The controls for the Smart Series live on your phone. An app pairs with these power retractable running boards and runs them remotely, including the manual override, so no physical switch has to be found on the dash or drilled into a trim panel. Everything below that app is hardware you can see: a single motor design that sends the boards out as a door opens, cast aluminum arms carrying an extra wide six inch step pad the length of the cab, a non slip texture on top and LED courtesy lights underneath. Wiring is an OBDII module. Part number 86239-01A is the 5'7" bed application for the 2018-2024 Ram 1500 Classic / 2500 / 3500, Regular Cab/Crew Cab/Mega Cab.
What's Included:
Smart Series power retractable boards, one per side
Vehicle specific mount kit
Rocker panel brackets and hardware
OBDII plug and play control module
Vehicle specific installation guide
Features
Smartphone App Operation Remote operation is integrated into this line. The app talks to the boards, so you can send them out or bring them in from outside the truck without touching anything in the cab.
Manual Override Without A Switch Override controls live in the app rather than on a button somewhere in the interior. Nothing gets cut into a panel, and the ability to hold the boards out while you load the bed stays available.
Single Motor Automation One motor drives the deployment and the retraction. The boards read the doors, come out when someone needs them and disappear under the body once everything is shut, which keeps the truck looking stock at speed.
Extra Wide Non Slip Pad Six inches of step surface run the length of the cab, and the pad on top is textured so a wet boot does not slide. Rear passengers get the same landing area the driver does.
Aluminum Castings, Coated Surfaces Cast aluminum resists corrosion in a way steel cannot. The parts are anodized, then a military grade PTFE coating goes over the top, which is the finish the brand uses across its powered board lines.
LED Courtesy Lights Included Courtesy lighting is integrated, so the step area is visible as the boards swing out. Coming home late to a dark driveway is where you notice it, and passengers unfamiliar with the truck notice it more.
Fitment & Compatibility
Ram
Years
Model
Bed
Notes
2019-2024
1500 Classic
5'7"
Not compatible on ram 1500 new body models with 6-lug wheels (dt body style). Not compatible on 2019 and up HD models with gas engines. Not compatible on chassis cab models with diesel engines. HD models equipped with factory air ride suspension requires air tank relocation kit for installation. Installation requires drilling. Boards will need to be trimmed on regular cab and double cab models.
2019-2024
1500 Classic
6'4"
Not compatible on ram 1500 new body models with 6-lug wheels (dt body style). Not compatible on 2019 and up HD models with gas engines. Not compatible on chassis cab models with diesel engines. HD models equipped with factory air ride suspension requires air tank relocation kit for installation. Installation requires drilling. Boards will need to be trimmed on regular cab and double cab models.
2018-2024
2500
6'4"
Not compatible on ram 1500 new body models with 6-lug wheels (dt body style). Not compatible on 2019 and up HD models with gas engines. Not compatible on chassis cab models with diesel engines. HD models equipped with factory air ride suspension requires air tank relocation kit for installation. Installation requires drilling. Boards will need to be trimmed on regular cab and double cab models.
2018-2024
2500
8'
Not compatible on ram 1500 new body models with 6-lug wheels (dt body style). Not compatible on 2019 and up HD models with gas engines. Not compatible on chassis cab models with diesel engines. HD models equipped with factory air ride suspension requires air tank relocation kit for installation. Installation requires drilling. Boards will need to be trimmed on regular cab and double cab models.
2018-2024
3500
6'4"
Not compatible on ram 1500 new body models with 6-lug wheels (dt body style). Not compatible on 2019 and up HD models with gas engines. Not compatible on chassis cab models with diesel engines. HD models equipped with factory air ride suspension requires air tank relocation kit for installation. Installation requires drilling. Boards will need to be trimmed on regular cab and double cab models.
2018-2024
3500
8'
Not compatible on ram 1500 new body models with 6-lug wheels (dt body style). Not compatible on 2019 and up HD models with gas engines. Not compatible on chassis cab models with diesel engines. HD models equipped with factory air ride suspension requires air tank relocation kit for installation. Installation requires drilling. Boards will need to be trimmed on regular cab and double cab models.
Fit guidance: Fits the 2018-2024 Ram 1500 Classic / 2500 / 3500 with the 5'7" bed. Not compatible on ram 1500 new body models with 6-lug wheels (dt body style). Not compatible on 2019 and up HD models with gas engines. This part is the Regular Cab/Crew Cab/Mega Cab version.
