How do you step into your tow rig?

bitternut · Jan 19, 2009

I just got a new Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD extended cab and wondered what the favorite nerf bars most people buy for stepping in and out of their trucks. Vehicle is kinda high for getting in and out of without some kind of step. The NASTA 100% STAINLESS seem like a good idea since even the brackets are stainless. The Westin appear to have quite a few good reviews also.

Anyone care to recommend a particular bar and or source for best price?

John Deere 3520 · Jan 19, 2009

western is the most popular step boards.

DieselPower · Jan 19, 2009

You could alway's get a pair of those fancy steps that swing out when you open the door and fold back in when you close it.

John Deere 3520 · Jan 20, 2009

Those steps that fold in and out seem cool but i think they would break easy folding in and out all the time. Seems like a problem waiting to happen i would just stick with the normal chrome or black tube steps.

jwstewar · Jan 20, 2009

I had a set of the Kodiak Sidewinders on my '97 and then I put a set on my '99. Had all kind of problems with them on my '97. I complained to Kodiak. They said they had redesigned them. So I bought another set for my '99. I ended up taking them off in probably '01 or so. Never worked right. They would get stuck down and then you had problems. If you didn't drive the truck every 2 or 3 days they would run the battery dead. Did that on both trucks. Finally I said screw it took them off and threw them away. Now I have nothing on it. Our Suburban which feels a little higher than our Silverado has factory running boards. I like them on it, but don't think I would like them on the truck. Not "rough" looking enough.

MikeD74T · Jan 20, 2009

A coworker put painted nerf bars on his 2002 Silverado that rusted out in 2 years in NH road salt. Replaced with stainless same brand ?? and still good. I have DeeZee running boards on my 2002 crewcab. Still look good & protect rocker panels better than nerf bars. MikeD74T

Diamondpilot · Jan 20, 2009

All three of my current Ford F-150, F-250, and F-350 came with chrome boards like these. No rust yet on either. The F-250 is a 04 and the F-350 is a 06.

Chirs

Scooby074 · Jan 20, 2009

Dad has a '03 F150 KR. It came from the factory with tube style running boards. Dealer said they were made by lund?. They rusted out pretty bad after only a year or so. Granted we use alot of salt on our roads but I wouldn't recommend them. Maybe if you can get something 100% stainless. Running boards are pretty handy though.

George2615 · Jan 20, 2009

bitternut said:
I just got a new Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD extended cab and wondered what the favorite nerf bars most people buy for stepping in and out of their trucks. Vehicle is kinda high for getting in and out of without some kind of step. The NASTA 100% STAINLESS seem like a good idea since even the brackets are stainless. The Westin appear to have quite a few good reviews also.

Anyone care to recommend a particular bar and or source for best price?

I bought a set of Westin bars at my local Pep Boys store. Got them in black stainless. Installed them in about a half hour. (But I have a lift and air tools in my garage) But even on your back with hand tools it shouldn't take much more than an hour to install. When I got my 07 2500HD 4x4 EC I was in the store looking for a set to fit and they didn't list my year truck since it was new at the time. I called Westin's toll free number on one of the boxes and asked them for the number that fit my truck. They told me the number and the store had them it just didn't show on the box that they fit the 07 (the ones that fit the 06 were the same). I installed them in July 07 and they still look like new (when there's no snow and ice on them). I think they were around $399.
The swing out ones wouldn't work for me in winter. They'd freeze up under the truck and I wouldn't be able to open my door. I didn't have a problem getting in and out of the truck without them, I bought them because the wife couldn't get in the truck. Of course that could be a good thing.

zzvyb6 · Jan 20, 2009

I had a set of the electric auto folders on my Yukon XL. Sometimes worried that my dog would get her paws caught on them but this was never the case. I had 2 bad knees at the time and they were wonderful. If you have them, you will use them. The permanent ones tended to cause my trucks to hang up in deep snow pack, while the auto jobs never were a problem. Either way, its great to have a boot scraper to use for keeping mud and snow out of the footwells. The Ladies really like them when skirts are short, and that encourages the wearing of short skirts. Mine were even handy at the boat launch in times of crisis when the truck needs to back in really far.

