there is a way in the controls to make it deploy even with the doors closed, but I assume that will reset on the next start. Is there a way to make them never retract short of pulling the power to them?

I have them as well and you can go into your infotainment settings and disable them ...

Rlj2 · Apr 13, 2022

BossHogg said:
I'm not wild about the deployable running boards either but I'm 6 foot 4 inches tall and don't need the running boards to get in or out. My little vertically challenged wife does need them. Unfortunately, I can either enable or disable the running boards but can't control the individual sides.

The other issue I have with them is they collect mud, lots of mud. I live rural and off dirt roads. Despite installing Weathertech mud flaps, the mud still piles onto the running boards and of course, that is transferred into the cabin.

Agree, that is a bit of pain, seems like they are always covered in mud even when the truck isnt to bad. I do wash them when I wash truck, when my truck was stock they seemed a waste of time, almost shut them off. But after a 3.5" lift they are handy.

wfodave · Apr 13, 2022

I absolutely love them; no more complaints from shorter passengers! I read this thread and see where they can be disabled through the touchscreen, but since I have the upfitter switches, I'll probably use one of them to make it simpler. I haven't really seen anyone else mention it, but what if you do something stupid and get yourself stuck? Might not want the boards to try and deploy into a rock or door-high mud!

jejb · Apr 14, 2022

Jim113 said:
I have them as well and you can go into your infotainment settings and disable them ...

Already discussed, but that setting does not "stick". When you start the truck and/or put it in gear, it seems they go back to auto mode.

andymax · Apr 14, 2022

FYI for those suggesting to just pull them off and sell them...this is not nearly as easy as it sounds. You would have to remove the wiring harness for them, the control box, etc. I installed mine and can tell you the wiring portion of the install was by far the most time consuming/complex compared to mounting the actual boards. The thing I'd worry about is if they came as a factory option just how integrated the necessary wiring harness and CANbus connections are vs the dealer- or owner-installed versions. To add further insult, it seems you cannot buy the wiring harness/control box separately from Mopar. CAVEAT EMPTOR!

jejb - good luck with the new rig! Hope it comes soon. And I'd bet you money that if your concern over the PRB's is functionality then you will end up loving them.

wfodave · Apr 14, 2022

andymax said:
FYI for those suggesting to just pull them off and sell them...this is not nearly as easy as it sounds. You would have to remove the wiring harness for them, the control box, etc. I installed mine and can tell you the wiring portion of the install was by far the most time consuming/complex compared to mounting the actual boards. The thing I'd worry about is if they came as a factory option just how integrated the necessary wiring harness and CANbus connections are vs the dealer- or owner-installed versions. To add further insult, it seems you cannot buy the wiring harness/control box separately from Mopar. CAVEAT EMPTOR!

jejb - good luck with the new rig! Hope it comes soon. And I'd bet you money that if your concern over the PRB's is functionality then you will end up loving them.

I think if I was going to add them after the fact, the AMP fold down ones are probably the way to go.

TC Retired · Apr 14, 2022

FYI, there are 2 different controls for the Auto deploy running boards (on my 21 Limited anyway).

1) In Settings/Safety & Driving - Auto or Store (keep them stored all the time)

2) In Apps/Backup Camera - Deploy steps - This one keeps them down until it is started.

And pulling the fuse is pain because you have to open a door on each side to get both to stay deployed...

mikeru · Apr 14, 2022

TC Retired said:
FYI, there are 2 different controls for the Auto deploy running boards (on my 21 Limited anyway).

1) In Settings/Safety & Driving - Auto or Store (keep them stored all the time)

2) In Apps/Backup Camera - Deploy steps - This one keeps them down until it is started.

And pulling the fuse is pain because you have to open a door on each side to get both to stay deployed...

^^A couple of corrections to make to this...

When you use the button to deploy the steps, they'll stay deployed until you shift out of Park. At least that's how mine operate.

If you deploy the steps with the button there's no need to open doors on both sides.

Jimmy07 · Apr 14, 2022

andymax said:
FYI for those suggesting to just pull them off and sell them...this is not nearly as easy as it sounds. You would have to remove the wiring harness for them, the control box, etc. I installed mine and can tell you the wiring portion of the install was by far the most time consuming/complex compared to mounting the actual boards. The thing I'd worry about is if they came as a factory option just how integrated the necessary wiring harness and CANbus connections are vs the dealer- or owner-installed versions. To add further insult, it seems you cannot buy the wiring harness/control box separately from Mopar. CAVEAT EMPTOR!

jejb - good luck with the new rig! Hope it comes soon. And I'd bet you money that if your concern over the PRB's is functionality then you will end up loving them.

You can’t remove any of the power side step wiring on a factory equipped truck, because it is all integrated into the instrument panel harness, left dash harness, and chassis harnesses.
For the 1500’s, you can buy every power side step component separately including the wiring harness from the kit, or you can buy the kit.
For the HD Rams, there is no kit offered, but you can buy the steps and module separately, and modify a 1500 wiring harness to work.

andymax · Apr 14, 2022

wfodave said:
I think if I was going to add them after the fact, the AMP fold down ones are probably the way to go.