Specifications
Step Type: Power retractable, cab length
Control: Smartphone app, remote operation and override
Motor: Single motor drive
Material: Corrosion resistant cast aluminum
Finish: Anodized, military grade PTFE coated
Step Width: 6 in, extra wide
Step Surface: Textured non slip pad
Lighting: Integrated LED courtesy lights
Mounting: Rocker panel brackets, vehicle specific mount kit
Wiring: OBDII plug and play module
Fits: 5'7" bed, see fitment table
Weight: About 56 lb
Installation: Professional installation recommended
Warranty: Five year limited
Installation
Type: Rocker panel brackets with a vehicle specific mount kit · Time: Not stated by the manufacturer · Tools: The supplied hardware and common hand tools · Difficulty: Professional installation recommended
Mechanically this is bracket work along the rocker panel, done with a kit cut for the listed truck and a guide written for it. The electrical side is simpler than it sounds, since the control module plugs in at the OBDII port. Pairing the app comes after the boards are bolted up. A professional install is what the manufacturer advises.
Watch the installation walkthrough:
Resources
Everything you need for your AMP Research PowerStep Smart Series Electric Running Boards for 2018-2024 Ram 1500 Classic / 2500 / 3500 (5'7" Bed, Regular Cab/Crew Cab/Mega Cab), in one place.
Warranty. AMP Research places a five year limited warranty on the Smart Series. The manufacturer sets and administers those terms. Because the boards carry a powered assembly and a control module, following the recommendation to have them installed professionally keeps the install itself from becoming the question in a claim.
Free shipping. This item ships free to the lower 48 states. Because it is an oversized item, it ships by freight or oversized parcel and typically arrives in 3 to 7 business days.
Inspect on delivery. Please inspect the packaging before signing. If you see any damage, note it on the delivery receipt and contact us right away, and we will make it right.
Returns. Unused items in their original packaging can be returned within 30 days of delivery. If an item arrives damaged, defective or wrong, return shipping is on us. See our Returns & Refunds Policy, or email support@prestigetruck.com with any question.
About AMP Research
AMP Research is known for one idea executed several ways: a running board that hides under the truck until a door opens. The PowerStep catalog spans a standard board, a lower version, a dual motor version and the two app controlled lines.
Smart Series is where the brand moved the controls off the dash. Rather than wiring a switch into the interior, remote operation and override were handed to a smartphone app, with the truck signal still read through a module at the OBDII port.
The construction stays consistent across the catalog. Aluminum castings, anodizing under a military grade PTFE coating, brackets that mount to the rocker panel, a mount kit and guide cut per application and a five year limited warranty from the manufacturer.
See it on a truck
Smart Series Fast Facts
A short overview of the Smart Series, covering app control, the single motor drive and the step itself. Start here if you are deciding between this line and a board that uses a dash switch.
Smart Series At The Show
A trade show segment filmed when the Smart Series was introduced. It shows the boards on a truck on the show floor and explains why control moved to a phone rather than a switch in the cab.
Boards Answering A Door
A silent clip pulled from the official footage. The boards come out as a door swings open, sit there while someone steps up and retract under the body when the door closes again.
Smart Series Fast Facts
A short overview of the Smart Series, covering app control, the single motor drive and the step itself. Start here if you are deciding between this line and a board that uses a dash switch.
Smart Series At The Show
A trade show segment filmed when the Smart Series was introduced. It shows the boards on a truck on the show floor and explains why control moved to a phone rather than a switch in the cab.
Boards Answering A Door
A silent clip pulled from the official footage. The boards come out as a door swings open, sit there while someone steps up and retract under the body when the door closes again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers on specs, fit and support
What does the app actually do?
It gives remote operation of the boards, including manual override. You can deploy or retract them from the app instead of reaching for a switch, which is the reason this line exists. The boards still work automatically off the doors when nobody touches the phone.
Is there a switch in the cab?
No, and that is deliberate. The manufacturer states the app provides manual override without requiring a physical switch, so there is no button to mount, no hole to cut in a panel and nothing extra sitting in the interior of a new truck.
How do the boards know a door opened?
Through the vehicle itself. A plug and play module connects at the OBDII port, so door signals come from the truck network rather than from spliced wires. That connection is also what makes the install reversible if you ever sell the truck.
How wide is the step?
Six inches. The manufacturer calls it extra wide and it runs the length of the cab rather than stopping short behind the front door. The top surface is a textured non slip pad, which matters most in rain or snow.
Do they have lights?
Yes. LED courtesy lights are integrated into the assembly and illuminate the step area. The sibling Vision line goes further with a full length glow light in each board, but the Smart Series keeps the classic courtesy lighting setup.
Who installs these?
The manufacturer recommends professional installation. A mount kit, rocker panel brackets and a vehicle specific guide are supplied, so a competent shop has what it needs. The boards are heavy, which is the main argument against doing this alone on jack stands.
