Truck Accessories Buyer's Guide
Running Boards, Nerf Bars & Side Steps: The Brand Breakdown
Twelve brands. One category. Here's what each one brings to the table — so you can stop guessing and start building.
There are more running board brands than most people realize, and the differences between them matter more than you'd think. Some are built for the pavement crowd — clean lines, aluminum construction, low profile. Some are engineered for the trail — welded steel, integrated rock sliders, anti-slip surfaces designed to take a hit. Others split the difference, offering OEM-style step-up solutions for work trucks that spend their lives hauling and climbing in and out. This guide spotlights one standout product from each brand we carry, with honest context about what makes each one worth knowing. Whatever your rig, there's a step solution in here that fits the way you actually use your truck.
Running Board vs. Nerf Bar vs. Side Step — What's the Difference?
Running boards run the full length of the rocker panel, offering a wide, flat step surface — ideal for daily drivers and lifted trucks where passengers need the extra reach. Nerf bars are thinner, round or oval tubular steps that angle down from the body; they give you a step point without adding much bulk. Side steps and rock sliders fall somewhere in between — offering vehicle protection alongside step access, and are common on Jeep and off-road builds where rock contact is a real concern. The right choice usually comes down to how you use the truck and whether the look is as important as the function.
| Type | Best For | Typical Material | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Running Board | Daily drivers, lifted trucks, families | Aluminum or steel | Wide, flat platform |
| Nerf Bar | Work trucks, clean street builds | Stainless or powder-coated steel | Round or oval tube |
| Side Step / Slider | Off-road, Jeep, trail-ready builds | Heavy-gauge steel | Low-profile, dual-purpose |
| Bed Step | Haulers, contractors, anyone loading cargo | Aluminum with grip pad | Retractable bumper mount |
Street & Daily — Clean Lines, Ready to Go
Black Horse, Westin, and AMP Research — for trucks that need to look the part without sacrificing function.
Black Horse Off Road
Running Boards 2024–2026 Toyota Tacoma Storm Running Boards All-black aluminum design with a raised anti-slip step pad surface — specifically fit for the 2024–2026 Toyota Tacoma. Low-profile enough to keep the Tacoma's clean look while adding real step-up functionality for taller lifts. $507.74 Shop Now |
Westin
Nerf Bars Outlaw Drop Nerf Step Bars — 15–26 Colorado / GMC Canyon Crew Cab Westin's Outlaw series drops the step point lower than a standard nerf bar — a genuine improvement for crew cabs where the rocker sits high. Textured black finish. Fits 2015–2026 Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon Crew Cab. $533.99 Shop Now |
AMP Research
Bed Step BedStep — Retractable Bumper Step (2007–2013 Silverado 1500/2500/3500) AMP Research's BedStep mounts to the rear bumper and deploys automatically when the tailgate opens — no reaching over the side rail or climbing the tires. Aluminum with non-slip pad. Fits 2007–2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500, and 3500. $409.99 Shop Now |
Work Truck & Heavy Duty — Built to Be Used
N-Fab, Go Rhino, and Body Armor 4x4 — for trucks that climb in and out three times a day.
N-Fab
Side Steps RS Nerf Step — 19–26 Chevy / GMC 1500, 2500, 3500 Crew Cab, Cab Length N-Fab's patented hoop step design runs the full cab length with integrated step hoops along the tube — no separate step pads to lose or corrode. Textured black. Fits 2019–2026 Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500–3500 Crew Cab. $594.99 Shop Now |
Go Rhino
Side Steps 1000 Series Side Steps — Universal 87-Inch, Textured Black Go Rhino's 1000 Series is a 4-inch oval side step in an 87-inch universal cut-to-fit length with non-slip step pads. A proven workhorse for full-size trucks that need functional steps without the premium price tag — fits Silverado, Sierra, F-Series, Ram, Tundra, Tacoma, and more. $156.99 Shop Now |
Body Armor 4x4
Side Steps Ambush Side Steps — 2007–2018 Chevrolet Silverado Crew Cab The Ambush sits high and tight against the rocker panel, keeping the main tube out of harm's way on work sites and washboard roads. The 2-inch textured step pads provide grip where it counts. Fits 2007–2018 Silverado 1500, 2500, and 3500 HD Crew Cab. $643.99 Shop Now |
Off-Road & Jeep — Built for Terrain
DV8 Offroad, ARB, Fishbone Offroad, Rugged Ridge, Rampage, and Omix — built for rigs that take the terrain seriously, plus the classic builders.
DV8 Offroad
Side Steps / Sliders Jeep Gladiator Side Step / Sliders (2019–2025) DV8's Gladiator sliders are a two-for-one: the boxed-steel construction shields the rocker panels from rock strikes, and the anti-slip step surface raises up from the body for entry. Unlike a pure tube step, this one is rated to take a hit and keep going. Fits 2019–2025 Jeep Gladiator. $879.99 Shop Now |
ARB
Side Steps Summit Step Section — 2016–2019 Toyota Tacoma ARB's Summit Steps are an integrated side rail and step system — protecting the front quarter panels and lower sills while improving access. The textured step surface is built into the rail itself, not bolted on. Requires ARB base rail (4423020 030). Fits 2016–2019 Toyota Tacoma. $1,573.99 Shop Now |
Fishbone Offroad
Side Steps Steel Side Steps — 2007–2018 Jeep Wrangler JK Unlimited (4 Door) Fishbone's JK side steps are welded steel with a black textured powder coat — no aluminum flex, no hollow tube that caves when you step on a rock. Anti-slip tread plates run the full length of the step surface. Fits 2007–2018 Jeep Wrangler JK Unlimited (4-door only). $641.99 Shop Now |
Rugged Ridge
Nerf Bars Classic Black Nerf Bars — 1976–1986 Jeep CJ7 Rugged Ridge knows classic Jeeps, and these nerf bars are proof. Black powder coated, factory-style fitment for the 1976–1986 CJ7 — the kind of step that looks like it should have been there from the factory. Fits 1976–1986 Jeep CJ7, including Renegade and Laredo trims. $243.99 Shop Now |
Rampage
Side Steps Xtremeline Step Bar — Universal 80-Inch, Black Rampage's Xtremeline combines the look of a side bar with 50% more step surface area than a standard nerf bar — wide enough to function, slim enough to look intentional. Universal 80-inch length fits a wide range of full-size trucks, SUVs, and Jeep Wrangler Unlimited models. $325.99 Shop Now |
Omix
Side Steps Factory-Style Side Steps — Semi-Gloss Black (1976–1986 Jeep CJ5 / CJ7) Omix specializes in Jeep restoration, and these side steps are built to replace what the factory put there — OEM-style profiles in semi-gloss black that fit the character of the original CJ. Fits 1976–1986 Jeep CJ5 and CJ7, including Scrambler models through 1985. $406.99 Shop Now |
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Make It Yours: The Complete TVD Vinyl Decals Buyer's Guide
Make It Yours: The Complete TVD Vinyl Decals Buyer's Guide