Re: Why were running boards phased out?

Posted by Mahoning63 On 2015/11/23 17:52:16

Interesting how perception changed through the years. My '10 SRX's sill is around 17 inches up front, slightly more for rear seat. This in a mid-sized crossover rather than full-sized body-on-frame SUV or pick-up. My in-laws had a '98 Ford F-150 with no running boards that required one hoist himself way up yet my short mother-in-law in her 70's did so without complaint.

Maybe folks back in the day had simply gotten used to running boards and weren't ready to give them up so quickly.

Getting in/out of a '38 Super Eight and '33 Pierce-Arrow 836, the boards were completely in the way and not necessary. But my 10 year old would appreciate them as she did several years ago getting into a 138-CD.

Material cost savings, while not a functional reason to delete, was surely a welcome change within the finance department.