[Boondox]

Anyone with OEM running boards, could you tell me the height effect on ground clearance? I just bought some running boards that I was assured were as high and tight as the OEM. But they actually hang down 3-4". So I am considering sending them back and looking for some OEM ones but would like to know how far down they hang.

Thanks!

 

[richards]

Anyone with OEM running boards, could you tell me the height effect on ground clearance? I just bought some running boards that I was assured were as high and tight as the OEM. But they actually hang down 3-4". So I am considering sending them back and looking for some OEM ones but would like to know how far down they hang.

Thanks!

My 2016 wagon has top of running board 3.5" below bottom of slider door. The running board is about 1.75"-2.0" and hangs even with the bottom of the metal body from what i can feel.

 

[timreg2]

The running board itself may not affect ground clearance. But the bracket almost certainly will. Most brackets I've seen are relatively thin steel oriented vertically for strength. That takes a lot of room under the pinch welds, impacting ground clearance.

I'm going to experiment with something like c-channel, or maybe even 3/4" thick Unistrut so ground clearance is only reduced by 3/4".

At least that's how it works in my head.

 

[kevvyd]

FWIW:
Before I had the OEM running board installed I used to slip under the van to do an oil change right by the slider. Sans jacks.
It definitely became a tighter squeeze after the addition.

 

[CaptainUnderpants]

Below is a photo of a 2021 HR EXT with factory extended running boards. It looks like they negatively impact ground clearance by about 2". Marginally better than what you noted above (3' - 4") for the aftermarket running boards.

 

[asdrew]

This is how far the factory step sits below the rocker:

 

[Boondox]

@richards , @timreg2 , @kevvyd , @CaptainUnderpants and @asdrew , thanks so much for the info and pictures! This forum is so helpful and I really appreciate it.

I measured this AM and it looks like the running boards I got actually clock in at 4.5". Not going to work. The OEM at 2" is a possibility. Right now we have a Luverne slide in/out step that my wife wanted to try and it hangs 5" and has been dinged before. I can see a way I could modify it to achieve about 1.5" but it would no longer slide in and out and with it's width might want to remove it when driving. And then there is the issue of the time to weld and fab. Which is fun in and of itself but I have plenty to do already.

Anyway, thanks much for the help!