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The Best Step Bar Accessory for Your Truck

Do you see those step bars located on either lower side of your truck? They come with various names, designs, and types. The four most common variations of these truck accessories include the nerf bars, rock sliders, side steps, and running boards.

While there are a lot of them, only one best matches your truck based on the standards of convenience, aesthetics, and support. Also, you can’t expect to replace step bars each time without an excessive cost. Note that the installment rate for side steps can range between $300- $1,800 depending on the accessory.

If you are thinking of saving yourself from unnecessary costs and effort, then you will have to properly choose the best step bar accessory for your truck.

What Are the Different Functionalities of Each Step Bar Accessory?

The step bar variants — nerf bars, rock sliders, side steps, and running boards — have similar and different functions. In this section, we will go through each of their advantages and disadvantages to properly determine which accessory best matches your truck needs.

The nerf bars or side steps originally function to keep race cars from bumping each other. That explains why they are spaced a bit further from the side of the car/truck. Another purpose of the nerf bars/side steps, besides providing a firm stepping platform for the passengers, is to serve as a doormat for the truck.

If you’re a massive off-road enthusiast, the nerf bars and or step bars are not for you. As you can see, this usually-round accessory easily gives way to extreme off-road pressure.

The rock sliders function as an enhanced version of the side steps or nerf bars. This tool perfectly matches extreme off-road needs. Accordingly, it protects the vehicle from damage and enables the truck/vehicle to perform sharp turns and flip recovery.

Ironically though, it also lessens the truck’s ground clearance, exposing its underside to constant scratches. To prevent this, you will have to weld the sliders directly into the frame of the truck.

Now, unless you are a fan of rugged-looking and beefy side bars on rough roads, you might not be easily pleased by this option.

The running boards resemble a flatter version of the side step attachment. Laid just along the bottom part of the truck door, positioned tightly to the truck siding, it mainly serves as a stepping platform particularly for extremely tall trucks.

If you are the camper type who frequently places objects on the roof of the truck, you may find it to be most helpful. Moreover, the running boards function to specifically shield the truck’s doors and siding from small rocks and dirt thrown by the wheels.

On the contrary, running boards easily get dirty. To make matters worse, they take time to clean. Lastly, it causes problems in the truck seat and undercarriage.

Choosing the Lighter Step Bar Attachment for Your Truck

Unless you are into off-road races, you are right to pick the side step attachment because it is lighter, more convenient, and more affordable to install.

While the off-road step bar designs come off as tough and eye-catching, the nerf bar or side step design exudes elegance, neatness, and suaveness.

Apart from the aesthetics, of course, the side step accessory provides just the right climbing support for the passengers.

Truck Side Steps Near You

At Line-X of South Central PA, our side steps guarantee a slick, safe, convenient, and effective platform for in-and-out traffic in your truck/car. Besides the lifetime warranty they bear, their material alone makes for long-lasting durability.

About LINE-X and Krown of South Central Pennsylvania

LINE-X and Krown of South Central Pennsylvania is the leader in vehicle undercoating protection using Krown products and truck bed liners using LINE-X spray-on bed liners. We serve York County to help maintain and extend the life of vehicles. If you are in Loganville or Lewisberry, Delta or Dover, West York or Wrightsville, or any point in between, stop in at our Vogelsong Road location to see what we can do to protect your vehicle. No one knows protection better than LINE-X and Krown and the premium performance and exceptional value that they bring.