2020-2025 Toyota Highlander OEM Running board Installation (DIY)

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If you are looking to save some money from the dealer and install the OEM factory Toyota running boards yourself, you've found the right video!

I'll show you how I installed the running boards on my 2021 Toyota Highlander Platinum Hybrid SUV. Here is what you'll need before you get started:

1- Toyota Factory Installation PDF
2- Philips Screwdriver
3- Torque wrench
4- 10mm deep socket
5- 6 inch extension
6- Panel Removal Tool
7- Tape or Masking Tape
8- 3M Auto Body Sealant
9- Rivnut Tool

2020-21 OEM Running Board Installation instructions:

OEM Toyota Running Board Part No: PT938-48200

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Thanh Tran

[brendacook]

We installed these after work yesterday. Thank you for the video. I have a 2024 Toyota Highlander. Bringing my mom home from the hospital will be easier now. Thank you.

[mohdyemen]

The dealer quoted me $450 to install and you saved me that $! Thank you so much! I have a baby coming soon and really needed these for ease of use :) God bless you

[daveflores]

This is an excellent video. My local dealer wants $750 for install! You just gave me the boost I needed I to get this done myself :).

[boardwalkcaper]

Your careful and thorough discussion of each step was fantastic. It’s amazing that your video far and away is better than any OEM help I have come across for any installation task. If you’re not, you should be an instructor/teacher. Kudos to you!
I agree with others that you should post an OEM trailer hitch installation so the rest of us can follow your lead and tackle this project as well. Thank you.

[lakepapa]

Whoa! Thanks for posting this. Just got my wife a 2020 Highlander and she wants the running boards removed!!! I told her "No problem..I yank 'em off. Should take just a few minutes." I thought it would be just a few bolts and boom, they'd drop right off. Uhmm, yeah no. Looks like I'll need to spend some money to buy the beauty strip and some other parts before I pull them off. You definitely saved me some time and aggravation.

[thienthan]

I just bought the running board on sale, ordered online $362, which is the cheapest I’ve seen so far. I’ll watch your video carefully before attempting this. Wish me luck on installation. Lol

[hon]

Thanks again for the dyi video! I just installed them today! Took only about 2 hrs total. The first side took a little over an hour. The other side took about 30 minutes only since I got the hang of it once I did the first side.

And dealership/stealership wanted $500-1000 for just the labor alone!

[skonasa]

Thank you for your video, I got this installed over this weekend. I got M6 15mm long threaded inserts and they worked perfect instead of the rivnuts. First one took 2 hours but the second side took almost half of it.

[estella]

I just wanted to say thank you for making this video. I bought a 2020 Highlander and I told my husband about this video you made. Thanks to you, it was easy for him to install the running boards for me. Thank you so much!

[Unplugged]

Exact video I'm looking for. Want to install on my wife's 21' Highlander XLE.

Thanks!

[hualant]

Great tutorial, man. Didn’t even bother with printing instructions. Some of the rivets were a bear to get on but you saved all of us a bunch of money. Wish I could get the gapping a tiny bit better but can’t complain with DIY’ing Thanks.

[batch]

Thanks. Putting the rivet is the hardest part. Got elbow problem, but was able to. I miss to plug the 4 holes on one side. Anyway your upload was very helpful. Replace the brake and gas pad and will install the window wind deflectors. God Bless.

[louisleal]

Mine did not come with instructions so thankfully you had this vid online. Much appreciated.

[独居狮子]

$200 off is super good deal. I am SF Bay Area. Costco auto program only offer 15% off. But I did find a Toyota dealer 100 miles away offer $93 off. Thank you for your video.

[replica]

Great video! Installed these running boards on my wife's Highlander today while the weather was somewhat warm. Everything was mostly smooth. The rivnuts are a bit of a pain. I bought a similar tool from HF. Gets the job done. I did see another method that involves a standard M6 bolt and nut with a couple wrenches to set the rivnuts. Might be easier to get leverage in tighter spaces and save a few bucks on a tool that'll most likely be used once.

[tysonandmama]

Thank you for the tutorial! Hubby just bought me a 21 Highlander and i plan on doing the install. 😀

[daveweigle]

Great video! I need boards on my 2022 Highlander so my wife can get in and out easier. You made it look easy--which it is. Shop manual says 1 hour @ $169.95. I think I'll do it myself. Thanks!!

[stewarthemphill]

This helped on a 22, thanks! With rivet gun make sure to have it open prior to screwing the rivnut. Only took it apart like 7 times and wasted an hour trying to figure out how to use it. As far as the sealant, mine was already 2 inch from hole so didn’t worry about scraping and replacing sealant

[FrankPerkins]

Great video. The only other tip I would recommend is to ensure you properly seated your rivnuts. After you press in a rivnut, check with a bolt to ensure it goes in smoothly and the rivnut doesn't spin freely. Don't ask me how I figured out that the hard way :-)

[fixodent]

Just placed an order for mine today. 387.61 with tax included. Will pickup at dealership. Harbor Freight 10in Riv Bolt 10in tool for 52.00 including tax. Will definitely have your video playing from lap top when I install them. Have also order the illuminated door sills which should be plug and play., finally got the time to install them, the rivnut tool kicked my ass, but otherwise turned out great, didn’t even look at the instructions, just played your video