Truck Step Bars

Trucks today are built both tough and tall. Whether due to factory design or owner modification, truck step bars, also called nerf bars, provide an important feature for helping passengers climb safely in and out of the vehicle.

Design

Truck owners have two choices for stepping up: step bars or running boards. Most commonly, both step bars and running boards are built from either durable plastics, stainless steel, or a combination of the two.

Step Bars (Nerf Bars)

Three types of step bars commonly exist:

Wheel to Wheel Side Bars: These extend in between the front and back wheels of the truck and provide access to every door, as well as to the bed of the truck. They are especially helpful to owners who climb in and out of the truck bed frequently.
Cab-length Step Bars: This style stretches the distance of the truck cab, providing easy access to all vehicle doors.
Oval Step Bars: Oval step bars differ only in shape. Their oval design allows for a wider surface area, and more comfortable stepping space.

Running Boards

Running boards stretch the length of the truck cab, and typically provide a wider step area. Commonly, running boards utilize safety skid pads or slip-resistant materials, which help protect users from slipping in wet conditions.

Capacity

Both running boards and step bars can handle weight capacities up to 300 pounds. Of the two options, running boards can potentially hold even more weight. If your needs require more than 300 pound capacity, please consult your local retailer or manufacturer for additional options.

Step Bar Makers

The following manufacturers offer step bars and running bars priced between $155 and $189 a pair.

Rampage
Steelcraft
Raptor Series
Westin
EFX Bars
Nasta
Romik
Bully
GoRhino!
Back Country
Bestop
Tal & Hadas
Style Steps
DayStar Four Real
Trail FX
Aries Off Road
Putco
Go Industries
Roadmax Automotive
Iron Cross
Smittybilt
N-Fab
DeeZee