GIJOE · Jan 20, 2009

When I bought my truck back in 2000, I wanted a set of bars that went from wheel well to wheel well to ease the retrieval of items from the tool box. The only ones that were long enough were made for a Suburban, and the attachments were not in the correct location for a Silverado, so I made my own. The bars are built out of 3"x3" square tubing, 3" flat bar for the step cut outs, and 3" channel for the attachment brackets.

Joe

Diamondpilot · Jan 20, 2009

GIJOE said:
When I bought my truck back in 2000, I wanted a set of bars that went from wheel well to wheel well to ease the retrieval of items from the tool box. The only ones that were long enough were made for a Suburban, and the attachments were not in the correct location for a Silverado, so I made my own. The bars are built out of 3"x3" square tubing, 3" flat bar for the step cut outs, and 3" channel for the attachment brackets.

Joe

Hey Joe, you should sue Ford for stealing your idea. The new trucks have steps for that.

No, really its a good idea.

Chris

Willl · Jan 20, 2009

Don't get running boards that have a rubber strip that touches the body like this one.

It'll rub a hole right through.

bjess8 · Jan 21, 2009

I have an 05 chevy 2500 EC and thought about putting 4" step tubes on it has anyone have any good or bad about 4" instead of 3" tubes?

Diamondpilot · Jan 21, 2009

I like the 4" much better. My neighbor has 3" on his Chevy Dmax 3500 and they look like tooth picks. I think there is only a slight steeping area advantage but the looks of the 4" are much better.

Chris

bitternut · Jan 21, 2009

Well I took a walk around my local Walmart and Home Depot parking lots to check out all the trucks with step bars and running boards. There was quite a variety to look at and after checking out quite a few dozen rigs I decided to order a set of Nasta 3" stainless bars. Price was a factor as well as the all 304 stainless including mounting hardware.

All of the flat bars, oval bars and running boards seemed to collect a lot more ice and road slop than the 3" round ones. Since I am located in a serious rust belt area the stainless and tendency to shed road crap was a key factor in my decision.

The swing out steps seemed like a problem waiting to happen in my area, especially since I also travel a few dirt roads. I have had frozen mud loaded up on the underside of my truck many times. The car washes love me when that happens.

Thank you to all that shared your experience and opinions.

Diamondpilot · Jan 21, 2009

bitternut said:
Well I took a walk around my local Walmart and Home Depot parking lots to check out all the trucks with step bars and running boards. There was quite a variety to look at and after checking out quite a few dozen rigs I decided to order a set of Nasta 3" stainless bars. Price was a factor as well as the all 304 stainless including mounting hardware.

The Nasta are good bars. It is what the guy in the post above, my neighbor with a 3500 Dmax, has.

No signs of rust so far in the second year. I personally like the 4" bar primarily for my wife and her shoes, needs a flat area to step on and the 3" are much more rounded, but its all personal preference.

Chris

Builder · Jan 21, 2009

My neighbor has an F-350. Sits twice as high as my GMC.
He uses a gymnast's springboard to get into his truck.

downslope · Jan 22, 2009

I had a 2000 GMC 3500 4WD pickup. Replaced with a 2008 3500 4WD. I can't believe how much higher the 08 is. The tire size is one larger, I think 255vs245 (SRW), but the height difference has to be due to more than that. What model year did the 3500 get the big lift, was it 2007? I think I liked the lower profile better, easier to load and remove items in the bed from the side, but the 08 is definitely more truck.

Builder · Jan 22, 2009

downslope said:
I had a 2000 GMC 3500 4WD pickup. Replaced with a 2008 3500 4WD. I can't believe how much higher the 08 is. The tire size is one larger, I think 255vs245 (SRW), but the height difference has to be due to more than that. What model year did the 3500 get the big lift, was it 2007? I think I liked the lower profile better, easier to load and remove items in the bed from the side, but the 08 is definitely more truck.

They went from a 245 to a 265.
A nice thing about 265's is they're cheap to replace compared to the 17,18 or 20 inch rim tires.