Leaving running boards deployed - pros and cons

[chrissbu]

Hi, everyone...
We're about two weeks into Expedition ownership, and one of the concerns we have is just the constant in and out of the running boards. I have little ones, so leaving them "in" isn't a great option, and I wanted to see if there are any concerns or issues with leaving them deployed out. Thanks in advance for any insights or experiences y'all can share!

 

[duneslider]

I wouldn't worry about them going in an out all the time, that isn't what hurts them. I think having them not moving is more of a problem. Just make sure you keep all the moving areas lubed in the winter and I would recommend deploying them when washing so you can clean the linkage good. I think most issues stem from not cleaning them good and not lubing them.

I too have only had mine for about 4 weeks and at first I was concerned with how often they were going in and out. I really think it isn't anything to worry about though if you take care of them.

 

[chrissbu]

One of the complaints my teenager has is the delay in them deploying...he's still trying to get used to having to wait for them to deploy before jumping out, as the first or second time I dropped him off at school the running board was still moving as he got out and it tripped him up

Any particular lubes that people recommend? Just simple WD40, or go with silicone, or a dry-based lube (graphite, teflon)?

 

[GixxerJasen]

I'm the one who usually hits the running board on it's way down. My teenager is like "oh, what? we are here? already? let me put my stuff away"
All while I'm standing outside ready to tap the handle to lock the doors.

 

[2020-MAX-Limited]

I haven't verified yet in the 4th Gen, but our 3rd Gen would not keep the boards deployed beyond one engine on/off cycle. You could deploy them while the car is running and they would stay out after shutdown, but would retract again on the next start. Perhaps 4th Gen behaves differently.

 

[ManUpOrShutUp]

I wouldn't keep them down as they will take a lot of abuse and could get caught up pretty easily. If they snag on something things can get ugly fast. If you want to go that route I would swap them out for fixed running boards that don't hang down so low.

As for lube, standard WD40 is a terrible lubricant. It's good for rust removal/protection and that's about it. However, I do like the WD Specialist white lithium grease and have used that on the running boards. No matter what you do, they are very likely to fail. I am on my 3rd set now I think and gave up replacing them. I unplugged the driver side and for now the passenger side continues to function.

 

[sjwelds]

I'm the one who usually hits the running board on it's way down. My teenager is like "oh, what? we are here? already? let me put my stuff away"
All while I'm standing outside ready to tap the handle to lock the doors.

GAH!!! I was hoping my kids would be done with that by the time they're teenagers!!!!!

 

[m3olsen]

Any particular lubes that people recommend? Just simple WD40, or go with silicone, or a dry-based lube (graphite, teflon)?

As for lube, standard WD40 is a terrible lubricant. It's good for rust removal/protection and that's about it. However, I do like the WD Specialist white lithium grease and have used that on the running boards.

I was thinking white lithium grease would be a good idea as well. I'm so disappointed at no grease fittings. Are people just spraying as best they can into the pivoting points, between the inboard and outboard arm (it's been awhile - I need to take a look at the mechanism)?

 

[GixxerJasen]

GAH!!! I was hoping my kids would be done with that by the time they're teenagers!!!!!

While I'm delivering bad news, there's a lot of other stuff you think they'll be done with by that time that they won't. A lot of it gets worse.

 

[SyndicateZ]

Ford Quick Tips #86: How to Fix Stuck Power Running Boards for Good!

In this video we show you how to fix the most common cause for sticking power running boards on Ford vehicles.These are the Lubricants I Recommend:Rust Penet...

youtu.be

 

[nationalgallery]

I had 4 Navigators with power running boards over a 20 yr period, and I have a 10+ min. drive to and from my house on a country dirt/gravel/muddy/snowy road. I would thoroughly wash the deploying mechanisms with the hose and then spray with WD40 usually every 3-4 months, and never had a problem except with one running board (motor failure) which was replaced under warranty. I plan to do the same with this Expedition.

 

[xmountaineer]

I use fluid film.

 

[duneslider]

I think a lot depends on your area and what your environment looks like as well as what time of the year. I do a lot of driving in the warmer times of the year in really dusty areas so I don't want anything that will attract more dust and have it stick. In the winter something heavier like white lithium or fluid film will prevent crap from getting in. I think the key is cleaning it though. Just make sure to deploy when cleaning and spray them off good and that will probably take care of most issues.

 

[2020-MAX-Limited]

I haven't verified yet in the 4th Gen, but our 3rd Gen would not keep the boards deployed beyond one engine on/off cycle. You could deploy them while the car is running and they would stay out after shutdown, but would retract again on the next start. Perhaps 4th Gen behaves differently.

Follow-up, according to the 2020 Owners Manual, if deployed, the running boards will return to the stowed position when the vehicle speed exceeds 5 MPH. In other words, they will only stay deployed when the car is stopped to allow for cleaning the top surfaces and to access the roof. Ford apparently doesn't want them deployed when the vehicle is moving.

 

[scottdm]

One of the complaints my teenager has is the delay in them deploying...he's still trying to get used to having to wait for them to deploy before jumping out, as the first or second time I dropped him off at school the running board was still moving as he got out and it tripped him up

Any particular lubes that people recommend? Just simple WD40, or go with silicone, or a dry-based lube (graphite, teflon)?

I use bicycle chain wax in a spray can. Goes on liquid and gets in all the bushings and firms up to keep out crud while still lubricating. 5 years in the salt belt and no issues so far.

 

[techdude99]

I use bicycle chain wax in a spray can. Goes on liquid and gets in all the bushings and firms up to keep out crud while still lubricating. 5 years in the salt belt and no issues so far.

Great idea. I used it on shift linkages with my older manual transmission cars and it worked great.

 

[Glen B Ashcroft]

will the dealer lube those on a regular service oil change? i have the ford maintenance plan as well as the extended warranty

 

[Aggie76]

While I am still deciding on our next family SUV, I can speak for having power running boards since '09 on my '09 F150 King Ranch and my current '18 F150 King Ranch plus on my wife's GMC Yukon XL Denali. Living in northern MN we get plenty of snow, ice and temps below -40 in winter plus gravel/dirt roads during the summer. Extending the boards when washing then lubricating with spray white lithium grease on the joints is the key to keeping them operating. They do tend to slow down a bit in winter working through the ice build-up if we're on the road but overnight in our heated garage to melt it off and they are back to normal. I

 

[leeghoti]

I haven't verified yet in the 4th Gen, but our 3rd Gen would not keep the boards deployed beyond one engine on/off cycle. You could deploy them while the car is running and they would stay out after shutdown, but would retract again on the next start. Perhaps 4th Gen behaves differently.

Yeah 4th Gen does not stay out (at least my 2020 doesn't). The "Out" setting is intended for assisting in loading stuff onto the roof and will revert to "auto" on the next engine cycle. There may be a forscan mod to change that behavior though. And I suppose there is probably a mechanical hack...

 

[Johnathan M]

I bought my 2013 almost 2 years ago and the running boards were not working. They were in the out/down position. They are turned off in the dash message center. One of the motor brackets is broken and so it doesn't go up in right, which is why they're turned off. But this generation seems to be able to stay off continually, because they never go back to auto after restarting the vehicle. I haven't had any issues with them staying out all the time. The only time anything has ever bumped them is one time when I was in a yard that had a pretty big hump in it that I went over, it pushed them up a little bit, but it didn't bend anything. It just pushed them back up towards the up position. I also think the vehicle looks better with them in the down position.