I'm not sure i'd quite agree with that. While the folks with AMP boards are certainly happy with them, to me the extra installation effort is well worth it for the Uconnect integration alone.

andymax · Apr 14, 2022

Jimmy07 said:
You can’t remove any of the power side step wiring on a factory equipped truck, because it is all integrated into the instrument panel harness, left dash harness, and chassis harnesses.
For the 1500’s, you can buy every power side step component separately including the wiring harness from the kit, or you can buy the kit.
For the HD Rams, there is no kit offered, but you can buy the steps and module separately, and modify a 1500 wiring harness to work.

I'm glad I'm wrong. Though when I was buying my truck I looked hard at all of this and could not find the specific harnesses and control box available except as part of the kit. Good to know this may be a solution.

jejb · Apr 14, 2022

If I pulled them off to go to a fixed board, I'd keep them to put back on when I sell the truck. But I doubt any of that will happen. If they **** me off, I'll do the fuse thing. If that doesn't make it better, I'll live with it.

The thing I don't like about them is having to wait for them to deploy to hop out of the truck. They've hit me in the back of the leg on friends Ram's when I'm half way out the door. Maybe I'll just have to slow down.

bborzell · Apr 14, 2022

A lot of good observations and comments. I will add that figuring out a way to leave them deployed while driving pretty much eliminates parallel parking, especially with slightly higher than average curb height.

My wife and I pulled up to a curb and she started to open the door and quickly stopped as she looked down at the curb. I moved a bit farther out from the curb and deployed the board. It measured 1/8” above the curb. A bit too close for comfort.

jejb · Apr 15, 2022

bborzell said:
A lot of good observations and comments. I will add that figuring out a way to leave them deployed while driving pretty much eliminates parallel parking, especially with slightly higher than average curb height.

My wife and I pulled up to a curb and she started to open the door and quickly stopped as she looked down at the curb. I moved a bit farther out from the curb and deployed the board. It measured 1/8” above the curb. A bit too close for comfort.

Good point, but 2500's ride higher than 1500's. Plus I hope to never have to parallel park the beast. The one I have on order now is the same basic truck as I have now (Mega cab). It is not our going to town vehicle. Sucks to park compared to our Prius V.

JoeCo · Apr 15, 2022

bborzell said:
A lot of good observations and comments. I will add that figuring out a way to leave them deployed while driving pretty much eliminates parallel parking, especially with slightly higher than average curb height.

My wife and I pulled up to a curb and she started to open the door and quickly stopped as she looked down at the curb. I moved a bit farther out from the curb and deployed the board. It measured 1/8” above the curb. A bit too close for comfort.

I'd agree on 1500s (as mentioned the extra height of the heavy duty might negate this) about driving around with them deployed, they do hang lower and further out than fixed running boards. Wouldn't worry about opening the door once stationary though, first time we got a foot or two of snow this past winter I went out and opened my the drivers door and the second the boards touched that soft powdery snow they instantly retracted, I was surprised how sensitive it was to that but it did make me feel a little better about certain scenarios with them.

Jim113 · Apr 18, 2022

jejb said:
Already discussed, but that setting does not "stick". When you start the truck and/or put it in gear, it seems they go back to auto mode.

Not in my truck ... I have a 2020 Longhorn and when I put the running boards into "Store" mode, they do not deploy, even after re-starting or putting it in gear ...

Dean2 · Apr 18, 2022

jejb said:
If I pulled them off to go to a fixed board, I'd keep them to put back on when I sell the truck. But I doubt any of that will happen. If they **** me off, I'll do the fuse thing. If that doesn't make it better, I'll live with it.

The thing I don't like about them is having to wait for them to deploy to hop out of the truck. They've hit me in the back of the leg on friends Ram's when I'm half way out the door. Maybe I'll just have to slow down.

Either you are faster than the Flash or there is something wrong with those boards. On my 2021, as soon as I even crack the door they deploy. I would have to try really hard to be able to get a leg out before the boards were deployed and even trying to do it intentionally I am not sure I could.

wfodave · Apr 18, 2022

Dean2 said:
Either you are faster than the Flash or there is something wrong with those boards. On my 2021, as soon as I even crack the door they deploy. I would have to try really hard to be able to get a leg out before the boards were deployed and even trying to do it intentionally I am not sure I could.

Well, I have a 22 and I do have to pause briefly or I will step on them while they are still unfolding. That being said, the good news is that they don't act strangely, they finish unfolding the last inch or so normally with my weight on them.

mikeru · Apr 18, 2022

Jim113 said:
Not in my truck ... I have a 2020 Longhorn and when I put the running boards into "Store" mode, they do not deploy, even after re-starting or putting it in gear ...

We're talking about when they are deployed, not when they are stored. The setting keeps them from deploying. The OP wants to keep them from stowing, but there is no setting or button for doing that.

How to disable deployable running boards?

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