Nerf bars or Running Boards

Chief Smallfire · October 14, 2001

In a skirt, my wife is having a wee bit of difficulty getting into the truck gracefully. I need to get her some type of side step.

I'm trying to decide whether to go with nerf bars or running boards. The nerf bars look cool, while the RBs are kinda Suburban. But the RBs look like they may be more utilitarian in keeping mud or tar off the sides.

Are there other considerations, like ease of installation or durability that I'm not aware.

Let me know what you think.

Chev4Ever · October 14, 2001

I definately prefer the steps over the RB's

Just my opinion

Stepside Z · October 14, 2001

Step bars. I love em. They look more truck like then the R/B.

Shaners · October 14, 2001

I had the Westin CPS (chrome plated stainless) nerf bars on my '00 excab. They looked great and I loved them.

I can't decide if that's what I want on this truck or not. It's a toss up between them and the Stull tapered stainless board. The Stulls are very expensive but they look pretty good too. I wish I could find their web site and get some more info...

The biggest problem with step/boards is that if you live in the snow belt, they always have a bunch of slush and dirt laying on them in the winter...

AirForceAngler · October 14, 2001

I prefer the bars over running boards. I had a set of stainless ones on my 95 2 door Tahoe. Make sure you get stainless! It is worth the extra money. My 99 Tahoe has the factory running boards but I'll probably replace those soon with bars. Bars are very easy to install, much easier than boards.

Chief Smallfire · October 14, 2001

Thanks for the all the input.

Hey Shaners, is this the Stull you were looking for?

Stull Industries

I live about a hundred miles south of you, so our slush 'n crude levels are similar. I was hoping that the RBs would keep the crude off the side, not carry it around on top.

Jpshostr · October 14, 2001

You can't really make them out in the picture below, but we have Ziebart Tidycar running boards on our truck and wouldn't have any other kind. This is the second truck we have put them on and couldn't be happier with them. They are very very sturdy, jumping on them you can't get them to deflect at all, opposed to just about every RB I've tried. They do a pretty decent job keeping crap off the side of the truck. Things like oil covered chips from our oiled roads in the summer and gravel chips for gravel roads very rarely hit the sides of the truck now. If you are going in a straight line they help keep mud off, but once you turn the front wheels send it everywhere, so it still ends up getting on the truck, not that thats a bad thing. A reason I like running boards is that, while not recommended by anyone, a person can ride along on them while we are going through the pasture. This way the guy can jump off and on easily when doing certain jobs, I wouldn't want to do that with nerf bars. But of course, I'm sure most of the people on this board will ever want to do such a thing as that, so its a mute point.

Shaners · October 14, 2001

Thanks Chief!!!

I tried that web address before and I got a message "access denied". It seems to be working great now. I wonder if they had a problem with their server???

From my front door it is exactly 60 miles to the stadiums in Pittsburgh...

Greg · October 15, 2001

I think Nerf Bars look best (waiting for a set of Westins now.) I've been told that most women who wear heels prefer running boards given they usually provide a larger, flatter platform.

MOD2FLY · October 15, 2001

Best looking: SS Bars

Safest for a chick in heels: RB

I have running boards and they are a pain in the butt in the winter.

JILAW · October 21, 2001

I have had running boards on my Explorers and Suburbans and they tend to collect dirt, debris, ice and snow. So, I went with Westin CPS nerf bars for my new truck.

Joe Pool · October 22, 2001

Check out the DTA Ultra Boards at DTA Corp

These are some of the best made running boards I have found yet. I have the cab and bed section boards on my '02 2500 CC SB D/A. I went with the nontapered ones.