Why buy side steps?
Side tubes, nerf bars, side steps, running boards. Whatever you call 'em, they look great and work even better. The need for side steps has grown as trucks and SUVs have gotten taller. You'll discover a number of features and benefits with a set of side steps, including:
- An extra boost up into your cab
- Safe stepping in any weather
- A variety of shapes and styles
- Heavy-duty materials for overall strength
- A multitude of finish choices for a smooth and tough appearance
- Sturdy mounting in a matter of minutes
Whether you've got a low-rolling midsize SUV or a monster truck, you could probably use a solid step beneath your door for an extra boost when you need it. Nerf bars and running boards can be a welcome sight after a tiring day at the job site or an energy-sapping stint at the office.
Think of your other riders, too. The sturdy stepping place provided by a set of nerf bars or running boards is a great measure of safety and peace of mind for your younger or older passengers.
Side steps are built to handle frequent use, too. Like most of AutoAnything's truck and SUV accessories, they bolt-on to your vehicle in a pre-existing mounting position on the frame. This makes for sturdy installation that can handle whatever your passengers' feet dish out.
Side steps also boast incredible weight capacity. The typical set of nerf bars can hold 300 lbs or more at a time, supported by the steel construction and heavy-duty frame mount brackets. Most running boards boast an aluminum support frame beneath the stepping surface, giving these side steps a weight capacity of up to 500 lbs.
Wet weather can make for unstable footing everywhere. That's why nerf bars, side steps and running boards feature treaded pads that help you get a grip on the step before climbing into your vehicle. These all-weather pads feature a grooved design that channels water away from the stepping surface.
Beyond providing a non-slip surface for stepping, nerf bars and running boards keep the mess from getting to your vehicle's carpet. The treaded pad is an excellent place to wipe your feet, while the tube or board itself becomes an ingenious tool for knocking off the mud.
The all-weather step pads stay in place with heavy-duty adhesive that's sure to hold for the life of your tubes. Plus, they're installed to recesses in the board or tube, meaning the strength of your step isn't compromised with a cutout.
Did You Know
The Name Game:
Side Steps
Running boards are running boards. Nerf bars, however, can be called side tubes, tube steps and countless other names. Which name is most often used? Well, nerf bars is the name that has taken over, though the soft, squishy feeling evoked by that name makes no sense in reference to steel tube steps.
A Quick Note
Ground Clearance
Side step thickness varies greatly, especially among nerf bars. For standard tubes and steps, non-lowered trucks and SUVs will have no trouble. Lowered trucks and SUVs may have clearance issues
with any tubes or steps. And, only full-size trucks can tackle jumbo-sized 4" nerf bars.