I bought Willmore Stainless Steel Running Boards for my truck two years ago. They are the full length on my megacab, from wheelwell to wheelwell. They looked great, but...

I must say I'm very disappointed:

1. The rubber steps started to lift off (the 3M tape started to go)
2. The rubber lining on the top split and peeled off
3. My steel toe boot kicked the vertical trim and it bent (no I didn't kick it deliberately)
4. The steping area metal is starting to lift and bend.

Warranty? Yup. One year.

So I'm going to removed them, take them to a metal fabrication shop, have thicker metal welded in place, then Line-X the stepping area.

I hate it when companies cheap out!

 

most of them only have a 1 year warranty

 

Yes, but I wonder if other nerf bars and running boards have as many problems!

When the rubber steps started to lift I thought that this was something "reasonable" that could happen...just stick 'em back down with 3M again. Not to worry.

But then to have them completely fall apart to the point I have to make sure I step in the exact spot...well, that's another story. They're built for looks or maybe for some "dainty lady" truck, but they're not workhorse running boards by any means.

Tomorrow they come off to be sent to the fabrication shop. I'll have to take some pictures and post 'em tomorrow.

 

PUTCO boards have a lifetime warrenty

 

So I pulled my running boards off and delivered them to a fabrication shop this week. The guys at the shop laughed when they saw the construction of them.

No word of a lie, the step metal was 1/32 of an inch, rivited to the bars, and siliconed on as well.

When they're done being properly fabricated this week, I'm taking them to Rhino Lining to get them coated in black. $100 each they tell me...

 

I gotta ask, why not just have the fabrication company build you something you KNOW will last, from scratch?

 

Good question...but the boards only weak point is that thin top metal piece. So for a fabrication shop to cut out the same size, but thicker, and weld it in place will cost no more than $200...add to this the $200 Rhino coating and that's a $400 fix. To fabricate that same style running board from scratch would be a lot more.

I suppose I could skip the coating and buy some 3M anti-slip pads to apply, cutting the repair cost in half, but I like being able to step anywhere along the board without worry of slipping or bending the things.