I had to shop for running boards for an XL that didn't come with any.

I ended up with black painted aluminum extrusion running boards... OEM Ford original factory issue for the Lariat Sport models.


Photo above: Lariat Sport all black painted aluminum running boards installed on an all black XL.

Had running boards been ordered with the XL and installed in production, they would have been plastic running boards, costing $100 more at time of order than what I paid for take offs from a Lariat Sport.


Photo Above: Factory running boards for XL trucks, if ordered with running boards. All plastic. Really thick plastic, but still, all plastic. Not quite as attractive as other Ford options on pickup models, but perhaps the most practical, in terms of corrosion resistance and height, for those who like a tight up to the rocker board. I personally wanted an intermediate step up (isn't that the entire point of cab steps... to function as a step... not simply as a same height extension of the rocker threshold?), so the drop down step was more suited for my requirements. I'm not rock crawling what will end up being a 25' long truck.

And here is where my story becomes really relevant to this thread.... as this thread is about Chrome, and about deployable running boards.

The Lariat Sport is Ford's black out package. There is no chrome on that truck. Even the fender badge is blacked out.

So I tend to agree with Shawnee1's assessment that Schrod's theory about deployable's being black, and therefore not chrome, is not likely a factor in availability or exclusion of option combinations.

I also tend to agree with ForCal's observation that the radiused crosssection of most automotive doors tends to put their widest point at shoulder height when seated in the car, which is at door handle height for the car, which is sufficiently above the running board such that the inward taper of the car's door can clear the running board while the widest part of the door at handle height can strike the puckered out stamping at the belt line of the Super Duty door. And of course, the doors of adjacently parked trucks of similar heights will open over the running board regardless. Now, if the truck is lifted fairly high, then the running boards might line up with the widest part of the adjacent car's door, but by then, the doors of the lifted Super Duty are above the strike zone anyway.

Perhaps the most significant thing I learned when shopping for running boards... was just how good the deployable running boards are, even if they never retracted. The deployable's stepping surface is by far the deepest, providing the surest step and foot placement of any other running board I was able to evaluate and compare in person. The step must be at least 7" deep, so it can hold a lot of boot, without fear of slipping through the gap between step and cab. There's just a whole lot of step there with the deployable that isn't there with any other factory running board option, and isn't there with most other aftermarket options, save for one or two.

The second most topic relevant observation that I can share is that as cool as the Lariat Sport running boards are... being all black painted or powder coated (which doesn't flake or peel like the factory chrome is well known to do), and being a nice stiff and rigid aluminum extrusion... and of course looking luxurious and cool, without looking gawdy or blingy.... and being exclusive to the Lariat Sport package... people are still pulling these boards off to replace them with deployable steps, which Ford doesn't offer in the Lariat Sport package. Most people who ditch their Lariat Sport boards end up choosing AMP Research steps, who very well likely may be the supplier or patent holder for the Ford factory deployable steps.

Due to the wiring and wanting factory integration with the Ford load shedding, inadvertent power, multiplexed circuitry, and other integrated elements, I would be inclined to order the factory deployable steps, as they are an electromechanical item of function... and then after the truck is delivered, swap out the grille for a chrome one or whatever other chrome element you seek... because appearance items are not functional, and therefore are not as important to have a factory warranty on, or vehicle electrical circuit and control integration with. I'd rather not have wires cut into or spliced, and would rather be able to control the options (like don't retract when parked) using the factory screen menu, then some other aftermarket device.


Photo Above: The electrical motor and fully sealed factory wire harness penetration through the cab floor for the Ford OEM factory deployable running boards with bed extensions, as seen under a 2019 F-250 Platinum Crew Cab short box.

So if a choice must be made between mutually exclusive options, I would order the truck to be built with the functional items, and leave the appearance items for another day on eBay.

 

I have a 2019 F350. I did some research on running boards before ordering the truck in October 2018. When my 5’3” partner tried the factory retractable running boards; the decision was MADE! When deployed they are 2” lower than any other factory board that we examined which was a BIG thing for her. I really like the retracted look, flush to the body. And the width of the boards is exceptional. I also like the ability to change whether they stay deployed (OUT position on the central information screen) or work automatically with the doors. We leave them in AUTO mode most all the time.

