I have just purchased a 2006 RX400h (I am finally being good to the enviornment!). I am considering the ATS running boards offered by Sewell Lexus. Does anyone have any experiences with regards to the following:

Do they hinder parking of the vehicle? (do they block seeing the sidewalk in the side view mirror when reversing?

Do they soil your pants when getting in and out during wet weather? (I am 5'6" and my wife is 5'3")

How is the fit and finish? We plan to have them painted to the "Bamboo" color.

Do they fit with factory mud guards?

Do they scrap over speed bumps, railroad tracks, or steep hills? We live in San Francisco.

Thanks in advance for all your help.

 

Some people buy running boards becausethey visually lower the RX - to those folks, I'd say look into a good body kit, but if you really need a step to enter/exit the vehicle with some grace, look into a set of running boards or side rails.

If you or your wife have to hitch yourself up uncomfortably on tiptoe to slide into the seat, you might be a good candidate. Look for running boards that can be installed in a number of positions - you want something that will tuck in close to the bodywork but still be a functional step.

Check out this thread:

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=185636

Congratulations on that new RX!!

 

Since you are living in SF so this may not be an issue, but just in case we have readers from the snow belt who read this thread because they want to know more about the running boards.

Running boards can get really slippery in snowy weather, with snow and water accumulate onto them and turning into ice in freezing temperature. I talked to a local Volvo dealer when I was cross-shopping our RX400h with a XC90 V8 (really nice vehicle, better driving dynamics and utility than the RX, probably cheaper also with corporate discount, but just can't match the gas mileage), and the dealer told us that they recommend their customers to have the running board taken off during winter for safety.

I am 5'8" and I am still not quite used to "climbing" into the RX -- this is the first SUV I owned, and my daily car is a lowered Supra. My wife, who's 5'4" and is currently 5-month pregnant, and is the primary driver on the RX, has no problem getting in and out of the driver seat.

 

They do not hinder parking as it doesn't really stick out all that much in relation to the side mirrors.

I'm 5'4" and my wife is about 5'2" and we have no problem with getting our clothes dirty when getting in the car. I personally don't use the side step to step on, but my wife and others do so you shouldn't get dirty if you use it as a step.

Fit and finish are really good. I installed it myself with no problems. I also bought it prepainted and the color match was good since my cars paint was still fairly new when I installed the side steps.

They do not scrape over speed bumps. My car is lowered but the SUV is so high to begin with that there is no way you are even near any speed bumps with the side skirts. I think the side steps on lower the side profile about an 1" or so.

Here are a couple pictures of the ATS side steps on my Neptune Blue RX330. I also installed those LED puddle lights under them as well. I originally did them for looks, but I'm very surprised at how functional they are. Mine is wires to come on when you open the door, and/or when you disarm the OEM alarm and unlock the doors.

 

what wheels are those ? i must have them

 

Are running boards easy to install? I'm by no means a tool handyman, but are instructions adequate for installations? Would somebody with very little drilling experience be able to handle this?

Also, how easy is it to install those lights you have? Looks awesome.

 

Sorry for the late reply, I didn't see this until a new post bumped it to the to. The rims are just regular old TSW Montage. Not too cheap but not expensive either. Just an average wheel.

 

also...can you tell me what brand are those running boards?

 

The instruction are good. As long as you can drill you should be able to do it. The drilling is not the hard part. The hard part is getting under the car to see what you are doing. For me, I'm small enough where I didn't even have to jack the car up and I could lay on my back and do the work. It was tight though. Otherwise you may have to put the car on jack stands. The mounting brackets don't align exactly left and right because of suttle differences in how they weld the unibody together, so don't be alarmed if they are not symetrical. The intructions also point this out. The main thing is to have sharp drill bits. If you have good sharp drill bits it only takes a few seconds to drill the holes. If your bits are bad, it takes forever and you may not even be able to drill through the pinch welds. My first attempt I use my regular bits and the first hole or two was okay and then it sucked. I then used my dad's titanium bits and it went through the pinch welds like buttter Anyway, if you buy them, just look over the instuctions and see if you can follow and do it. If not just take it to someone. It is not that hard though.

One drilling tip is to use a smaller diamter drill bit to make the hole first then use the large bit to enlarge the hole to the spec needed.

The brand is ATS sold by Sewell Lexus. I bought mine off ebay through one of their auctions. The good thing about their auction is you can have them paint it before they send it to you.

 

thanks for that great info. i think i'll take a shot at it. what about the lights? did it come as a package (boards+lights) or did you have to get elsewhere. any tips on installation of lights? easy? difficult? i've never wired cars before.

 

The lights don't come with the boards. I bought that seperately. I had to make custome brackets to mount the lights ustilizing the running boards aluminum sloted under frame. You'll see what I mean when you get them. I mounted the lights on a metal strap and mounted the strap using bolts and nuts in the same fashion as you mount the actual running board to the mouning bracket. Because if the way it is mounted on the slots, they can slide for easy adjustment.

 

As a long time SUV driver, I find some of the comments amusing. My husband and I were just laughing the other day when we brought the new RX home that this is one vehicle that does not need running boards!

We bought the RX instead of a sedan partly because we find a sedan hard to climb down into and up out of. Our GX is VERY tall (almost didn't get it because my husband worried it would hurt his back to get into it, and he is six feet tall). We were thinking that the RX is just the right height- you don't have to step up or down to get in or out.

Before you run out and get running boards, there is a proper easy way to get into an SUV - and running boards actually get in the way. I am under 5'5" and have no problem. Instead of trying to step in, you turn your rear to the seat and plop in. To get out, you swing both legs over the side of the seat, touch the ground, and stand up. With a bit of use it becomes very natural - like a regular chair. With the running boards, the back of your leg hits them and it is actually harder.

 

Very nice! My wife's new RX350 is Neptune Blue... question: how did you lower the RX? What brand springs did you use, if this is how it was done?

Thanks!

 

yes, what brand of springs did you purchase for you Lexus? Looks like a good drop

 

running boards on this vehicle are a joke unless you are a midget