Running board prep

[DailyRam]

About to order some running boards for my 2014 Ram CC, and wanted to see if you guys have any lesson learned from your installs.
First, should I put an extra coat of paint on the brackets to help protect them. With them out of sight I want to make sure they are well protected.
Also, should I put something like Mylar between the hardware and the paint to prevent the two metal surfaces from damaging the finish on each other and potentially leading to rust.
Any other tips or tricks you would suggest?

 

[WilliamS]

Get some tall ramps or a lift of some sort. Clean everything you can with a sponge, this will reduce the dirt to eyeball ratio when installing. Any holes you drill, apply some paint of some sort to reduce rust. Lay out hardware at each place you mount, keeps you from using the wrong bolts, and keeps everything in reach.

Plan the install out! Tools, Rags, Hardware, all of it!

What steps are you getting? The Amp ones require a lot more work, but after installing them and seeing them on my fathers Power Wagon Im going to get them.

 

[DailyRam]

Thanks. I am looking at the iboard running boards. They tuck up close to the truck, and black will complement the black with minimal chrome on the truck.

 

[gofishn]

Use a backing plate, of some kind, to help spread the load across a larger section of the rocker lip. Just using the three hole nutserts tend to cause the board to rip out, eventually.

soem have used AMp Research backing plates, for other boards. All you need is a small square plate that has holes for your nutsert locations. Have one made, if you must but I really think it will save you headaches, down teh line.

Take your time.

 

[Treburkulosis]

I would do a rubberized coating if you are worried about rust.

 

[WilliamS]

Thanks. I am looking at the iboard running boards. They tuck up close to the truck, and black will complement the black with minimal chrome on the truck.

Those are the ones I have, PM me an email Ill send pictures of what they look like.

I have the 4 inch boards. They did need some prep. There are 6 backing plates that come with the kit, I needed to "finish" 2 of them as the nut was welded off center of the predrilled hole on the bracket. 20 seconds with a dremel fixed them up. Dont worry about how hard it may sound, its super easy.

I was able to get them installed in under an hour with a cheap 18v light duty impact. For the price Im impressed with them. I get compliments on them fitting the truck all the time. Granted they are not Amp power boards that I installed on my fathers 2016 Power Wagon, but they do the job, they get my wife into the truck.

 

[DailyRam]

Use a backing plate, of some kind, to help spread the load across a larger section of the rocker lip. Just using the three hole nutserts tend to cause the board to rip out, eventually.

soem have used AMp Research backing plates, for other boards. All you need is a small square plate that has holes for your nutsert locations. Have one made, if you must but I really think it will save you headaches, down teh line.

Take your time.

I've been looking into this. I use to be a buyer for metal at my company and should have no problem picking up some material and fab'ing up some reinforcement.
Would you suggest one long run that spreads it out over the length and maybe ties into some of the other locations (i can put in additional nutserts if needed)?

 

[WilliamS]

I've been looking into this. I use to be a buyer for metal at my company and should have no problem picking up some material and fab'ing up some reinforcement.
Would you suggest one long run that spreads it out over the length and maybe ties into some of the other locations (i can put in additional nutserts if needed)?

The iBoards have a backing plate, so in my opinion nothing more needed. If you have the option and time do ahead, but I dont seem them as needed. They do not simply just bolt in, there is some trickery needed to get the insert in there then bolt it all together.