Cattleman HD
With 15 years in the business of making heavy-duty truck
accessories Cattleman has made its reputation on using
high-grade powder coatings and making sure each joint on
its product is meticulously welded with solid bead all the way
around for superb strength and durability. The company offers
its stylish diamond-plate steel, glossy black HD running boards
for single and DRW pickups. Cattleman HD running boards
come with boot kicks to keep the cab interior clean.
www.cattlemanhd.com;
sales@cattlemanhd.com
Bestop PowerBoard
The 6-1/4-inch-wide aluminum surface on the
PowerBoard from Bestop (bestop.com) features
a durable non-slip, matte-black powder-coated
surface and a generous 600-pound capacity.
Splitting the difference between the doorsill of
your truck and the ground, this powered running
board extends to provide a stair step when
the door is open and then retracts for ground
clearance when the door is closed. Three-year or
36,000-mile warranty.
bestop.com; (800) 845-3567
Go Industries Rugged Step
AMP Research Bed Step 2
The Bed Step 2 from AMP Research is a contractor's dream, supporting
up to 300 pounds to allow you to easily reach deep into the bed of your
truck for tools, gear and cargo without having to climb in or stand on
the tire. Made from high-strength aluminum alloy, its non-slip, fiberglass-reinforced composite step-pad is large enough for two boots;
and when not in use, flips up with the kick of a toe. Easily installed on
either side of the truck. Three-year or 36,000-mile warranty.
amp-research.com; (800) 309-6823
instead of tubes that have been
flattened and made into a step.
One company that does a very
good job integrating off-road
strength in step/nerf bars with
convenience of use and installation is Houston, Texas-based
N-Fab (www.n-fab.com). The
company's Nerf-Steps have a
445-pound weight rating – the
highest in the industry.
Iron Cross Automotive also
makes premium nerf bar steps.
The HD Series Steps fit like true
nerf bars, but have nicely built-in
steps with anti-skid step plates.
SPECIAL COATINGS
Regardless of the type of steps or
nerf bars you choose, the parts
need have a durable finish. Some
STEP BARS & NERF BARS
The Rancher Rugged Step is a commercialgrade side step from Go Industries designed
for full sized trucks. Measuring 8-1/4 inches
wide, the Rancher offers sure footing on 2-inch
10-gauge runners and 2-inch tubing. A nylon
coating is used for corrosion protection. A
mud scraper is available to clean muck and
other debris from you boots to keep the truck's
interior clean. No-drill installation.
goindustries.com; (800) 527-4345
manufacturers offer both powder-coating and chrome-plating.
Some offer special coatings.
Warn Industry's (www.Warn.
com) Andy Lilienthal says,
"Powder-coating is common in
the off-road industry because it's
one of the most-durable finishes
available. Powder-coat is bakedon, providing a harder finish
than a wet-painted surface. All
our bumpers are powder-coated
from the factory."
Wiegmann has a different
take saying, "I don't recommend
powder-coating nerf bars and
rock sliders because you can't
just touch-up a scratch if the part
is powder-coated. You have to
recoat the entire part.
"My favorite coating is called
POR-15 (www.por15.com), a
special rust-preventive coating,"
Weigmann continues.
"It has the durability of a powder-coat, but it's a roll-on paint
that you can touch-up. Most offroad shops can order it in for you,
or you can order it directly from
the company's website.
Greg Grote, engineering
manager at Luverne Truck Equipment (www.luvernetruck.com) in
Brandon, South Dakota, says for
greatest rust-resistance to look
for a product that's either stainless steel or has an e-coating, a
rust inhibitor, that's then powdercoated for UV protection.
"We use a polyethylene copolymer-based thermoplastic coating
in our XX product line. We spray
thermoplastic powder over heated
steel where the powder melts into
a thick protective coating and gets
into some places where a liquid
paint or powder coat can't."
Whether the parts are stainless
steel, powder-coated, plasticcoated, or painted, the priority
remains: function over looks.
That's because when you
are stepping up into your truck
you want the very best product
under your feet. The same goes
for protecting the truck's lower
rockers.
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