Anyone have or installed auto running boards ?

[f8l vnm]

Great info guys. Looks like it maybe amp for me. But Man I love the new gm ones that extend to the bed.

[Carl Slaughter]

This do not have the ground clearance as the AMP's do and they do not extend out as far. Nice feature to swing (scissors out) and back, but like I said the do not extend out and down providing a more natural "step" up into the vehicle. Go to a dealership and try it out before you choose, then go to a Ford dealership and find a Platinum or limited F-150 they have the AMP powerBoards from the factory. Also I think the AMP's are wider too. Another point is the GM steps you tend to kick the rocker panel as they do not come down and are flush with the bottom of the truck.

[oneandzero]

A GM tech told me to stay away from the factory ones if you live in northern climates. They are cheaply made and the first bit of ice they break.

[Kcoleman]

Anyone have the Amp XL power steps? If so can you please upload a side view photo? I want to do a 1.5" body lift and am hoping these steps will give just enough coverage so I do not see the frame hanging below the truck. First time I have ever came across the XL steps.

[sk]

I don't have photos but if you are only doing a 1.5" lift then the XL's will probably come down too low when they are extended (Amp says they are for 3+" lifts).

[camcamaro1991]

This do not have the ground clearance as the AMP's do and they do not extend out as far. Nice feature to swing (scissors out) and back, but like I said the do not extend out and down providing a more natural "step" up into the vehicle. Go to a dealership and try it out before you choose, then go to a Ford dealership and find a Platinum or limited F-150 they have the AMP powerBoards from the factory. Also I think the AMP's are wider too. Another point is the GM steps you tend to kick the rocker panel as they do not come down and are flush with the bottom of the truck.

 

lol, go try them before you knock them they are down & far enough out, and offer far better ground clearance than the AMP's (have you never parked next to a curb with folding steps? or do you avoid curbs b/c you know they will hit), I was at the dealership this weekend and played for about 1 hour 2016 Denali with Tri mode steps. Trust me I cycled them, even brought my big brother to weight test them, the sales guy gave up and said just bring me the keys when your done. these steps would work on lifted trucks, but the advantage is they are superior on stock ride height trucks I don't think I would want it to fold or swivel out any lower like the AMPS do.

 

AMP's don't hold a candle to these steps in a stock setup and quality build, now if the vehicle had a huge lift then yes the AMPS fold down much further esp... with the drop arm extension.

 

A GM tech told me to stay away from the factory ones if you live in northern climates. They are cheaply made and the first bit of ice they break.

 

Is this for Ice? you can turn them off if you hold the button down for 6-7 seconds to disable the steps (I believe the owners manual says 4 seconds but its 6-7 seconds), just like the GMT-900 SUV steps offered a ice/mud turn off mode, last I checked AMP doesn't offer this. 2nd both systems do offer reverse direction if there is an obstruction, so if ICE held them both from opening it would sense it and hopefully not destroy the motors.

[oneandzero]

Is this for Ice? you can turn them off if you hold the button down for 6-7 seconds to disable the steps (I believe the owners manual says 4 seconds but its 6-7 seconds), just like the GMT-900 SUV steps offered a ice/mud turn off mode, last I checked AMP doesn't offer this. 2nd both systems do offer reverse direction if there is an obstruction, so if ICE held them both from opening it would sense it and hopefully not destroy the motors.

The tech didn't go into a lot of detail other than they've replaced a bunch already due the mechanism not working. Said they were pretty cheaply made.

[camcamaro1991]

The tech didn't go into a lot of detail other than they've replaced a bunch already due the mechanism not working. Said they were pretty cheaply made.

 

Yeah that makes sense, early teething issues like the GMT-900 where, I bet later they will get some upgraded motors, other parts, etc...

[NorCalSLT]

I would love a pair of the GM tri mode steps, the cargo bed kick button feature is desirable to me and they look great.
Gonna stop by the dealer and see if upgrading to them is possible and what it would require if so.

[sk]

I would love a pair of the GM tri mode steps, the cargo bed kick button feature is desirable to me and they look great.

Gonna stop by the dealer and see if upgrading to them is possible and what it would require if so.

 

Save yourself the headache. Upgrading is not possible without massive changes to the BCM (which most dealers won't agree to do).

I looked into it because I also like that they move rearward to get into the bed. The problem with them compared to the Amps is that they don't come "down and out" like the Amps so you still step up pretty far on your first step then have just a little step over the sillplate into the truck. I like that the Amps split the difference and are closer to a regular step height (around 7.5").

[wing98]

has anybody put amp boards on a single cab i don't see why you couldn't cut them down , you have to cut them for the double cab

[Xenawise]

Bringing this back from the grave...

 

Just wanted to let everyone know that I have successfully installed the factory Tri-Mode Power Running Boards on my '16 Denali. It can be done without any programming, but looking into the BCM programming from the factory, looks like the SLT and the Denali share the same base code so this "should" work on a SLT as well given the wiring is there. Probably won't work on a base or SLE trim truck without programming (as you do get DIC messages in the cluster when you enable or disable the boards and they have different base code for the BCM). You will need to tap into 4 places on the underhood harness. One is the Data Bus wire and another is the signal to the running board module to disable/enable the running boards. There is also power and ground to contend with. 

