Hello Everyone,

I finally found a set of OEM/ running boards for my 4-door extended cab 2004 Ranger that match the year of my truck after going through he** and back. I only gave $20 for them too. The guy sold them so cheap because he broke one bolt off and they're missing one end cap. I was able to get the broken bolt out by grinding some flats on the bolt and clamping down on it with some good Vise-Grips. Oh yeah, and a torch. I don't think that thing would have came out of there without some heat. (It was in there to stay)
I was actually looking for a set of chrome running boards like these, but I learned the hard way that no one has a used set for sale. I called a dealership and the parts guy told me a new set was $450. (I almost had a heart attack) The black ones are $90 cheaper (go fig)

I was going going to have them chrome plated but I found that there was only one place that still does this in a city of 700,000. The place I called said they didn't do it and the places that used to do it don't anymore becuase of the EPA. I'm assuming it cost a lot of money to dispose of the waste. And I also found out that it was going to cost $200 to have this done.

So, I had to move one to plan B which was contacting a body shop and getting them painted chrome. I called a paint store first .... the kind that supplies the paint to the body shops and I asked the lady how much the chrome paint was and she said they didn't even sell chrome paint and she's never even heard of it. (I'm pretty sure she was some ditzy blonde, because I know they sell this stuff. Can someone tell me if it's odd for a paint shop not to have chrome paint? Because I've seen lots of YouTube videos of body shops using it.

Plan C is to buy some Chrome spray paint and paint them myself.

Plan D. Have a body shop paint them a metallic silver. It would definitely be different, but I'm just wondering if it would look good up against my black truck.

Some people wonder why I don't want black, well ... I actually want my step bars to stand out. If I go with black then they're just going to blend right into the truck.

Any suggestions, would be greatly appreciated.

Brian

BTW ... The top running board in the second picture looks bent, but it's actually straight as an arrow. (I don't know why my camera bends object like that.

 

look into powder coating them

a lot more durable than chrome and paint

 

That chrome spray paint doesn't really look all that great. Having them sent away to be chromed would probably cost more than just buying brand new chrome ones! If I were you I'd just get them powdercoated unless you NEED them to be chrome!

 

Yeah, I'd just powdercoat them.

 

It looks like the best way to go is powder coating, but does anyone know how much this cost?

 

just take them in to the powder coater

they will tell you right away

 

i got a set off craigslist for 40 bucks, they where missing on of the brackets that you have to wiggle in to the truck, i went to the dealership and ordered a new bracket that cost 11 bucks. i felt like i made out like a bandit on those. craigslist FTW!!