Steps
Running Boards, Nerf Bars & Steps in Terrell, TX
One step up. Every day. For everyone who gets in.
A modern truck sits high enough that getting in is a climb. Getting in twenty times a day is a climb you feel by Friday. Steps fix that. They also stop road grit and gravel from being thrown up the side of the truck, which is why people keep them long after they stop noticing the step.
Running boards
A running board is a wide, flat step that runs the full length of the cab under the doors. You can step on anywhere along it, which matters if you are getting in with a hand full of something. It also puts a broad surface between the road and the side of the truck. On a wet caliche road, that surface does a lot of quiet work keeping the paint clean.
The trade-off is that a wide board collects mud, and it hangs lower than a bar, so on a truck that goes anywhere rough it is the first thing to find a rock. For a truck that lives on pavement and in yards, it is the more comfortable choice.
Nerf bars
A nerf bar is a tube with a step pad at each door. There is less to catch mud, less weight, more ground clearance and more of the truck still visible. It steps just as well as a board if you step where the pads are. In practice, that is where you step anyway.
Oval and round sections are the common shapes, in black powder-coat or polished stainless. Black is the practical answer on a working truck. Stainless looks sharper and stays looking that way if the truck gets washed.
Power steps
A powered step is folded flat under the rocker panel when the doors are closed, and drops down automatically when you open one. Closed, the truck keeps all of its ground clearance and its lines. Open, you have a step lower and further out than a fixed board can be, because it does not have to live there all the time.
It is the most expensive option by a distance, and it has a motor and linkage that a fixed board does not have. What you are buying is getting in and out easily without a permanent step hanging under the truck. If the truck is tall and used all day, that is a fair thing to buy.
Bed steps
Everything above is about getting into the cab. A bed step is about getting into the bed. It drops down from the rear corner or off the bumper and gives you a place to put a foot that is not the tire, the tailgate or the top of the rear bumper.
It is a small purchase that gets used constantly on a truck with a cover or a crossover box, where you are climbing in and out more than you would with an open bed. Some replacement rear bumpers include step access built in. That is worth knowing before buying both.
What we need
Year, make, model and cab — regular, extended or crew. Cab length is the thing that decides the part, and there is no adjusting a crew cab set to fit an extended cab. Tell us whether you want black or stainless and whether the truck goes anywhere rough, and we will point you at the style that suits.
Common questions
Should I get running boards or nerf bars?
A running board is a wide, flat step that runs the length of the cab. A nerf bar is a tube with step pads at the doors. Boards are easier to step onto anywhere along their length and catch more mud. Bars are lighter, cheaper and let more of the truck show. Both do the same job.
What are power steps?
A powered step folds up under the rocker when the doors are shut and drops down when you open one. You get the step when you need it and full ground clearance when you do not, which is the reason to buy them. They start at $2,400 fitted.
Do steps bolt on or does the truck need drilling?
On most modern trucks they bolt to existing mounting points under the rocker panel with no drilling. Some older trucks and some configurations need brackets. Tell us the year, make, model and cab and we will know which it is.
What is a bed step?
A single step that drops down at the rear corner of the bed or off the bumper, so you can get into the bed without climbing the tire or the tailgate. It is a small thing that gets used every day on a working truck. They start at $425.
Which cab do I need to specify?
Regular, extended or crew. The length is completely different for each, and a set for a crew cab will not fit an extended cab. If you are unsure, count the doors and tell us. We will work it out from there.
Black or stainless?
Black powder-coat hides dirt and scratches and suits a truck that works. Polished stainless looks sharper and holds up well if it gets washed. It is a preference rather than a performance question. Both are fitted the same way.