preference. What's more important is knowing which steps and
nerf bars provide the best truck
body protection and convenience for driver and passengers.
QUALITY OF
MATERIAL
When you begin shopping for
steps and nerf bars, skip right
past the Wal-Marts, Sears, and
other general-purpose vehicle
parts outlets because they tend
to carry products designed more
for shine than function.
It's also good to shy away from
the factory steps (or running
boards) for the same reason: They
are usually light-duty products
that don't stand up well to the
rigors of off-pavement/construction use.
Instead, turn your search immediately toward the off-road
shops and specialty manufactures who concentrate on
fabricating tough, no-nonsense
products just for such purposes.
Another buying tip is to avoid
so-called "universal-fit" items; generic fit-all products may get the
basic job done, but a top-of-theline application-specific product
will excel at all levels from installation to the hard knocks around
the jobsite.
And don't be afraid to come
right out and ask sales people if
the accessory you are looking at
will hold up to sliding over rocks
and banging into trees, or being
used as a vehicle jacking point.
Strength in the field comes
from solid design and engineering as well as the type of material
used to make such items.
For example, tubular nerf bars
and nerf bar steps fabricated out
of heavy-wall steel tube are far
better than oval- or round-shape
aluminum that uses thin materials and light-duty mounts.
When body protection and
durability are prime concern,
1/8-inch tubing is better than
1/16-inch, and 1/4-inch steel
mounting brackets are stronger
PRODUCT SHOWCASE
Bestop TrekStep Side-Mount
Allowing convenient access to toolboxes and cargo in the truck bed,
the spring-loaded TrekStep from Bestop offers a 400-pound capacity
and retracts or extends with the push of your boot. No-drill installation directly to the frame makes them a breeze to affix to the driver or
passenger side. The TrekStep features rugged aluminum alloy linkages
and high-strength steel mounts. Three-year or 36,000-mile warranty.
bestop.com; (800) 845-3567
Iron Cross ND Series
Well known for its rock sliders and nerf bars for Jeeps, Iron
Cross Automotive's HD Series Steps for full-size pickups provides the best of both worlds – rocker protection and non-skid
steps. Welded construction with aluminum anti-skid tread
plates and powder-coated for durability. Five-year warranty.
www.ironcrossautomotive.com; (866) 476-6276
AMP Research Power Step
The auto-deploying AMP Research Power Step has extrudedaluminum steps with full-length internal ribs, an integrated
LED system for visibility in low-light situations, stainless
steel pivot rings, and self-lubricating bushings to keep it
working in all seasons. Steps have 600-pound capacity and
are Teflon-coated to a military spec finish to resist corrosion.
Five-year or 60,000-mile warranty.
amp-research.com; (800) 309-6823
N-Fab 6-Step
Three steps per side is the signature of the N-Fab
Bed Access 6-Step side bar. It stretches from tire
opening to opening and allows you to get in
the doors easily and access the bed as well. The
one-piece, all-welded N-Fab side step bar comes
assembled and ready to install.
www.n-fab.com; (866) 806-6322
Fab Fours Side Steps
From the same company that makes
super duty bumpers comes a new fully
formed side step. Fab Fours all-steel, black
powder-coated side steps have a full
10-inch stomp pad embossed with the
Fab Four logo. The high-quality product is
available in cab-length or bed-access models, and designed to fit full-size pickups or
the Toyota Tacoma and Jeep JK.
FabFours.com; (866) 385-1905
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