Running board finish
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 701
Likes: 1
From: Echuca VIC Australia
Running board finish
What has everyone used to paint/coat their running boards? If I go an ordinary 2 pack black then it will scratch up and look like crap fairly quickly I think. I want a gloss finish though, any suggestions? I plan to put a set of step plates on it to help avoid too much damage.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,291
Likes: 1,055
From: NM
I was planning to use bedliner too, but I live where it's real dusty. The texture quickly gets filled with dust/dirt. I think Cowboy is in a similar climate.
I'd go gloss with clearcoat, and put down any scratches as "patina in the making"...
I'd go gloss with clearcoat, and put down any scratches as "patina in the making"...
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 2
From: Kalamazoo MI
Didn't think of that issue. Dry is not relative where I live but would make a difference. Thanks.
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3,793
Likes: 19
From: Austin
Hey Aussiecowboy,
Hmmm.. Lot's of talk about dust... Can't possibly be any dustier
than Texas. We went the bedliner route on the running boards to avoid the problem you mention of them getting scratched up. We didn't want to worry about that stuff as we use our truck - the interior is sprayed as well.
The product we used is called Toff but I'm sure you have similar. You just spray it off when it's dirty/dusty.
Good luck over there.
Ben in Austin
1950 F1
Hmmm.. Lot's of talk about dust... Can't possibly be any dustier
than Texas. We went the bedliner route on the running boards to avoid the problem you mention of them getting scratched up. We didn't want to worry about that stuff as we use our truck - the interior is sprayed as well.
The product we used is called Toff but I'm sure you have similar. You just spray it off when it's dirty/dusty.
Good luck over there.
Ben in Austin
1950 F1
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,100
Likes: 2
In Montana, the vendors for bed liner also offer an upgrade with a clear poly spray over the bedliner spray. It smooths it out and gives it a little more satin finish. Really helps with the keeping clean issues associated with bed liners.
Trending Topics
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,222
Likes: 6
From: Houston
They are made to be stepped on, they will get scratched if you paint it with glossy paint unless you take your shoes off each time you get in. Or maybe you could just jump over them. 
If it is going to be a show truck and live its life in a garage or on a trailer then you can paint it anyway you want, but if you are going to drive it, then the bedliner is the way to go. Ben's look great, mine were beat to hell and still are, but now they have bedliner on them so that they will last longer. Personally I don't care what they look like if they will hold me up when I step on them. And they do make it easier to get in and out.
If it is going to be a show truck and live its life in a garage or on a trailer then you can paint it anyway you want, but if you are going to drive it, then the bedliner is the way to go. Ben's look great, mine were beat to hell and still are, but now they have bedliner on them so that they will last longer. Personally I don't care what they look like if they will hold me up when I step on them. And they do make it easier to get in and out.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Elder User
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 728
Likes: 2
From: North Idaho
I took my boards down to a local shop that does hot bed liner and chatted with them about my project. They gave me a super cheap price if I masked off everything but the raised step treads on my boards and said that I could then take them back to my place and paint over the entire unit with my final color of gloss black.
By doing this my boards will be black but the actual surface that touches my shoe sole will be bedlined thus reduceing scratches etc.
Thats my plan, bedline the contact ribs then paint my final color over everything.
By doing this my boards will be black but the actual surface that touches my shoe sole will be bedlined thus reduceing scratches etc.
Thats my plan, bedline the contact ribs then paint my final color over everything.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 787
Likes: 1
From: Prescott AZ.
I didn't know that you could tint bedliner, I guess that I will have to talk to the paint shop about that.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,337
Likes: 165
From: Harpswell Maine
I am going to shoot the boards in gloss red like the rest of the sheet metal and install ss strips on top of the raised ribs. I bought four 12' x 1/2" hollow half oval strips at a local marine supply house (normally sold in different widths as rub rails). They are drilled for oval headed screws every 6". I have not yet decided if I will leave the screw heads exposed or tig and then polish the screw heads making them blind. Another option that I considered was boneyard hunting for some of the ss strips that long roofs (station wagons) had on top of the roof. I think that 80's GM might be good donors but I did not go that route. I believe that the stock thickness on my ss strips are probably thicker than the strips coming off a long roof. I am not at all concerned about denting the strips that I have.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,100
Likes: 2
My stock F-250 boards are not replaceable as far as I know. They have no rust but they sure got bent up. I straightened them up but they still have enough ripples and dings that I need to do something before I finish them. I'm wondering if I can use a little filler on them, then have them bed lined and finish with the stainless strips over the raised step treads.
