Curious about what people used to haul on the running boards. I know they make luggage racks for . . . luggage and in a recent photo here, there is a petrol box that holds two 4 gallon tins of fuel. So, what other "period correct" items would people put there. Looking for accesories for my car.
I am quite sure people put there pets and animals and laundry and just about anything, but more interested in popular accesories.
Chicken crate.
Spare tires.
Suitcases, army cot, tent, picnic basket, pots & pans.
I forgot the most obvious running board item: tool box.
Here's links to a bunch of different running board accessories I've posted in the past here under ACCESSORY OF THE DAY.
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/118802/148989.html
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/257047/297827.html
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/118802/129055.html
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/118802/128651.html
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/118802/138447.html
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/118802/142944.html
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/118802/178505.html
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/118802/141370.html
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/118802/140568.html
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/257047/264831.html
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/118802/123799.html
Wicker picnic basket. There's nothing in it, but once I put it there, people stopped asking me what the luggage rack was for....
Spare tire, and air pump on one side
Tool box and jug of 'shine on the other
Rustoleum.
That's funny right there. I don't care who you are.
Feet when climbing in and out of the car. Or a seat when waiting.
Norm
I bought this wicker basket at a Michael's craft store. It's nice and roomy and wicker always looks right on any car old enough to have flat runningboards. It's held in by an accordion luggage rack I received as a gift from a buddy on this forum.
I got a little carried away and bought a wicker hamper because of its bigger holding capacity, but then, people started commenting on why I was hauling laundry and yeah, it does detract from the look of the car, so now it just sits in the garage.
This is my holy grail item. I searched around for two years for a small "battery box" in good condition and finally found one that only needed sandblasting and paint. It's about 12" wide and that's more than large enough to carry all my portable tools, a can of oil, etc. I tucked in a cardboard liner to protect the paint from getting chipped by the tools.
I put the same black paint on mine as the body. One thing I will never put on is step plates. I just welded up holes from a previous owner that had installed a Kennedy tool chest. Sick man!
Feet -
Powdercoat
My auto "refrigerator" .... works like the desert cooler water bags.
Dan, the pic you have of the tool boxes is neat!
That looks like a Ford 8n or maybe a 9n Tractor tool box on the side of your "T pickup" side board. It got me to thinking of the one that I have which looks identical to it.
My Father had a 9n Ford and I think the tool box thats been laying around here for years and years come off of that tractor. Just curious if you know what yours came off of.
I keep getting asked what are the three cans for on the running board. They never asked that when I had a tool box there.
John
The little box on the side is a Fordson tractor tool box, don't know the year of this box, the lid says so!... some have reinforecement on the back panel for the two mounting bolts, so I guess those are later Fordson.
And some folks don't put anything on the running boards, esp when used as fenders...
Because there's no room on the Fordor running boards for much of a tool box, or anything as far as that goes, I bought this on ebay. Mike Peterson had it for sale and it's pretty darn neat.......
I have cooler and it is the only one I have seen.
For dan:
What is that round key for?
I have recently acquired a nice running board tool box with latches and a locking centerpiece but my local locksmith says he cannot cut a key for it. Yours looks like it might fit! Is it fro the Fordson Tooolbox?
MY WIFE !!!! OOOPPS sorry just thinking out loud ...
-BOYCO service unit on the Runabout and l have no idea where you'd put anything on a Touring ??
David.
My brother-in-law tells a story of how his grandfather rode out west on the running boards during the depression;)
My feet.
Stephen
Charlie B's comment reminds me of one of my favorite photos...
In fact this super product protects my whole car, not just the running boards!
TH
David: l have no idea where you'd put anything on a Touring ??
On a 3 door touring you put it below the driver side "door".......
We have a little collection of things we rotate on the runningboards including, suitcase in rack, service cans, tire pump, Bird-dog-Palace (Pet carrier), running board trunk with fitted cases, Wardrobe trunk (sits vertically), trunk fitted to the fender curve like the one above, picnic sets, picnic table. We often get as much interest in the accessories as we get in the car.
I usually let the guy pushing his Oldsmobile ride on mine.... Grin! Some of you will get this some won't. ;-)
I often carry my Schilling Auto Camp on the running board.
Usually it's just the grandkids or other people's grandkids. I learned over the 4th holiday that running boards are kid magnets...
Craig, that box is cool, I'd love to have one of those. I gave Bob Corio the accordion luggage rack because it was just perfect for a T with with no driver's side front door and not much use on a Tudor. That box would be perfect for my car, it would even cover the rust holes in my running board I don't plan on doing anything about.
Bob that 'laundry hamper' was a bit excessive but I'm sure bigger baskets were carried on the running boards back in the day. The little wicker basket is perfect. What the guys here don't know is that the accordion rack I sent you was a rusty piece of junk that would barely open, you've done wonders with it.
I carry this old suitcase on the left-hand running board. The rear door just clears the accordion rack and the operable front door isn't much use anyway with the steering wheel and lever in the way.
Last year I was parked at the grocery store without the suitcase when a young woman came up to me after puzzling over the accordion rack for a moment and asked me "Why do you have a baby gate on the side of your car?"
Craig: Is that curved bottom box a home made job? I'm surprised you don't see more of them if it isn't.
Terry: Rust colored Rustoleum! I don't think they'll be pushing that color any time soon.
Chris, I hope you told her how much your baby loves riding on the running board.
The best thing about that driver's door is trans/band access but it's worth that by a mile.
Dennis, I only set that cool toolbox on the running board to take the pics.
I'm torn between just shining up the galvanizing or painting it....... ?
I have the battery in a box and my mother in law on my 14's running board, I mean my mother in laws suite case.
G'day Craig, cheers but a carbide generator sits there on the earlies, kinda leaves no room anywhere !! Probably a good spot for the 16 onwards though.
The drivers side of the 1914 has a gas generator and the spare wheel. The coupe is just for feet...
Craig, if it was mine I'd paint it black. That way it would be there but not stick out like a sore thumb but galvanized metal isn't the easiest thing to get paint to stick to.
My thoughts exactly Dennis.
I took a good look at it today and it is REALLY nicely made! Certainly not made by an amateur but with the riveted hinges I don't think it's factory either.
I read about prepping galvanized for paint a while ago........I'm going to have to check it out again.
On the driver side I have a full kitchen (including the kitchen sink,a gold pan)fire extiguisher,spare gas,2 tarps,tow strap,spare antifreeze,first aid kit,water purifier,air pump,collaspable table,and a cover for the passanger compartment. The knap sack is my clothes the small wooden box has a 2speed hand crank blender and there is also Margarita makins on there.
On the other side is the tool box,canteen and occasional Model T Bum
How about an extension. Maybe a fold out to double the usable area to carry stuff. ???