Rough Country Power Running Boards Install and Thoughts after 7mo / 10k miles

[2wheeltraveler]

Is there any chance one of you can either check the box (if you have it) or the length of the steps.....they did send the correct motors/wiring box but the second box says PSR72 72" power rail step and I'm wondering if they sent the extend cab steps with the crew cab kit....then again they do work but look shorter than those posted here.....first pic is with steps removed, second is with side steps on

Mine are about 82".... it was a quick check, may be off by an inch or 2.

 

[JerseyMike]

That makes a lot more sense however I called rough country and they said 72 is right. I got used to it anyway and it does seem to work. It’s just a little shorter than I would expect.

 

[csukoh78]

Great product and price, if you're on the fence, do it.

RoughCountry Model PSR71520
Installed on '22 Lariat ER
Purchased, not under any promotion (unbiased feedback)
Time in use: 7 months

After install dimensions (nearly perfect):
10.5" Ground to step
13" step to cab

Install

• Install difficulty is a 3 out of 5 (more time consuming than difficult)
• Kit is very well designed with no modifications to truck needed. Wires are all pre-configured to length, in wire loom with extra protection for the section that runs from side to side in the frame rail.
• About 6 hours to install. Was taking time to route wires cleanly, zip tie everything and did some cleaning of the truck while in there, while also doing the Frunk beeper delete. The instructions weren’t specific to the lightning so for example where you run the wires under the truck didn’t 100% match the pics so you have to adapt a bit but overall easy to ad-lib those parts.
• Because the power and ground came pre-wired with inline fuses installed, I opted to follow the frame up into the frunk instead of trying to punch those through the FW. The wiring by default is on the passenger side and that’s not a simple entry point behind the glove box.
• Comes with switch to disable steps from deploying, easily routed that into the center console.

Product performance / observations

• Deployment is managed via magnetic sensors in the door jam that are largely out of sight and easy to install. No issues so far with adhesive and it was an extremely hot summer in TX.
• 2 lights shine down on each side, adhered to the pinch welds near the frame rail. They spot illuminate the steps well and you can adjust them to the location that you prefer. No issues with them coming off.
• Boards are slightly angled towards truck, you feel it when stepping on them but you don't see it. It’s a good design that aids in entry/exit stability with my 80. y/o MIL.
• Much wider shoe patch vs factory so you can get a full foot onto the step vs ½ on the factory steps. Much sturdier contact patch and should be overall safer, less prone to slips.
• Design is far easier to keep clean. Stock ones always looked dingy and since they are not tucked away it detracted from the trucks look when the rest is clean
• I didn’t weigh them, but believe the steps are lighter and after adding the motors, weight should be similar
• Deploy speed is excellent.

Wish list for RoughCountry (None would affect my decision to purchase again)

• Add option to deploy steps to assist with cleaning. Currently have to manually clean with door open to prevent spray from entering cab.
• Add a short delay after door close. By default the running boards return immediately when closing the door. I had no idea how many times I close one door just to open another until I installed these and it doubles the cycles they go through unnecessarily. I've started training myself to open the other door first before closing the first door to reduce wear on the motors.
• Implement a slowdown when they are near full extension or retraction. They go full speed from stop to stop so it generates a "thump" in both directions.
• Stick-on lights don't integrate with zone lighting, not a show stopper, but would be cool if they could tap into the existing board's lighting harness to integrate.
• Mud and snow could cause them to be slippery left to right since the tread is only one direction following the length of the truck. I haven't had issues in the rain but haven't been able to test in other climates yet.
• Add sound deadening to the motor assembly to reduce the whirr you hear when they are deploying / retracting. They are not super loud, but louder than other factory units I've heard.

General comment not related to the product. You will be able see the plastic aero cover shroud on each side of the truck that was hidden by the factory running boards. On the plus side, that cover gives you a convenient place to run the wires along the underside.

I have never had motorized running boards and didn't expect to love it as much as I do. Overall this is a huge improvement visually and functionally. My MIL for example is now able to get into the truck without needing to use the grab handle and pull herself up.

how did you connect it to the 12 V battery source? Did you connect it to the jump points in the passenger frunk cover, or did you directly connect to the battery terminals in the back of the frunk?

I connected mine to the battery terminals and now I hear loud clicking coming from the battery and it is throwing a service light now

 

[2wheeltraveler]

how did you connect it to the 12 V battery source? Did you connect it to the jump points in the passenger frunk cover, or did you directly connect to the battery terminals in the back of the frunk?

I connected mine to the battery terminals and now I hear loud clicking coming from the battery and it is throwing a service light now

Positive and negative direct to battery

 

[JerseyMike]

Battery terminals for me, no clicking or other issues, are you sure you have magnets placed right and grounding screws?

Is the clicking from the motor on the steps or the truck in general and does it go away if you remove wires from battery?

 

[csukoh78]

Positive and negative direct to battery

Yes but there are two separate places on each terminal where you potentially can connect, I saw a previous post saying that you need to use the one closest to the front bumper to be downstream of the BMS

 

[csukoh78]

Battery terminals for me, no clicking or other issues, are you sure you have magnets placed right and grounding screws?

Is the clicking from the motor on the steps or the truck in general and does it go away if you remove wires from battery?

