Running Boards - Pulling Out

[slingshot383]

The factory running boards on my 2011 3500, the inner rocker panel where the running boards attach is cracking and bending allowing the trapped nuts to pull out and the running boards are no longer tight. This shouldn't be happening to a 3 year old truck.

 

[gsbrockman]

Agreed........hopefully you're within the 3/36 bumper-to-bumper warranty.

 

[DonFitzwater]

Welcome to the club slingshot! Mine have been that way since I bought it. The factory steps will be coming off this summer and a set of Luverne steps will go on. 1000.00 fix will make it right.

 

[JJPage]

Slingshot, that sucks! Hopefully the/a dealer will take care of you under warranty...If not, here is a great resource for new bars or boards, I have used them alot, always free shipping and great customer service. http://www.realtruck.com/nerf-bars-running-boards/ram/truck-3500/2011/
Jess

 

[rrl989]

If they were dealer installed, you're probably covered?

 

[mwilson]

Dealer installed is (1) year or 12,000 miles I believe. Went through this on the '06 when the finish on the tube steps started to go bad.

At least they have never loosened up.

Mike.

 

[slingshot383]

Got over 50,000 miles on it, looks like I'll take it to a friends body shop and see what the hit to fix it will be. Hammer, tig weld, and prime and seal should do it. Getting another set of running boards isn't in the cards right now.

 

[rrl989]

Who installed the crimp nuts?

 

[slingshot383]

These are the factory installed factory running boards. Took the running board off, big cracks in the rocker under where the nutserts are, and the front ones came out of the rocker panel. Really cheap nutserts, a real soft metal (like lead) with a small nut trapped in it.

 

[JJPage]

These are the factory installed factory running boards. Took the running board off, big cracks in the rocker under where the nutserts are, and the front ones came out of the rocker panel. Really cheap nutserts, a real soft metal (like lead) with a small nut trapped in it.

ss, Can you take and post pics?

 

[JLandry]

Really cheap nutserts, a real soft metal (like lead) with a small nut trapped in it.

That's NUTS!

John L.

 

[slingshot383]

If it's not raining tonight, I'll take some pics. Where the trapped nuts are, the metal is split in tears running away from the nuts, and there is a 2" horizontal tear in the metal below where they are about an 1" lower. Just a bad design that was never fully tested. Factory installed running boards should be tougher than nails and hold up to just about any abuse, these just can't take the weight of being stepped on daily, they are worthless. I'm going to cut some .090" steel patches just in case that is going to be the fix.

 

[DonFitzwater]

I fixed mine Saturday...........wife got me a new 2500!:-laf

I agree with your assessment. The factory mounting is less than durable. Even my wife's 1500 boards are working loose and it's still under warranty. They just retightened and said it was fine.....still flopping around!

 

[slingshot383]

I'm going to make some .050" thick patches, 5 1/2" X 5" weld nuts to them, cut the slot in them like the rocker has, bend them to fit the bottom of the rocker and weld them in. Twice as thick as the original sheet metal and with the wrap around, a much larger load path.

 

[Wingate]

If they were dealer installed, I could see where the nuts werent installed correctly. I witnessed a local dealer installing one using a cordless impact! Never broke out the torque wrench

 

[sag2]

For dealer installed there is a special tool required to install the Riv-nuts.

 

[slingshot383]

It's a leverage/ load problem, the rocker panel isn't reenforced in that area and isn't strong enough to handle the load over time and that's why the metal fractures below the nutserts. Adding a doubler that wraps around the bottom of the inner rocker panel should spread the load out enough to last. **** poor design.

 

[Bob4x4]

I have installed quite a few sets of factory boards over the years and have not experienced this yet nor have I seen it with factory installations,any chance you guys seeing this are BIG guys

 

[Wingate]

oh yeah sure BOB... blame it on the fat guy! hahahaha.
SAG2, the special tool is what they were hammering away with a cordless impact on. i just walked by SMH

 

[Bob4x4]

oh yeah sure BOB... blame it on the fat guy! hahahaha.
SAG2, the special tool is what they were hammering away with a cordless impact on. i just walked by SMH

Just sayin..........................lol

The instructions do mention using hand tools..............