From rock rails to running boards

[stevep1590]

I have a bronco black diamond with rock rails. Can those be removed and have running boards mounted in the same holes?

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[Headsong]

Oh hell yes!! It's not easy since it takes three hands and you're hitting blind...

But check out Go Rhino. You might be able to seem them in my pic.

 

[userdude]

Yes, they're just mounted to the body. Ford has running boards that you should be able to find used, there's a big aftermarket as well (as Headsong mentioned), or you can get clamp-on steps or runners.

I had the rock rails and put the IAG v2 EZ-Step (there are 2dr and 4dr variants):

https://iagoffroad.com/iag-v2-ez-step-add-on-for-2021-2026-ford-bronco

They're not quite as low as a running board, though. The v2 are about at the bottom of the rock rail, the v1 is at the top. My 5' 70yr old friend with a bad ankle used them just fine, but y'know, that depends on who needs them.

I have the SFR rock rails now, which have a step-like surface on top, so I don't use them anymore, but my neighbor has them and says they work well (he has lots of short friends lol).

 

[ksdon]

Wife and I both disliked the big step into our Sasquatch with factory Black Diamond rockslides. Since we do some true off road driving we felt we needed some protection to the pinch weld area. We have also seen the damage that occurs when a side step hits something and bends that area.

Our solution was Rock Slide Engineering. They had a pretty good group buy discount back in 2021-22. They cost a bucket full of money we felt....but now today in 2026.....we can't remember how much we paid. But we do love the set up. That is why I mention it. Pay once, cry once and all that sort of stuff.

 

[MilesTeg]

I have a bronco black diamond with rock rails. Can those be removed and have running boards mounted in the same holes?

Yes. Or, you can get running boards that hang on the rock rails.

 

[Headsong]

Excellent point above. I might consider the @IAG Off-Road steps that attach to the rocks. MUCH MUCH easier and cheaper.

 

[Eldowerks]

Yes. Or, you can get running boards that hang on the rock rails.

Excellent point above. I might consider the @IAG Off-Road steps that attach to the rocks. MUCH MUCH easier and cheaper.

I have a 5’-1” tall girlfriend so I had the OEM running boards installed right after I bought my Badlands, but held onto the OEM rock sliders the Badlands came equipped with.

Attending the Moab Bronco Off-Roadeo really drove home the point that the running boards were a liability for serious off-roading so I put my rock sliders back on.

Added a pair of Mabett side steps to the OEM rock sliders because, being secured by two Allen-head bolts they are designed to be quickly removed for off-roading. And they are nearly identical to the Ford Racing Hoop Step at a small fraction of the cost.

OEM running boards:

OEM rock sliders with Mabett steps:

Ford Racing Hoop Steps:

 

[Headsong]

$1000!?? But why??? Wow.

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