We all want a 4×4 with ground clearance, but the taller stature can create a somewhat challenging ingress and egress procedure for passengers. AMP Research, a RealTruck brand, has made it less of a chore with its PowerStep electric running boards. These boards deploy to assist entry and exit, and they retract during normal driving. And now, AMP Research has taken the PowerStep a step further with its all-new Vision running boards. Among other things, these new boards feature an all-new LED Glow Lighting system. What is that exactly? Well, it’s full-length LED lighting that is integrated seamlessly into the PowerStep running boards. The new Vision running boards caught, and held, our attention, so we acquired a pair and mounted them to our 2019 Ram 1500 Rebel 4×4.

With their powerful LED lights, the AMP Research PowerStep Vision running boards illuminate the steps and the ground below when they’re deployed.

Integrated LED Lighting That’s Color-Customizable

The new PowerStep Vison running boards are designed to deploy automatically when a door is opened. After a door is closed, the Vision running boards retract under the vehicle following a three-second delay. When the steps are deployed, the integrated LED lighting is at full power, illuminating the steps and ground below. This bright light helps guide passengers as they enter and exit the vehicle. When the steps are retracted, the LED lighting dims and becomes color-customizable accent lighting. The PowerStep Vision running boards pair with the AMP Research Smart Series smartphone app that’s available for iOS and Android. Among other features, this app offers the ability to control the boards remotely and select multiple LED color combinations, based on whether the boards are deployed or retracted.

Heavy-Duty Alloy Construction, 600-Pound Weight Capacity

Like all other AMP Research products, the Vision running boards have heavy-duty alloy construction. This includes anodized cast-aluminum steps, hinges, and corrosion-resistant stainless-steel hinge pins. To guard against corrosion and wear, the step surfaces have what AMP Research calls a “military-grade PTFE coating.” Each board is extra wide with a six-inch step surface that runs the length of the cab and is powered by a premium electric motor. It’s also important to note that each Vison running board has a 600-pound load capacity, and 12 inches of drop from the door sill plate on most applications.

Here you can see one of the motor linkages installed on our truck. There’s no drilling involved to install the motor linkage or the non-motorized idler linkage because they use factory studs. Tip: There may be paint buildup on the factory studs, which will require cleaning before assembly. A wire wheel or thread repairing die will remove this buildup.

Bolt-On Design, But Professional Installation Is Recommended

The AMP Research Vision running boards have a bolt-on design and what it calls Plug-n-Play technology, which integrates with the vehicle’s OBDII module. The Plug-n-Play wiring harness and module is designed to integrate with the vehicle’s factory electrical system with minimal cutting, splicing, and modification. Each kit includes a vehicle-specific mounting kit, as well as detailed instructions. The company notes that due to the necessary wiring, professional installation is recommended. However, AMP Research says it can be installed by skilled DIY-ers.

We Installed The Vision Running Boards In Our Driveway

Our California-based truck is not only used to explore trails, but it’s also our family vehicle. Thus, it’s used for daily commutes and it is often used to tow our travel trailer for weekend getaways. With that said, we welcomed a way to make climbing in and out of the truck easier for kids and adults alike. The Vision running boards grabbed our full attention due to the convenience of the retractable boards paired with the LED lighting. After all, driving doesn’t just happen during daylight. And since we’ve turned a few wrenches, we were comfortable installing the running boards in our driveway. It is not a quick installation, however. The instructions estimate three to five hours to complete, but it took us around eight hours.

Straightforward Installation, With The Wiring Taking The Most Time

Installation of the Vison running boards is straightforward. Front and rear linkage assemblies handle the deployment and retraction of the steps. One is the motor linkage (it has the electric motor mounted to it) and the other is the idler linkage (non-motorized). One side of each linkage mounts to factory studs, so there’s no drilling. The other side of each linkage fastens to the running boards.

The wiring is the most time-consuming part of the installation, but the instructions explain and illustrate how to route the Vision’s wiring, where to mount the controllers, and so on. The kit includes all the electrical items necessary to complete the installation, including a wiring harness, control module, OBDII plug, cable ties, butt connectors, and so on.

Here you can see our truck with the Vision running boards retracted. Using the AMP Research Smart Series smartphone app, we selected red accent lighting for this photo.

The Bottom Line

In the end, we’re impressed at the flood of light produced by the LEDs at night when the boards are deployed. Our family members agree that it’s a welcome, functional addition to our truck. We also think our truck has gained a few points on the cool scale, thanks to the Vision running boards accent lighting that appears when the boards are retracted. We also appreciate the functionality of the AMP Research Smart Series smartphone app. Aside from allowing operation of the Vision steps remotely, we enjoy being able to toggle through the various colors and monitor the steps.

On top of all that, the AMP Research Vision running boards have made getting in and out of our truck much easier. And while we were initially concerned with how much the boards would protrude while retracted, we’ve found them to be almost invisible. We also need to note that we’ve taken several off-road forays with the truck and have had no problems with the steps, even after they were subjected to dirt and sand.

For more information on AMP Research PowerStep Vision Running Boards, visit the company’s website.