Sean P. Holman
Contributor
If you are reading this magazine, you are probably a fan of lifted trucks and as such, you probably use your truck to haul more than just yourself around. Maybe it is your wife, in-laws, or that mob of kids that got you to choose the crew cab in the first place. So what to do when your significant others complain that your love of wheeling is interfering with their ease of getting in and out of your rig?
Well, as we see it you have a few options. You could take the wife’s car, but we are pretty sure the cool factor of her Volvo, outfitted like a rolling version of her purse, probably isn’t going to be as high as your 4x4. You could ignore the complaints, but that probably isn’t in your best interest if it is your mother-in-law doing the complaining. You could get a set of running boards, but aesthetically pleasing ones, and ones that aren’t slippery are hard to find and it doesn’t help that they tend to interfere with ground clearance.
Here is a look at everything that comes in the PowerBoard installation kit.
So what’s a guy to do? We’d recommend taking a look at Bestop’s PowerBoard. These automatically retracting running boards hide underneath your truck until a door is opened. Once the door is opened, the extruded aluminum step deploys and offers a wide 6.25-inch textured footpad. When the door is closed, the PowerBoards automatically retract, keeping them out of the way.
For those looking for easier access in to their 4x4, this product gives you the best of all worlds with a step that allows for easy entry without limiting ground clearance or altering aesthetics. As a bonus, they are even illuminated for use in low light areas such as garages or at night. The Bestop PowerBoards feature a 600-pound load rating, have been salt-spray and cold-weather tested for ensured operation in any climate, and come with a 3-year/36,000-mile warranty.
The PowerBoard extends on the side that the door is opened on and works with the front or rear door. We measured the floorboard of our F-250, which was equipped with a leveling kit, at approximately 27½ inches. The deployed PowerBoard sits at 14½ inches, greatly improving access to the cab. For taller trucks, Bestop also offers a 2-inch extension arm as an optional accessory.
We recently installed a set of PowerBoards on an ’07 Ford F-250 Super Duty at Off Road Evolution in Fullerton, California, but Bestop manufactures the PowerBoard for most popular applications. Follow along to see how easy it is to add this level of convenience to your rig.