 

If you get the running boards without the wiring harness (very likely unless you can get the harness from a junkyard truck), I had to purchase the cheapest body wiring harness with the BRS Running Board option and strip it out of the harness and use it for my truck. This gets you all the correct connectors and the harness that goes over to the right side of the truck for the passenger running board (along with all the mounting hardware already integrated into the harness). So, this is not really an inexpensive option (I have about $1,100 into this endeavor along with my time), but just want to say that yes, it can be done without programming and just adding in 4 wires to the trucks factory harness (along with stripping the running board harness from a donor harness). 

 

I will add some pictures soon as well. I also ordered the correct dash switch (has seven switches vs. my original which only had six) which has the running board enable/disable switch and it is plug and play as well. No need to add any wiring to my truck at least. It was already preexisting. 

 

Been working problem free now for over 4 months (did not want to post this too early in case something did end up going wrong). 

 

As these only came available in the '16 and up trucks, I am sure the question will come up if these boards can be used on earlier model years (like '14 and '15) as well as maybe the HD trucks. I doubt you can use it on the '14 or '15 without some BCM programming magic as the option did not exist from the factory in those models so there would be no CAL that included the feature. If you could get the '16 CAL into a '14 or '15 BCM and actually have it work, then maybe it would work, but who knows what else you might break in the process. I am sure GTPrix (Chris) would be able to mash something that would work, but that would be some custom BCM programing. As for the HD trucks, I am not sure their either. If the '16 or later trucks use the same BCM base code as the LD truck, then it should have the code there as well for the running boards even though there were never offered as an option on the HD's. So, I am confident that this will work in a GMC Sierra SLT or Denali truck from '16 thru '18. Not sure on the Chevy side. If the LTZ and High Country share the same base code in the BCM, then again it will work on these trucks. 

 

If you have any questions, let me know. I will answer them as best as I can. And Happy New Year!

 

Xenawise

[junkyardz]

Had my Amps for 3 years, been nothing but great!  Not a single issue and super easy to install. I despise fixed boards, so these were a must. Can’t live without em! 

[BrianABP]

On 1/7/2018 at 5:40 AM, Xenawise said:

Bringing this back from the grave...

 

Just wanted to let everyone know that I have successfully installed the factory Tri-Mode Power Running Boards on my '16 Denali. It can be done without any programming, but looking into the BCM programming from the factory, looks like the SLT and the Denali share the same base code so this "should" work on a SLT as well given the wiring is there. Probably won't work on a base or SLE trim truck without programming (as you do get DIC messages in the cluster when you enable or disable the boards and they have different base code for the BCM). You will need to tap into 4 places on the underhood harness. One is the Data Bus wire and another is the signal to the running board module to disable/enable the running boards. There is also power and ground to contend with. 

 

If you get the running boards without the wiring harness (very likely unless you can get the harness from a junkyard truck), I had to purchase the cheapest body wiring harness with the BRS Running Board option and strip it out of the harness and use it for my truck. This gets you all the correct connectors and the harness that goes over to the right side of the truck for the passenger running board (along with all the mounting hardware already integrated into the harness). So, this is not really an inexpensive option (I have about $1,100 into this endeavor along with my time), but just want to say that yes, it can be done without programming and just adding in 4 wires to the trucks factory harness (along with stripping the running board harness from a donor harness). 

 

I will add some pictures soon as well. I also ordered the correct dash switch (has seven switches vs. my original which only had six) which has the running board enable/disable switch and it is plug and play as well. No need to add any wiring to my truck at least. It was already preexisting. 

 

Been working problem free now for over 4 months (did not want to post this too early in case something did end up going wrong). 

 

As these only came available in the '16 and up trucks, I am sure the question will come up if these boards can be used on earlier model years (like '14 and '15) as well as maybe the HD trucks. I doubt you can use it on the '14 or '15 without some BCM programming magic as the option did not exist from the factory in those models so there would be no CAL that included the feature. If you could get the '16 CAL into a '14 or '15 BCM and actually have it work, then maybe it would work, but who knows what else you might break in the process. I am sure GTPrix (Chris) would be able to mash something that would work, but that would be some custom BCM programing. As for the HD trucks, I am not sure their either. If the '16 or later trucks use the same BCM base code as the LD truck, then it should have the code there as well for the running boards even though there were never offered as an option on the HD's. So, I am confident that this will work in a GMC Sierra SLT or Denali truck from '16 thru '18. Not sure on the Chevy side. If the LTZ and High Country share the same base code in the BCM, then again it will work on these trucks. 

 

If you have any questions, let me know. I will answer them as best as I can. And Happy New Year!

 

Xenawise

 

God Bless  you LOL

[Xenawise]

More info since BrianABP has asked me:

 

The cheapest wiring harness with the BRS running board wiring harness inside that I could find is part number 84006174.

 

You also will need the interior switch bank with the seven switches so you can turn the running boards on or off and that part number is 23180146.

 

I purchased them through www.mygmwholesaleparts.com, best price and shipping rate I could find. Delivered in two days! Excellent service from these guys!

 

Xenawise