Power running boards

Does anyone know if there is an easy way to use the power running boards with the front doors, but not the back doors? The thought is it might be easier to put kids in car seats without the running board in the way. There doesn’t look to be a setting in the screen to do that, and the dealer didn’t know for sure.

We’re still debating the whole Expedition vs Yukon Denali decision. We have a ‘17 Tahoe now. I want the Expedition, but I also want a happy wife. Her main concerns on the Expedition are the running boards making it harder to load kids, having to have the key fob for the rear gate, getting used to looking through the handle on the pillar (It blends into the pillar for me), larger diameter steering wheel, and she just thinks the Denali is prettier inside and out. The interior layout is fine, just doesn’t care for the two interior choices in the Platinum. My main concerns on the Yukon are 2nd row space, not having adaptive cruise that works decently, and the 360 camera. She loves her Tahoe other then the adaptive cruise so it’s the safer option for a happy wife.

There isnt an option to operate the boards based on the doors, but no other vehicle i know has that ability. You can choose to keep them up or down however through the advanced settings. I dont believe the system maintains this setting through diff engine cycles but ive never needed them to not operate normally. As far as car seat installation no kids but i find it easier to get in the expy than an escalade with fixed boards. The gm boards are 2 high, so i constantly either rub my shins or have a higher step in/out. The step for the power board feels more natural and my niece and nephew have easier time getting in. Idk where the powered boards for gm sit. Idk what you mean about the key fob and power liftgate being a concern, but it seems your decision is purely cosmetic. If Thats the case, you should keep your tahoe. Have you though about a gls450?

I think that standing on the running board would make getting kids in carseats easier, not harder.

In the end, get her what she wants. The Denali is a great choice as well. I looked at that vehicle too. Coming from a Mercedes, I still feel that the Denali has the perceived "glamor effect" over the Expedition, however, the Expedition was so much better in so many different ways, it is the route I went over the Denali.

2nd row space in the Expedition vs Denali are night and day an advantage for the Ford.

I really never noticed the handle on the pillar so I cannot comment on that. Other that I don't notice it.

Running boards come on just about all top trim level large SUV's so I'm not sure that would be a deterrent on the Ford or the GMC.

I have the light color interior on the Expedition with a White exterior. I thought keeping it clean may pose a challenge. With close to 10k miles on my Expy so far... I just condition the seats monthly and all looks good.

Just my two cents...

We ended up ordering the Platinum Expedition. Thanks for the input everyone.

Matthew Houtwed said:

We ended up ordering the Platinum Expedition. Thanks for the input everyone.

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Awesome! You're gonna love it! Standard length or the Max?

rumline said:

I think that standing on the running board would make getting kids in carseats easier, not harder.

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100% correct! I’m 5’6 so I don’t know what it would be like for someone taller but standing on the running board is the way to go for me when loading the car seat.

Artie said:

100% correct! I’m 5’6 so I don’t know what it would be like for someone taller but standing on the running board is the way to go for me when loading the car seat.

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As a fellow 5'6''er....I concur.

Randy Schmidt said:

Awesome! You're gonna love it! Standard length or the Max?

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The Max was kind of tempting to have the extra space and we talked about it briefly, but we stuck with the regular one. We’d been comparing to the Tahoe and regular Denali all along, so in the end we didn’t muddy the water and stayed with the comparable size.

Artie said:

100% correct! I’m 5’6 so I don’t know what it would be like for someone taller but standing on the running board is the way to go for me when loading the car seat.

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Yeah, it was just something we were curious about. I’m 6’3 and my wife is 5’2” (I think).

I’m not sure what others were talking about the rear gate and the key fob deal. Played with one and it works identical to the Tahoe. So I was able to eliminate that from the decision process.

In the end we just weren’t gaining all that much going to the Denali from the Tahoe for the money compared to the Expedition. The Denali was just the safer option of guaranteeing she’d like it.