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While the floor level of the ProMaster van is lower than most vans, it is still a long step up. Most camper conversions include a set of running boards to provide a step about half way up to the floor, and we decided to do the same.

This page shows the installation of the running boards we put in. They are Luverne Omega running boards. We bought them from EuroCamper.com

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The running boards provide a step up to the floor.

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Selecting Running Boards

We had panned to use Ionic Running Boards, which appeared to be descent quality at a reasonable price. But, on trying to order them we found that they had stopped selling them because the brackets did not fit the ProMaster correctly and needed a redesign. After waiting months for them to come up with a redesigned set of brackets, we decided to go for theLuverne running boards from EuroCamper.

The Luverne running boards have proved to be sturdy and nice looking, and we are generally happy with them.

Installation

The running boards are extruded aluminum in a heavy gage:

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This shows the heavy gage extrusion — the heads of the attachment bolts slide into the open channels in the extrusion.

I did not get any pictures of it, but square headed bolts slide down two of the open channels. The bolts go through slotted holes in the brackets and are secured by nuts. This works fine and allows for a little adjustment if both the fore and aft position and the inboard-outboard position.

Brackets

These are the brackets that support the running board and attach to the ProMaster are heavy gage steel.

You start the install by marking the points on the bottom of the pinch weld of the van for each of the brackets — these are all measured from the front tire fencer well.

Each bracket attaches to the pinch weld with two 5/16ths bolts — you start by marking the location of the forward bolt for each bracket by measuring from the front fender well.

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This is the most forward bracket installed. The picture is not that great, but you can see the U shaped spacer between the pinch weld and the bracket attached with the two 5/16th bolts, and the attachment of the vertical leg of the bracket to the inside of the rocker panel — this attachment is via either a 3/16 sheet metal screw or a nutplate depending on the bracket.

This number one bracket was the most difficult to put in. I had to cut a piece off the top forward corner to make room for the the bracket to fit correctly. In addition, the dimension they provided for locating the forward hole in the pinch weld was not quite right.

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This shows the drilling of the hole in the vertical face of the rocker box panel for the number one bracket. The open hole to the right of the drill is already in the PM with a rubber plug. You drill a hole close to it and slide a U shaped nutplate that they provide into the hold such that the nut in the nutplate lines up with the hole you drill. The vertical leg of the bracket is then screwed to the nutplate with a 1/4 inch bolt. There is not a lot of clearance to drill the hole, and it helps to have a right angle drill like the one in the picture (a Harbor Freight bargain drill).

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This is the number 2 bracket. Its tho only one that is bolted to the bottom side of the rocker panel. It is the only bracket that cannot be adjusted in height, so the other brackets (which are adjustable in height) are lined up with this bracket.

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This shows how the aft three brackets on the long running board attach. The heavy gage steel spacer attaches the right angle bracket to the pinch weld using the two 5/16th bolts. The vertical leg of the right angle bracket attaches to the vertical face of the rocker arm panel with one 3/16th sheet metal screw.

Pads

They provide plastic traction pads that you screw to the top of the aluminum running board extrusion with self tapping screws. The long running board comes with three of the pads and you can position them where you like — e.g. two for the sliding door and one for the passenger door. This seems to work pretty well — they provide good traction. Time will tell how they hold up.

Finished Running Board

Some pictures of the finished running boards.

 

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The step height off the ground is just under 14 inches.

The ground clearance below the aluminum step is minimum 10 inches.

The height from the top of the alum step to the finished floor is about 10 inches.

I think this is a pretty good compromise of step height. Even though it would be nice to have the step a little lower when getting into the van, I would not want to give up any more ground clearance. Likewise, the inboard-outboard location seems like a good compromise between providing a good depth of step and not adding too much width to the van.

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The completed passenger side running board.

Overall Impressions

I think the boards look nice and they feel quite solid. The materials appear to be heavy gage and high quality.

I would rate the quality of the instructions as fair. There was one outright error in the position diagram and a lot of places where the instructions could have been more clear. But, with some head scratching, you can work it out.

Other than the problems with the number one bracket, the installation was relatively straight forward as long as you are OK with drilling quite a few holes in your van. With the exception of the small mod to bracket 1, all of the parts fit properly and lined up well — judging from some of the posts on the PM forum this is not always the case.

The design of the brackets and the way they get the running board loads into the van rocker box does not seem as well engineered as it could be, but the end result does seem plenty strong and stiff.

The price coupled with the expensive shipping seem kind of steep to me.

Easy Entry Add Ons

While one of us was recovering from a surgery, we added the features shown below to make entry and exit easier.  We have found them to be so useful, we just left them on.

Steps

Wider step

The running board is kind of narrow especially when exiting the van, so we added these wider steps — one at the passenger door, and another at the sliding door.  They make getting out noticably easier.  The steps are just made from MDO plywood and fastened with stainless steel bolts.

Handles

Added an extra handle on the rear door frame for the passenger door, and another handle/post at the sliding door.

Passenger door handle

This is the handle added to the passenger door frame.  Its hard to find a really good location, but it help.  Handle was just a standard hardware store model.

Sliding door handle/post

This post we added at the end of the bed platform looks kind of goofy, but it is surprisingly helpful for both getting in and out quickly, and it does not get in the way for other things.

 

Cost, Weight and Time

The time to install the long passenger side running board was about 5 hours — the problems with the number 1 bracket probably burned up a couple hours of this.

I have not installed the drivers side board yet, but it will take considerably less time.

Item Cost ($) Weight (lb)
Cost of the two running boards from EuroCamper $409 45 lb
Shipping $110
Total $519 45 lb

 

 

Go back to the main camper van conversion page…

Gary

January 21, 2015, June 25, 2015

Questions? Comments?

5 Responses

  1. Gary,

    I decided to add a support leg. It is made out of angle iron and bolted to a hinge and the step. It folds up with the step when closed and flips down when you pull it out.

    1. Hi Dennis,
      Nice job — looks good.

      I like the way it slides out to give a wider footing than a running board — also quite a bit cheaper.

      Gary

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