It sounds like a rapid relay click on and off very close to the battery. After I installed the steps I connected my car battery using the passenger side connectors and the battery was at half charge. I used the battery reset procedure after fully charging the battery (accessory on, flash highbeams five times, press brake pedal three times, turn off) so we will see if that works. I don't know why I'm continuously getting a powertrain air. The truck drives just fine. The only thing I can think is that it is the decently well-known gear shifter issue because for the first time ever I press the button which lower the gear shifter all the way down so I could extend the Center console to have a flat workspace. The problem popped up after that.

 

[2wheeltraveler]

Yes but there are two separate places on each terminal where you potentially can connect, I saw a previous post saying that you need to use the one closest to the front bumper to be downstream of the BMS

Not sure what the preferred spot it, but this is what I used and it hasn't posed any problems so far.

 

[csukoh78]

Not sure what the preferred spot it, but this is what I used and it hasn't posed any problems so far.

Yeah I moved it to those spots. I initially had the negative on the one behind it. The clicking I am hearing sounds like a small relay directly behind the positive terminal

 

[JerseyMike]

I’m pr

Not sure what the preferred spot it, but this is what I used and it hasn't posed any problems so far.

Pretty sure those are the spots I used but I will check later

 

[Evlar77]

Great product and price, if you're on the fence, do it.

RoughCountry Model PSR71520
Installed on '22 Lariat ER
Purchased, not under any promotion (unbiased feedback)
Time in use: 7 months

After install dimensions (nearly perfect):
10.5" Ground to step
13" step to cab

Install

• Install difficulty is a 3 out of 5 (more time consuming than difficult)
• Kit is very well designed with no modifications to truck needed. Wires are all pre-configured to length, in wire loom with extra protection for the section that runs from side to side in the frame rail.
• About 6 hours to install. Was taking time to route wires cleanly, zip tie everything and did some cleaning of the truck while in there, while also doing the Frunk beeper delete. The instructions weren’t specific to the lightning so for example where you run the wires under the truck didn’t 100% match the pics so you have to adapt a bit but overall easy to ad-lib those parts.
• Because the power and ground came pre-wired with inline fuses installed, I opted to follow the frame up into the frunk instead of trying to punch those through the FW. The wiring by default is on the passenger side and that’s not a simple entry point behind the glove box.
• Comes with switch to disable steps from deploying, easily routed that into the center console.

Product performance / observations

• Deployment is managed via magnetic sensors in the door jam that are largely out of sight and easy to install. No issues so far with adhesive and it was an extremely hot summer in TX.
• 2 lights shine down on each side, adhered to the pinch welds near the frame rail. They spot illuminate the steps well and you can adjust them to the location that you prefer. No issues with them coming off.
• Boards are slightly angled towards truck, you feel it when stepping on them but you don't see it. It’s a good design that aids in entry/exit stability with my 80. y/o MIL.
• Much wider shoe patch vs factory so you can get a full foot onto the step vs ½ on the factory steps. Much sturdier contact patch and should be overall safer, less prone to slips.
• Design is far easier to keep clean. Stock ones always looked dingy and since they are not tucked away it detracted from the trucks look when the rest is clean
• I didn’t weigh them, but believe the steps are lighter and after adding the motors, weight should be similar
• Deploy speed is excellent.

Wish list for RoughCountry (None would affect my decision to purchase again)

• Add option to deploy steps to assist with cleaning. Currently have to manually clean with door open to prevent spray from entering cab.
• Add a short delay after door close. By default the running boards return immediately when closing the door. I had no idea how many times I close one door just to open another until I installed these and it doubles the cycles they go through unnecessarily. I've started training myself to open the other door first before closing the first door to reduce wear on the motors.
• Implement a slowdown when they are near full extension or retraction. They go full speed from stop to stop so it generates a "thump" in both directions.
• Stick-on lights don't integrate with zone lighting, not a show stopper, but would be cool if they could tap into the existing board's lighting harness to integrate.
• Mud and snow could cause them to be slippery left to right since the tread is only one direction following the length of the truck. I haven't had issues in the rain but haven't been able to test in other climates yet.
• Add sound deadening to the motor assembly to reduce the whirr you hear when they are deploying / retracting. They are not super loud, but louder than other factory units I've heard.

General comment not related to the product. You will be able see the plastic aero cover shroud on each side of the truck that was hidden by the factory running boards. On the plus side, that cover gives you a convenient place to run the wires along the underside.

I have never had motorized running boards and didn't expect to love it as much as I do. Overall this is a huge improvement visually and functionally. My MIL for example is now able to get into the truck without needing to use the grab handle and pull herself up.

Thank you for the detailed instructions and review. About to order these so my elderly father can get into my truck easier. Couple questions...

Do the boards lower quite a bit more than the factory boards that came with the truck?

Do you know about how many inches off the ground the step is?

Thank you!

 

[2wheeltraveler]

They are lower, my 5’ 82 y/o mother has been able to get in with a little bit of effort but she’s pretty frail.


10.5" Ground to step
13" step to cab

 

[SmoothJ]

Would these be easier to install on the platinum from a power point of a view? I know you could have gotten the AMP kit from Ford.

 

[Magendi]

Has anyone noticed any change in efficiency with these? I wonder if they affect aerodynamics in any meaningful way.

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