TAC Running Boards Fit 2014-2019 Toyota Highlander Value Aluminum SUV Black Side Steps Nerf Bars Step Rails Running Boards Off Road Automotive Exterior Accessories (2 Pieces Running Boards)

Several in my family are fairly short and these running boards make entry much easier for them. They install in a straightforward manner and look very nice when complete. I do recommend watching the YouTube video about installation, as it makes the job much easier than trying to follow the printed instructions alone.

My husband installed this pretty quick. Maybe an 30 to an hour with breaks. He said the instructions were garbage and useless. But overall it was pretty self explanatory. Arrived in good condition and not damaged. I have little ones and my elderly mother who can get in and out the car with a little more help now.

The running boards were fairly simple to install. Enclosed instructions were easy to follow. They look great on the car, and serve their purpose well. Would certainly buy agian,

Compatibility:I ordered a set of TAC branded running boards on Amazon for a 2017 Toyota Highlander Limited. Before ordering, I sent a message to the Amazon third party seller TAC and they responded that the 2014-2016 Toyota Highlander running boards were not compatible with 2017 Toyota Highlander year model (product listed compatible with 2014-2016 year models only). During my quest for searching an alternative desirable running boards design criteria, I noticed that on Amazon and eBay, many other brands’ running boards with different designs were labeled 2014-2017 compatible. Therefore, it would not make sense for 2017 year model to be excluded from TAC’s running boards design. I decided to go ahead and order the set. Upon receiving and installing the TAC running boards, they are indeed compatible with 2017 Toyota Highlander year model contrary to the seller’s advisory. What is even puzzling is that the on the shipping box itself, it has a sticker label that states that the product is for 2014-2017 Toyota Highlander. See photo attached.Ordering/Delivery:Ordering this product from Amazon was beneficial because of 2 day shipping speed (Prime) and cheaper at $219 compared to the same exact item found and sold elsewhere on the Internet. I have Amazon Prime and the product delivered within 2 days shipping speed consistent with Amazon Prime feature. The packaging of the product was sufficient to prevent any damage to the product.Product Review:Overall, I am satisfied with the TAC running boards (instructions front page reveal that they are branded Viewpoint, thus TAC is probably a US regional seller) for the price I paid for - $219 and the complimentary 2 day shipping speed (Amazon Prime). I installed it the day I received the item and it took me about 5 hours from start to finish (e.g., unpacking and counting the pieces packaged to verify, reading the installation instructions, moving the car and parts from driveway to garage due to sunset, taking photos, cleaning up, brainstorming what I should write in this Amazon review, among other things). Photos are attached of the TAC/Viewpoint running boards. I believe that the running boards could be installed faster if: 1) instructions were provided before receiving the product to be acquainted with (I scanned the instructions for others’ convenience, see instructions attached), 2) avoiding some pitfalls when following the instructions’ vague at times steps, 3) read my installation tips below, especially tips #4 – I wasted time using cutting pliers, #7 – I wasted a lot of time trying to get the center mounting bracket screwed onto the vehicle’s body, wishing there was a second pair of hands helping me, and # 11 – having the correct anti-corrosion sealant, and 4) avoided some of the unnecessary things I’ve done for writing this review, like taking photos and brainstorming what’s a better way to improve the installation process.The running board has 5.5” of length protruding from the vehicle. See attached photo. Some other running boards were shorter, but this gives more space for stepping on the running board as desired. The length of the running boards are not coplanar/even from end to end with the vehicle’s front and rear wheel wells, but manageable (see tip #8). The length of the running board is about a little over 71 inches. See attached photo. The running board maintained reasonable form when about 220 lbs. father in law (vehicle owner) utilizing it on driver side (product asserted rating of holding 300 lbs. weight). Initial impression is that my father in law was satisfied with the running boards. He felt that the Toyota OEM running boards were overpriced ($500+ when including shipping) and that the TAC/Viewpoint running boards were bang for the buck (i.e., cost effective). The running boards were desirable for young children that my father in law transport, to enter and exit the vehicle with ease.I would rate this a 4 out of 5 stars. I deduct 1 star because of the inconsistency with seller’s product listing, knowledge, and the instructions for installing. Other than that, I would say that this product is nevertheless good to have as a running board for a 2017 Toyota Highlander.Instructions:Attached are scans of the installation instructions included in the running boards package in case anybody else would like to know what the installation is like and how complicated it is before making a commitment of ordering and installing the TAC/Viewpoint running boards. Despite the product description on the seller’s Amazon page asserting no drilling or cutting, the description elsewhere mentions drilling required, which is not true. There is no drilling into the body of the vehicle required. In addition, there is no cutting into the body of the vehicle required. However, it is required on 2017 Toyota Highlander Limited (I’m not sure for other trims or previous year models) for cutting/trimming rubber sealant underneath the body of the vehicle to reveal mounting hole plugs. The instructions written at the time was for 2014 year model with sealant not concealing the mounting hole plugs as depicted in many of the figures found in the included instructions. No updated instructions provided regardless of the sticker date of 2016-11-12 labeled on the inner box. See photos attached. There are some lack of expectations noted in the installation instructions, like using anti-corrosion sealant, year model differences if any (2014 year model when written contains at least a minor difference with 2017 year model), and among other things that I cover in my installation tips below.I would rate this DIY (do it