Running boards are just fine; you see them on nicer minivans all the time!

 

x2

Why can't people be here if they don't wheel or they have 2WD? Yotatech is not off-raod tech entirely.

There's no right or wrong by removing or keeping the running boards, If one think removing them to simply "look tall" without doing a real physical lift. That's fine too.

I personally like the boards on stock runners that has puny tires, once I have both time and funds to get a lift, bigger tires and sliders, they will be off.

 

Well I have been here since I got my runner. I use this board to learn about my truck and get good ideas on how to take care of it. From what tires and shocks work with what setup to how to get my ignition key to turn. Off roading isnt for evey member. I dont off road but find this board priceless for taking care of my truck.

 

geez i didnt know my little rant would turn into a pretty long thread. forums are open to anyone and everyone, and are for discussion, and as sabre pointed out, i too mostly use forums for learning about my truck and even occasionally giving my input on some subjects i have experience with. i think its just a wonderful wealth of specific information all in one place. i dont know what the big stink about 2wd vehicles is about either. in 2wd w/ my locker on i can go a lot of places that a 4wd truck w/o one couldnt. ...and what is a persons definition of "offroad"? for some it may be fire roads, or even driving on a little trail. for some it may be driving up a vertical wall in moab...so who's to say who offroads and who doesnt.

 

Oh I have to get in on this one!
Toyota Trucks are for driving PERIOD! Everyday, anywhere. Thats why we love them. Cause in stock form they are perfect for getting groceries, putting kids and friends in the back, hitting the dirt, pullin' Jeeps out of the mud, then hosing off and taking your girlfriend out on a date.
Now as for running boards, I personally removed them for two reasons. One, they were badly rusted and the plastic "tread" was peeling off. Two, after having a full size Chevy for years I found it difficult to get into a 4runner. I love the look of them off and find it easier to get in and out.

 

you all are rediculous lol. if you wheel take em off if you dont leave them on. same goes if you like the looks of running board or dont like how they look. this is a 4runner forum why should what people do with their trucks here be any different than what the guy in the parking lot does? are you gonna go up to him and be like your running boards are gay dude...no so why care what other people do with their trucks. if you dont like it move on.

 

The only negative thing i can say about removing the running boards are that the doors get sandblasted from stuff flinging off the tires into the doors

 

Personal preference;

The UV in SUV stands for utility vehicle, mine is a work truck = Utility. The runningboards are handy for putting stuff on the roof and they keep mud and small rocks off the sides for the most part. If I was crawling over rocks I'd take them off but for what I do they are a utility feature. Besides, they are really handy for washing the roof....

Doug

 

I don't need my running boards to get in or out. I go on offroad trails once or twice a month, but only on easy or moderate trails, so they haven't caused clearance problems. But I might take them off because they rub the back of my calf when I get out, and get my pants dirty. I also want to see how it looks without them. But every time I wash my 4runner, I stand on them to wash the roof.

Bill

 

i kept mine on my 2000 for several reasons but the main one is this: I'm in baja a lot and anyone who's driven in baja (offroad) knows that 100's of miles of baja roads = sand/rock blasting to your paint. Even tho i have the painted flares (which keep some rocks inside the wheel wells), the running boards keep all of the kicked up rocks off the rocker panels/doors. So yes, they save my paint and i like em. - so there ;-)

 

Good point, I left mine on up until this point cause the private road that leads to my secluded lake was cut through the tough canadian shield and is full of large rocks and thin gravel. I just had new paint applied within the last 10months so they have saved my paint from annoying stone chips. Me and and my friend took his 99' Taco (3.5 Old Man Emu Lift) out to my cabin and did some serious wilderness trails. 1 Month later I returned with my 4Runner and did the same exact trail...I was really thinking i'd be touching ground with the running-boards on...but I didnt bottom out once. Just like the comment @ sonoransteel "System 7 installed even with running boards". Really to each his own, I believe they have saved my paint...but for next season I have 22inch Eagle's to toss on..so I will be saying good-bye to the running boards then.