Door Ding Prevention: Are Running Boards Your Vehicle's Best Defense?
Running boards are popular vehicle accessories that serve multiple purposes, from providing easier access to taller vehicles to adding a stylish accent to your truck or SUV. But one question many vehicle owners ask is whether running boards can actually help prevent those frustrating door dings that happen in parking lots. Let's explore this topic in detail.
How Running Boards Affect Door Ding Prevention
Running boards can indeed provide some protection against door dings, though their effectiveness depends on several factors. When properly installed, running boards extend outward from the vehicle's body, creating a buffer zone that can intercept swinging doors from adjacent vehicles before they make contact with your vehicle's body panels.
The level of protection offered varies based on the running board's design, width, and positioning. Wider running boards that extend further from the vehicle body naturally provide more protection than narrower models. Some running boards sit almost flush with the vehicle's side, offering minimal protection, while others extend 4-6 inches outward, creating a substantial barrier.
Types of Running Boards and Their Protective Capabilities
Different styles of running boards offer varying degrees of door ding protection:
Traditional running boards typically extend the full length of the passenger area and provide moderate protection due to their flat, wide surface area. These boards create a physical barrier that can absorb impacts from doors opened carelessly in parking lots.
Nerf bars, which are tubular in design, offer less protection than flat running boards because of their rounded shape and typically narrower profile. While they may deflect some impacts, their primary purpose is to provide a stepping surface rather than door protection.
Power running boards, which retract when the vehicle is in motion, can offer good protection when deployed but obviously provide no protection when retracted. This could be a disadvantage in parking situations where you've already exited the vehicle.
Limitations of Running Boards as Door Ding Protection
While running boards can help, they're not a perfect solution for preventing door dings. The protection is limited to the specific area where the running board is installed, which typically means only the lower portion of your doors and panels are shielded. The upper portions of doors and fenders remain vulnerable.
Additionally, the effectiveness depends on the height of the impacting vehicle's door. If a neighboring vehicle sits higher than your running boards, its doors may swing over your running boards entirely, rendering them ineffective as protection.
Alternative and Complementary Door Ding Prevention Methods
For comprehensive protection against door dings, consider combining running boards with other preventive measures:
Parking techniques play a crucial role in avoiding door dings regardless of whether you have running boards. Parking further away from other vehicles in less crowded areas of parking lots significantly reduces the risk of door dings.
Magnetic door guards or removable door edge protectors can be applied when parking in high-risk areas, providing additional protection for door edges that running boards cannot cover.
Paint protection film or ceramic coating won't prevent the physical impact of door dings but can help protect your paint from scratches and minor scuffs that might occur alongside dings.
Cost-Benefit Analysis of Running Boards for Door Ding Prevention
When considering running boards primarily for door ding prevention, weigh their cost against potential benefits. Quality running boards typically cost between $300-$800 plus installation, which is a significant investment if door protection is your only concern.
However, running boards offer multiple benefits beyond door ding protection, including easier vehicle access, protection from road debris, and aesthetic enhancement. These combined benefits often justify the investment, with door ding protection being an added bonus rather than the primary purpose.
Conclusion
Running boards can provide moderate protection against door dings, particularly for the lower portions of your vehicle's body panels. While they shouldn't be considered a complete solution to door ding prevention, they offer a valuable layer of defense in combination with strategic parking and other protective measures. For many vehicle owners, the multiple benefits of running boards, including partial door ding protection, make them a worthwhile addition to trucks, SUVs, and other higher-clearance vehicles.
FAQ
Do retractable running boards provide better door ding protection than fixed ones? Retractable running boards typically provide similar protection to fixed boards when deployed, but offer no protection when retracted. For maximum door ding protection, fixed boards are generally more reliable as they're always in position.
Will running boards completely prevent all door dings? No, running boards only protect the lower portion of your vehicle's doors and panels. The upper sections remain vulnerable, and running boards won't stop dings from vehicles whose doors swing above their height.
Can I install running boards on any vehicle for door ding protection? Running boards are primarily designed for trucks, SUVs, and other vehicles with higher ground clearance. On lower vehicles like sedans, running boards may be impractical and could actually reduce ground clearance to problematic levels.