Running Board Lowering?

jriltex · February 12, 2015

2015 Diesel 2500 GMC Denali. Running board tucked in under the cab. Not very effective to facilitate ease of entry into the cab. Wondering if anyone has addressed this issue and found a resolution? I know there are aftermarket and fold out steps like Amp Research, but hate to spend to replace brand new components. And understand the Amp steps require modification of the front wheel well plastic trim. Has to be cut out to provide step access. Sure hate to think about having to cut a brand new truck to get a product to work. Seems the product could be modified instead. Anyway, hoping brackets might exist for lowered running board. But so far no success in finding. Thanks

SouthernSilveradoGuy85 · February 13, 2015

If I were you I would just buy a new set of steps and sell the ones off the truck. I was lucky that mine didn't come with steps so I just got a set that I wanted.

jriltex · February 14, 2015

Yeah, I agree. I decided to go with the Amp Research steps. Really like the height of the steps deployed as it will be less like climbing out of a Cessna cockpit and more natural. ;-) Will report back how they do.

Luster · February 14, 2015

You won't be sorry with the Amp Research steps. My best mod. Wife loves 'em too.

Just be sure to re-torque all the bolts at every oil change. Real easy to do, easily accessible.

Cowpie · February 15, 2015

Liked the Raptor running boards on my 2013, just put a set of them on my 2015 2500 tonight. Each person has their likes and dislikes. I can't stand nerf bars, steps and other such things, at least living down the gravel roads I do. Running boards protect the body side better and, while mud my build up under them, it doesn't build up on top of them like bars and steps. Guess it all depends on the situation. The Raptor boards seal up nice and tight on the rocker panel so nothing gets in between there.

SouthernSilveradoGuy85 · February 15, 2015

Liked the Raptor running boards on my 2013, just put a set of them on my 2015 2500 tonight. Each person has their likes and dislikes. I can't stand nerf bars, steps and other such things, at least living down the gravel roads I do. Running boards protect the body side better and, while mud my build up under them, it doesn't build up on top of them like bars and steps. Guess it all depends on the situation. The Raptor boards seal up nice and tight on the rocker panel so nothing gets in between there.

I had Weston 3" tube bars on my 98 and they seemed alright. But, the N-fabs I hav eon my '14 are powdercoated and much more sturdy than the Westons. Being that the main bar tucks right against the rockers seems to protect the rockers great so far. The tube steps have a lot thinner wall it seems. I've slammed the bars into the ground once when one of my first tires went into a ditch at a buddy's house and also slammed one of the hoops against a concrete curb and neither did any damage to anything. The N-fabs also seem to be a lot easier to clean and being that the ones I got aren't chrome they don't show age.

I've never liked running boards, at least the other styles. The newer ones look better though. Plus on this truck and my old "98 both have/had steps that went to the rear tires to help reach into the bed. The Westons were called Wheel-to-Wheel and the N-fabs are called bed access. Full length running boards don't look as good as bars, that is if there is any running boards that go to the rear wheel to help reach in the bed.

Cowpie · February 18, 2015

Yeah, I have issue with the old style running boards we used in days gone by, but the newer styles available are pretty good both functionally and looks. That is why I like the Raptor boards. Stainless steel, does a great job of protecting the body from rocks and junk from the gravel roads I have to drive down, and great step for the wife who is not as sure of her footing as I am. I have tried bars in the past, and the mud really builds up on them from the gravel roads and didn't do anything for protecting the rocker panels and lower door. At least we all have a wide range of choices for what we need and want.

SouthernSilveradoGuy85 · February 18, 2015

Yeah, I have issue with the old style running boards we used in days gone by, but the newer styles available are pretty good both functionally and looks. That is why I like the Raptor boards. Stainless steel, does a great job of protecting the body from rocks and junk from the gravel roads I have to drive down, and great step for the wife who is not as sure of her footing as I am. I have tried bars in the past, and the mud really builds up on them from the gravel roads and didn't do anything for protecting the rocker panels and lower door. At least we all have a wide range of choices for what we need and want.

When I put the Weston bars on my 98 it was back in '04 and I believe back then all you had to choose from was the tube steps or running boards. I've seen those tube steps get dented, bent and the brackets bend pretty easily. The N-fabs I have on my '14 are durable as hell like I said. I won't be taking this truck in the mud anyways, but I haven't had a problem with gravel or dirt building up on the actual steps on the drop down hoops. Only thing that's built up on them have been snow slush which isn't a big deal. Even though I'm only 29, I look at function over looks, but if I can get something that functions good while looking good then that's the best of both worlds. If I have function and if looking better would drop down function then I'll take function over looks. Like my toolbox where I need the full height instead of low-pro. I sometimes can barely close the one I got lol. The function over looks is also a reason why I have the bed access steps on both this one and my old 98. I don't get when people won't add or do something that's functional just because they don't like the looks. It's like if someone needs steps but don't get any because they don't like the look and then of course don't want to spend the money on a drop down step like AMP.

jriltex · February 19, 2015

Wow, I got the Amp Research Power Steps installed today on my 15 GMC2500 Diesel and THEY ROCK! I went from feeling like I was crawling into a Cessena to being able to easily enter the truck now in a natural position. These things rock. I will get some pictures up tomorrow some time. Expensive yes, but 5 year warranty and works like a charm!

07.RED.GMC · February 20, 2015

Wow, I got the Amp Research Power Steps installed today on my 15 GMC2500 Diesel and THEY ROCK! I went from feeling like I was crawling into a Cessena to being able to easily enter the truck now in a natural position. These things rock. I will get some pictures up tomorrow some time. Expensive yes, but 5 year warranty and works like a charm!

Pictures please!!!!

StinkyCheese · February 20, 2015

Looks like you "solved" the "problem," congrats. When my grandma was alive my dad took cut some blocks of metal that lowered and extended the running boards out. Worked great for grandma and now he's using them on his. All it cost was the price of the metal and a couple reciprocating saw blades. The boards seem to be less stable but nothing has broken on either of the trucks this fix has been on and that includes me riding on them down the road and bouncing on them.

jriltex · February 21, 2015

Finally got pictures loaded.

Cowpie · February 22, 2015

That looks neat! Just wish I lived in an area where that would be a viable option for me. The mud, rocks, etc that I have to run my pickup on just to get to and from town just makes something like that not the best idea. I am stuck with running boards that protect the sides and seal up against the rockers. Else my lower side body would die an ugly death too soon. I even end up with some gravel making it all the way up and into the bed from running down my gravel roads. Imagine the beating my sides would take without protection. But I sure like those Amp steps. They are truly neat. Congrats!

Jeff3955 · January 3, 2016

I know this thread is pretty old but just wondering if the amp steps hides the DEF tank at all ( hard to tell in photo). That is really an eye sore on my 2016 3500HD. I was going to just get regular running board type steps to hide the tank a little at least. I had the amp steps on my old truck and loved them.

SMiller · January 21, 2016

I know this thread is pretty old but just wondering if the amp steps hides the DEF tank at all ( hard to tell in photo). That is really an eye sore on my 2016 3500HD. I was going to just get regular running board type steps to hide the tank a little at least. I had the amp steps on my old truck and loved them.

Yes, they do help hide it.