yourself) accessory installation to be simple enough to be done at home by almost anybody with appropriate tools, although a few hours are probably required if this is the first time doing this type of accessory installation. I for one never experienced installing running boards for a SUV/crossover, so I am learning as I am doing it. My skill level is not that of a novice, as I have installed/modified things in other vehicles in my lifetime. Having access to the following tools/accessories would help expedite the installation of the running boards (at least for 2017 year model): gloves, safety glasses, 3/8” ratchet, 10 mm deep socket, 16 mm deep socket, 2” extension for the 3/8” ratchet (longer if no deep sockets), utility knife, leveler, fine tip black marker, and anti-corrosion sealant. Therefore, I would not recommend paying someone (i.e., Honda dealership) to install this accessory if one has all the tools/accessories available.Installation tips:What slowed me down installing these running boards were some issues that I have run into along the way while following the instructions designed for installing on a 2014 Toyota Highlander year model. Here are some tips to help speed up the installation process for 2017 Toyota Highlander year model:1) No lift/jacking up the car is required if you are about my size and build: 5’7”, 150 lbs, medium build (e.g., not big boned or like the Hulk). Use a single side cardboard box on the ground to prevent dirtying or roughing up your body when sliding slightly under the car. Using a creeper is not recommended due to limited ground clearance of the Toyota Highlander without being lifted. This can be obviously observed prior to buying running boards.2) I used nitrile gloves to protect my hands, wore long sleeved shirt and pants to avoid scratches while working under the car on cement, and wore safety glasses to prevent debris falling on me while working under the car. Avoid getting hurt avoids wasted time with delayed installation because of injury. I can vouch that doing so prevented a few incidents while under the car from manifesting into something regrettable.3) Marking the bolt plates with directional arrows on the screw ends to indicate the long ends direction to avoid confusion with a fine tip black marker. Photo attached.4) Take a utility knife and cut a circle out of the under body sealant around each of the hidden mounting hole plugs at the outer boundary of the plug. One can cut within the plug by a bit to avoid cutting into the metal frame as the plugs are expendable (i.e., discarded after installation) if no plans to remove the running boards later on. This step can actually be done prior to receiving the running boards in order to reduce the lengthy install process. There are 10 mounting holes to cut into the sealant to reveal. Do note that there’s expectation that the vehicle will not be exposed to harmful elements to the car’s metal frame (e.g., liquid – rain or water, salt, and the like). Photo attached. See steps 2, 4 and 5 in the instructions for which mounting holes are used.5) Push at the center of each of the mounting hole plug into the mounting hole to lift the outer circumference of the plug and while pushing the center, grab the plug and pull down the lifted outer circumference plug down while releasing the pushing pressure to allow the plug to be pulled out. This could be done by a single hand.6) 10 mm hex bolt/nut uses 16 mm socket. 6 mm hex bolt/nut uses 10 mm socket. Deep sockets and a 2” extension are needed for tightening the 10 mm bolts for the mounting brackets to avoid hitting the under body of the vehicle and for reach.7) Install the front and rear mounting brackets first, but skip the center mounting bracket if doing a one man install process (i.e., no one else helping). The reason is that the center mounting bracket has a deep recess requiring tedious effort inserting a flat washer, a lock washer, and a hex nut, all while holding up the bracket while under the car. It is very difficult and time consuming to try and get it all perfectly aligned while not dropping the washers and nut, and screwing in the nut while holding up the center mounting bracket. Instead, install and mount the running board on the front and rear brackets first. Mount the screws, flat washers, lock washers, and nuts to secure the running board (snug, not tightened to prevent loose movements). Then mount the center mounting bracket to the running board first, and then to the under body of the vehicle. Doing this is way is much easier because the center bracket is held up by the running board for a one man install process.8) The running boards are not coplanar/even from end to end with the vehicle’s front and rear wheel wells. Therefore, I mounted the running boards such that the rear ends of the running boards are in line with the rear vehicle’s wheel well boundary rather than to the front wheel well because the second row doors entering and exiting require more running board area than the first row doors (e.g., driver and front passenger). The driver/front passenger would not be able to utilize most of the front end area of the running boards due to the doors when opened. Also note that each ends of the running board are tapered, so those areas are the weakest due to lack of mounting brackets below them.9) The instructions lack clarity as to why there are an extra set of six (6) 10 mm flat washers and six (6) 10 mm lock washers. Although most likely not necessary, I ended up using the extra set where the 10 mm hex nut was screwed onto 10 mm hex bolts were used for step 3 in the instructions such that they’re used in similar fashion as other flat and lock washers were used. To be clear, it goes like this in this order: Vehicle | support plate | end of hex bolt | mounting bracket | flat washer | lock washer | hex nut | head of hex bolt.10) Use a leveler instead of eye-balling the levelness of the running board with the ground and with the car as vaguely instructed and suggested.11) Apply anti-corrosion sealant to protect the under body metal exposure to prevent rust. I used GE Silicone II White Silicone Kitchen and Bathroom Caulk as a stopgap anti-corrosion sealant, as I didn’t have any specified vehicle anti-corrosion sealant nor was expecting exposed metal body parts of the vehicle even though I tried my best to align the mountings to cover up the mounting holes prior to tightening the mounting bolts. Be sure to apply proper anti-corrosion sealant for under body vehicle exposed metal and do not rely on my stopgap sealant technique as a proper way to prevent corrosion. Photos attached.

