N-Fab vs. Rough Country Nerf Bars

SilveradoSaver · March 31, 2017

I know many of you are running both these brands on your trucks. Was looking at the wheel-to-wheel ones for both and they seem very similar.

Just curious which ones you run on your truck and any feedback (pros and cons welcome!)

Also, I notice both show they are available in Silverado 1500 Crew Cabs, but only Long Box and Short Box - I assume the short box will fit a standard box truck?

Thanks!

Links below to the two products I'm interested in:

http://www.roughcountry.com/rc-gm-wheel-to-wheel-nerf-steps-rcc1489.html

http://www.n-fab.com/products/sfID1/60/sfID2/61/sfID3/68/productID/568

Resqu2 · April 1, 2017

I just put the cab length N fabs on my crew cab and love them, look great and function as they should. I do hope they hold up during the winter, someone posted about rust around the welds in the winter. I'm wondering about spraying the joints with the clear plastic dip spray before winter but I'm going to ask around before I attempt that to see if it would help.

SilveradoSaver · April 1, 2017

I just put the cab length N fabs on my crew cab and love them, look great and function as they should. I do hope they hold up during the winter, someone posted about rust around the welds in the winter. I'm wondering about spraying the joints with the clear plastic dip spray before winter but I'm going to ask around before I attempt that to see if it would help.

You could Line-X the entire nerf bars; that would probably work! Did you get the painted ones or the powder coated ones? Have any pictures?

Enough · April 1, 2017

I'm running the N-Fab wheel to wheel powder coated single step on my 2016 RCSB. They work great and I like the look with the bars tucked up close to the bottom of the cab. If I ever decide to lower my truck I will probably cut the steps off, spray the bars with bedliner, and put the stepless bars back on the truck.

They've only been on the truck for 4 months but no issues so far.

Resqu2 · April 1, 2017

You could Line-X the entire nerf bars; that would probably work! Did you get the painted ones or the powder coated ones? Have any pictures?

Resqu2 · April 1, 2017

I'm going to take some tomorrow. Been raining all afternoon. I got the powder coated ones and I could do the rino lining but I will wait till I start having issues.

SilveradoSaver · April 1, 2017

I'm going to take some tomorrow. Been raining all afternoon. I got the powder coated ones and I could do the rino lining but I will wait till I start having issues.

Thanks.

Did they mount directly to the spots where the factory ones mount? It looks like in the pictures the N-Fab have 3 mounting brackets versus the 4 on my factory GM ones... ?

Resqu2 · April 1, 2017

Thanks.

Did they mount directly to the spots where the factory ones mount? It looks like in the pictures the N-Fab have 3 mounting brackets versus the 4 on my factory GM ones... ?

Three is correct, two forward and one closer to the rear. The front two has threaded holes already there, the rear you pop out a plug and drop in a clip, I did one side by myself and my wife helped hold the other side. 15 minutes per side if your slow. They do appear to be very strong and heavy made. I had the expensive GM OEM nerf bars on my 14 Silverado and there junk compared to these things.

Shawn Terlep · April 1, 2017

I have the NFab powder coated and live in IL so I see plenty of road salt. They started to rust at the welds the first winter which was a couple months after install. They also started to rust where I or passengers would knock the snow off their shoes before getting in. Obviously the powder coating is very thin. I did upgrade all the hardware to stainless on my own.

SilveradoSaver · April 1, 2017

I have the NFab powder coated and live in IL so I see plenty of road salt. They started to rust at the welds the first winter which was a couple months after install. They also started to rust where I or passengers would knock the snow off their shoes before getting in. Obviously the powder coating is very thin. I did upgrade all the hardware to stainless on my own.

Sounds like if I go this route, my best bet may be to Linex them before installing.

Shawn Terlep · April 1, 2017

Sounds like if I go this route, my best bet may be to Linex them before installing.

You can kind of see the spot where it is rusting through the powder coat.

Resqu2 · April 2, 2017

You could Line-X the entire nerf bars; that would probably work! Did you get the painted ones or the powder coated ones? Have any pictures?

Resqu2 · April 2, 2017

Here are some pics from my install a few days ago. Way easier that the OEM molded Mudflaps.

SilveradoSaver · April 2, 2017

Here are some pics from my install a few days ago. Way easier that the OEM molded Mudflaps.

Thank you! Nice looking truck!

I was actually just at the international auto show in town last night, and spent a bunch of time in the Chevy/GMC areas. I really like the GM nerf bars. They look similar to yours but a bit wider steps.

Resqu2 · April 2, 2017

Thank you! Nice looking truck!

I was actually just at the international auto show in town last night, and spent a bunch of time in the Chevy/GMC areas. I really like the GM nerf bars. They look similar to yours but a bit wider steps.

I love the look of the ones you posted but I can buy two pair of N Fabs for what GM wants for them. Just way over priced but they do look great.