A running board or footboard is a narrow step fitted under the side doors of a tram (cable car, trolley, or streetcar in North America), car, or truck. It aids entry, especially into high vehicles, and is typical of vintage trams and cars, which had much higher ground clearances than today's vehicles. It is also used as a fashion statement on vehicles that would not otherwise require it.[1] The origin of the name running board is obscure; the first running boards predate automobiles and were installed on carriages as early as the 17th century. 

The benefits of running boards include:

Easy Entrance and Exit of Large Trucks
Running boards help you mount and leave your vehicle without difficulty. The driver's seat is usually the highest door in a truck. Users who don't have running boards may have to jump into the driver's seat, especially when they aren't tall people. But with running boards, you can step into the truck easily.

Protection From Road Debris
When you drive on an unpaved road, rocks, and dirt tend to shoot up and hit your door, thus soiling the body of your car. If you use running boards, the stones and dirt sliding up your vehicle will hit your boards and fall to the ground. This can reduce the amount of dirt on your vehicle.

Keeping Your Vehicle's Interior Tidy
Running boards function like doormats placed at the front of a house. The soles of your shoes get dirty as you move around. The running board will take off some of the dirt on your soles, letting you enter your truck with cleaner footwear. If you always board your car with clean shoes, it is less likely to get dirty.

Types of Running Boards
Here are the major types of running boards:

Electric Running Boards
Electric running boards are the most expensive running boards in the automotive market. When you mount these running boards to your truck, they will swing out when you open your door and tuck themselves in whenever you close the door. Electric running boards receive a signal from their control module whenever someone opens or closes a vehicle's door. Sometimes, electric running boards come with LED lights that help drivers see clearly while getting down from their car at night.

Traditional Running Boards
Traditional running boards are stationary flat steps that you can attach underneath your car's doors. These boards often come in fairly wide sizes. The average width of traditional running boards is between 3 and 5 inches. Some traditional running boards contain LED lights that can guide you when you are stepping out of your car at night.

Examples of traditional running boards include:

APS 5-inch iBoard Running Board
The APS 5-inch running board is made of durable aluminum and features a unibody form. This running board comes in two varieties: powder-coated matte black and chrome. Robotic arms decorate the ends of the APS iBoard. This ensures maximum protection against harmful environmental elements, like rocks. The rubber grip placed on the iBoard's aluminum body prevents drivers and passengers from falling while entering the truck.

MPH Auto 6-inch Running Boards
With its glossy design and silver edge, the MPH Auto Running Board is an excellent embodiment of a classy look. This running board also manifests its uniqueness in its diagonal style, as opposed to the straight cut of most traditional running boards.

Side Steps
The unique feature about side steps is they can fit under the rear axle of your car. Nevertheless, you can also place your side steps below your doorways, just like other types of running boards.

Bully Black Aluminum Side Steps
These running boards are versatile. They fit easily onto the doors of most Jeeps, trucks, and SUVs. The high-grade aluminum body of this running board can support a maximum of 350 pounds per step. Bully Black aluminum side steps also contain nonslip grips that keep passengers stable while climbing into a vehicle.

Nerf Bars
Nerf bars take the form of oval tubes attached below truck doors. Instead of nonslip grips, nerf bars use flat cutouts to ensure the stability of passengers as they board the vehicle. One example of nerf bars is:

Tyger Auto Star Armor Nerf Bars
Made of heavy-duty steel, this sturdy running board can take up to 500 pounds in one step. Tyger Auto Star Armor Nerf Bars are mostly compatible with pickup trucks like the Toyota Tundra and Ram 1500. This running board is easy to install. You only need to hold the side steps in place while fixing bolts at the board's mounting points. That said, Tyger Auto Star Armor Nerf Bars can be quite heavy. So, it's best to ask a friend to keep the board stable while you screw in the bolts.

How To Choose Running Boards
Here are things you can consider when choosing a running board.

Material
The material of a running board can affect its durability and functionality. You can buy running boards made of aluminum, polymer, fiberglass, or ABS molded boards. Aluminum running boards are lightweight and long-lasting, but they can be expensive.

Design
Check the tread pattern and design of the running board you want to buy. If you intend to use the running board in a slippery environment, get one with nonslip treads.

Fitting
Before choosing a running board, ensure that it fits your vehicle. Some running boards are made specifically for certain models, while others may be universal. 

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