As for the price, it was a nobrainer. I recall that the retractable boards added $750 to the cost of the truck, a minor cost relative to the total cost of the beast. Compare that to the $1200 to $2000 numbers being bandied about on this thread.

I will add that I investigated the cost of replacing the motors should they fail. Someone told me they were “inexpensive”. That’s relative. I’ll leave it up to you to decide if $650 for a motor is expensive. That’s just the cost of the motor.

 

I wanted the chrome package and the deployable steps. It's deinitely disapponting that Ford does not allow you to delete the chrome running boards and replace with the deployable ones. In anycase, I looked at all the options, which I saw as the following:

1) Order chrome package and add AMPs after delivery.
2) Order deployable running boards and add 20" chrome wheels after (it's the mostly the wheels I wanted with the chrome package).
3) Order Platinum with both deplayable boards and the similar, yet different (uglier IMHO), chrome package 20's.

All the options had trade offs. The first option was the cheapest. Like many on the forum, I was concerned about the AMP boards not being factory integrated. However, buying the integrated boards and ordering the wheels later was more expensive and I didn't get the other details included with the chrome package (polished exhaust tip). The third option was the most expensive and I can't stand the Platinum tailgate. Also, while the wheels are similar, I like the Lariat wheels better.

Ultimately, I went with the first option -- to order the chrome package and add the AMP boards later. This was not only the cheapest, but I got the most of what I wanted. Also the AMP boards have several benifits that I did not realize until they were installed.

Once I took delivery of the truck I was very torn about whether to follow through with installation of the AMP boards. The truck was already so awesome (and expensive) it was hard to justify the cost. However, I had methodically determined what I wanted and the optimal way of achieveing it, so I followed through with the mod. I've never looked back since. I love the AMP boards and have come to appreciate some things I did not anticipate.

The first, and most surprising, was the physical switch. I realized the boards are one of those things that are nice to have a physical switch for. So the AMPs with a clean indiscreet switch are nice. Also, you can order the AMPs with a polished aluminum or stainless trim priece that compliments the chrome package nicely, IMHO.

In addition to the physical switch, the AMP boards have a small delay before retracting. I have heard others complain that the factory boards have no delay before closing. The AMPs allow me to close the back door and open the front door without the boards retracting and without me having to rush. Not only is it less annoying, but it saves a lot of wear and tear on the motors.

I also chose to mount my undercarriage lights to the underside of the boards. It is the perfect place. They are not directly visible from the side of the vehicle no matter how far you are from it. There is no hard cutoff on the light pattern just a nice smooth fade in every direction. And they lower with the step providing clear, unshaded illumination of the ground below.

Here are a few pics.


As built by Ford with original running boards.


AMP boards installed.


Undercarriage lights installed underneath AMP boards.

 

Well, I may follow your lead. I want it all...with a light interior. The KR interior is not me. The Plat interior colors are not me. The Limited may still be in the running, but the cost premium is too high for what you actually get. I’ll have to see that interior in person first.

Everything I want could be had in the Lariat. The only other change cost will be the Lariat grille. That has to GO and be replaced with the DRW mesh.

Thanks for your demonstration.

 

Tim I did not see pics any with the AMPs down. What color is that ? I like what you did with the lights on the boards.

 

I have a 2019 Lariat Ultimate without the chrome package & the factory deployable running boards. They do in fact have a chrome strip on them as you can see in the pic below. They also have a pause before retracting so you can open one door, shut it & open the other without them retracting.

 

"It's deinitely disapponting that Ford does not allow you to delete the chrome running boards and replace with the deployable ones".

I hear you. It ticked me off when I did my build also.
Especially when you go up one notch to the King Ranch and it is available.
I think it is a ploy to get you into a more expensive truck.
When I questioned Ford about it they use they use the old Market Research cop out.
I told them it was complete B.S.

 

And of course, they listened.

 

Quick Question to Timtanium, When your AMP steps deploy? what is the distance from the ground to the top of the step? Also what is the height from the ground to the bottom of your cab? Thanks

 

Could you tell me how far the amp running boards drop down