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Has anyone rebuilt their rotted out running boards? I have a 99 XLT that is worthy of some rust repair. The 4 brackets seem solid but the metal between the brackets and the plastic is pretty much rotted away. Thanks
I rebuilt the full length, and modded my running boards on my 2002 F350 so I know what you will be looking at doing.
I rebuilt the brackets because mine were slightly bent down and I could feel the flex when standing on them, getting in and out of the truck. The plastic would get slick when wet and I caught my feet sliding off a time or two.
Mine are full length from behind the front wheel well to end of the crew cab. There isn’t much to the steel tray, Mine weren’t in bad shape, but if yours are beyond saving then the first choice (for me) would be to go to a bone yard and try to find one. Even a longer tray (if found) from a different wheel base could be easily shortened. There isn’t much to the tray or “pan” as it is just a series of channels to give it some spine for weight bearing between the brackets and a series of holes for the brackets and plastic cover.
Im a boilermaker welder by trade so I would be comfortable even welding two shorter trays together to make the length if needed.
Fabricating from scratch would be possible but by the time you bought material I believe the junk yard cost would still be more economical.
During my last trip to our local “Pick A Part” junk yard there were still quite a few full length running boards on Ford vehicles.
While mine were apart I did a bunch of electrical and lighting upgrades to mine. I have been thinking of doing a DIY article over on the 99-03 7.3 Forum, but I’m just not sure how many members still run the OEM full length running boards on their trucks I might try and do it soon, and if so I’ll let you know. Your title caught my eye under the “New Post” section.
in the meantime, if I can help you with any specifics or questions I can send you some detailed photos of what was involved. Hopefully you’ve got a scrap yard nearby in a large city thats not too far away, it’s late here so I’ll follow back tomorrow.
Glenn (Big Horn)
Post Edit: here’s some pictures of the brackets and steel tray, Let me know if it’s similar to what you have on your X
Thanks for sharing the experience That helps a lot. Unfortunately I am well into the rust belt and would not expect to find “decent old trays” around here.
Yes the brackets and trays look very similar.
Id be willing to build new steel boards to mount to the factory brackets also, so I’m curious if anyone here has done that. That almost seems easier than building new replacement skeletons that would accept the plastic covers.