Great value! I'm very happy with the purchase. I liked the look of these more than the OEM, and the price was right! These fit great with the trim.For me, running boards not only give an extra step up for our kiddos, they also act as an additional barrier against parking lot door dings. Our last vehicle's (pathfinder) running boards stopped someone's manual transmission BMW that was left out of gear from rolling into the side of our car one time.Those were OEM running boards on our Pathfinder, but I did purchase them after the vehicle and installed them as well and can say that these TAC running boards are far superior to them. The brackets are more robust, and the mounting is more secure. These steps have a set screw for leveling. I stood on them and the steps had no give.These do stick out a little bit further than others but not terribly so. I prefer them to have this width as I'd much prefer to see a $200 set of running boards dinged than the side of my car door by a ghost! Can't go wrong with these. Packaged well and arrived without damage.As others noted the middle brackets are harder due to the depth of the cavity you have to reach your hand into. On the first side I installed I was able to do it without any trouble. The other side however was giving me a time. Maybe because I had been outside and my hands were colder and not working as well! I taped the flat washer and lock washer to the inside of the bracket cavity, pushed the bracket over the bolt and tightened the nut on without issue.

I bought this set of running boards for my 2019 Highlander after trying out the absolute cheapest models. The difference between these and the "cheap" ones is night and day. The mounting hardware on this set is very sturdy with plenty of reinforcement. The bolt holders that are inserted into the body of the vehicle for support look very similar to what the factory running boards use. The installation instructions are very thorough and accurate, with helpful pictures to guide you along the way. No cutting of anything was required to get these to fit, and there is a little bit of adjustment to slide forward/back. Mine are slid all the way back since they are primarily for rear-seat passengers. These have no problem supporting me at 200lb with minimal flex. They look sleek and help my kiddos get into the back seat with ease.

Perfect fit for my 2019 Toyota Highlander. Ordered it and Amazon had it to me in four days. The box was intact with no damages.👍🏽 Now, I decided to install the running boards myself. I watched a few of the dyi videos and thought it looked easy. I'm 60 years old and it took me 2 hours taking my time. Very sturdy and the TAC Running Boards look very classy, with a great price.

These are identical replacements for those damaged in a car wash. I received them earlier than expected.