After a lot of frustration with my Tyger Star Armor Side Steps, I decided to take them off and it was time for something new. Well, my new running boards have officially arrived and they are the APS (Auto Parts Specialists) iArmor.
It should be noted that some places list the manufacturer as APG. I can’t confirm if the APG running boards are the same as the APS but from images, they do like indistinguishable.
Installation of these running boards is very simple. If you go under the car near the door’s edge, you’ll see that there are some plastic screws. These are simply covers for the running boards’ mounting locations. Just take them off and you’ll be ready to install the running boards. There are 6 covers per side. The iArmor running boards come in three main pieces, two that make up the brackets that attach to the truck and the running boards that attach to the brackets. Three brackets attach to either side of the truck and each bracket is labeled to indicate its position on the truck. These are the first things to install. Each bracket is held in place with two sets of bolts that are provided. I would suggest 2 things while installing these brackets: use a rubber washer between the truck and the bracket to prevent damage from vibrations and to use threadlocker to prevent the bolts from loosening over time. Once you get the 3 brackets in place, it’s time to mount the running boards. Just align the running boards to the previously mounted brackets and clamp everything in place with the either half of the bracket and provided bolts. Once all 6 bolts are tightened, you’re done with one side and just repeat on the other.
I went with the APS iArmor running boards for a few reasons. First, they look pretty mean. At first, I wasn’t sure about the square tubing and sharp line design because the Tacoma doesn’t really feature any of these things. The Tacoma has a very round body shape. But I have to say, these running boards look very good. I was especially attracted to the way that the parts of these running boards are flushed against each other. Everything is streamline with few noticeable welds. This gives the iArmor a clean look.
Another thing that I like about these running boards is that they made out of aircraft grade aluminum. The manufacturer claims that the material corrosion proof which is great. I shouldn’t have to worry about the boards for a long time. Another benefit to using aluminum is the weight. These things are very light weight. One person can lift and install them with little hassle. Less weight also means that there is less that the truck has to haul around and this equates to better fuel economy. But in this case, less weight does not mean that the boards are less functional because they still have a weight capacity of 300 lbs.
One thing that I like about side steps, in general, is their potential to protect your vehicle from adjacent vehicles while parked. If you have a wide enough side step, it’ll stick out a decent way from your doors and if someone were to open their door, there’s a chance that they’ll hit the side step and this will prevent damage on the finish. The iArmor running boards are 6.5” wide so they should provide some form of protection.
I’d like to point out a few things about these running boards for those who are interested in picking them up. First, I don’t think that they are a good choice for those who need something lower to step on because they can’t get into the truck. These running boards sit about an inch lower than the rocker panel so they don’t make much of a difference. They are going to be best for those who want a larger surface area to step on to help them get in the truck, but these people will need to have the ability to get into the truck in the first place.
Another thing that I’d like to point out is the potential low quality of the running boards. Prior to buying, I read a few reviews that mentioned that the hardware that came with the boards (nuts and bolts) actually rusted over time. One person noticing rust within weeks. That’s quite concerning considering that the boards mount to the outside of the truck and it’ll no doubt experience some water. I don’t know the validity of these claims but I’ll be able to see for myself pretty soon. It’s rainy season here in Washington so my iArmor running boards will be exposed to a lot of rain. I’ll be keeping an eye on all of the hardware on these running boards over the next few days, weeks and so on. The bolts that I’m most worried about are the ones that mount directly into the truck because if those rust, they’ll spread into the body and that will be no good at all. From what I’m seeing, it seems like only the running boards themselves are made from the aircraft grade aluminum and everything holding it in place is spray painted steel so they all have the potential to rust. We’ll just have to see how the running boards perform in the long run.
For me though, the most disappointing thing about these running boards is general quality control. The boards that I have mounted to my truck is not the first set that I’ve ordered but the the second. The first set arrived damaged because of the way that they were shipped. Both boards are put in a box wrapped by a plastic bag with no extra form of protection. While in transit, the boards rub and bang against each other causing scuffs, scratches and even paint chips. Sending the first set back and getting the second set didn’t solve anything because the second set had the same issues. This is a problem from the factory because they don’t take the proper measure to package the running boards for shipment. So, if you’re the type to really care about minute details, these are not the boards for you. Look somewhere else.
To be honest, I would’ve returned these running boards had I not been offered a decent partial refund to cover the damages. For the price that I got them for, it was worth keeping but knowing what I know now and if I had to pay full price, I wouldn’t buy them. They look good, but the likelihood of receiving a damaged product and potential for rust is not worth the long term headache. Again, for the price that I paid, I can go buy a can of spray paint and make sure that all surfaces are covered and protected. You just have to figure out if that’s something that you potentially want to deal with.
If you're considering on buying any of the products mentioned, please support my work by using the links below.
APS iArmor Running Boards
Toyota Tacoma Double Cab https://amzn.to/2ODjZpk
Toyota Tacoma Access Cab
https://amzn.to/2mSbgnq
https://amzn.to/2lfBn77
https://amzn.to/2lfWd6m
For other vehicles https://amzn.to/2MqQVi0
Want to support my work?
Consider visiting the shop and buying "Absolutely Nothing" https://www.HaiHoangTran.com/shop/absolutely-nothing
or
Become a Patron!
https://www.patreon.com/HaiHoangTran
or