Putting them on will take roughly 15 minutes.
In This Article...
What distinguishes nerf bars from running boards?
Running boards versus nerf bars are attachments that offer a secure surface to step onto when getting in or out of your pickup truck. Both of them come in different lengths, can be built of different materials, and attach to the truck’s bottom. Although various vehicle additions serve similar purposes, there are some significant differences to take into account that may influence your choice when the time comes.
Running boards typically feature a stepping pad that extends the whole length of the board, according to Auto Anything. On the other hand, nerf bars offer a stepping surface at each entrance to your cabin. Nerf bars vs. running boards, however, come in a wide range of designs, dimensions, and kinds. It’s crucial to research each kind of accessory to decide which is best for you.
What about a hybrid Tundra from Toyota?
Thankfully, Toyota has finally unveiled a brand-new Tundra for 2022, and a hybrid version is available. To compete with the Ford F-150 Hybrid and the effective diesel choices available on the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, and Ram 1500, the all-new Toyota Tundra Hybrid will be released in 2022.
Can I put the running boards on my own?
Simply said, nerf bars and running boards make it simpler to enter and exit a high-up vehicle.
Even though full-size trucks and SUVs are taller than crossovers and compact trucks, shorter people or those with restricted mobility may still find it difficult to climb into these vehicles, therefore they may put running boards on these cars.
Additionally, many truck or SUV owners love the robust, rugged appearance that aftermarket running boards provide their vehicle. As a result, many running boards come in a variety of finishes, including chrome, black, and brushed metal, and are intended to improve a truck’s or SUV’s outside appeal.
What Types of Running Boards Are There?
The three forms of aftermarket stairs for cars are side steps, nerf bars, and running boards.
A running board is a totally flat step that attaches to a truck or SUV’s side, just inside the doors.
However, nerf bars include cutout areas for the passengers’ feet and mount to the side of a truck or an SUV behind the doors instead. These areas typically include textured surfaces or rubber grips to provide the user with additional grip when getting in and out of the car.
A narrow, single step known as a side step accomplishes the same task as a running board. To make it simpler for the user to reach the bed, these can be mounted on the side of a truck or SUV behind the rear axle or underneath the passenger doors on a vehicle.
How Do I Install Running Boards?
The process of installing running boards is often straightforward, but if your running boards are particularly heavy, you might want to enlist the assistance of a buddy.
Many aftermarket side steps, nerf bars, and running boards will come with installation instructions. Running boards are typically pre-drilled with mounting holes in the frame, so all you have to do is install them and secure them with the hardware that came with your running boards.
You will need to drill the holes yourself if your car doesn’t already have them. However, if the holes aren’t pre-drilled, we’d advise hiring a professional to install them because you don’t want to jeopardize your car’s structure.
To install your running boards, simply adhere to the directions that came with them. You can also search online for instructional videos like the one on YouTube below.
How Much Weight Can Running Boards Hold?
Although they aren’t often specified, weight ratings range from 300 to 500 pounds. You can use two or three brackets on some side steps, which can assist tighten up a set if they are sagging. Weights are not standardized, and no manufacturer tests every single model. Though you probably won’t be able to, or need to, place triple brackets under a single cab truck or two-door Jeep, more brackets holding your step bars to the frame will generally hold more. A full-size crew cab pickup’s long run may bend despite additional brackets, especially if two large persons are loaded onto it at once. Although overloading rarely results in a break, doing so frequently increases the likelihood of developing tiny fractures or other wear that can result in rust.
What Are Running Boards Made From?
Step bars are typically composed of aluminum, coated mild steel, or stainless steel. Although there are a few knockoff carbon fiber running boards, we couldn’t locate any from well-known producers. They all have benefits and drawbacks.
The best goods are side steps made of stainless steel. They frequently carry lifetime warranties against material faults and weight ratings of up to 500 pounds. Because of stainless steel’s excellent strength, they may be made thinner and lighter, which makes installation simpler. Even though rust may eventually occur, stainless steel is particularly resistant to corrosion, which is why brackets and fasteners are typically constructed of another material. Stainless steel nerf bars are typically more expensive than an equivalent set of mild steel step bars since both the materials and production are more expensive. Because stainless steel is more difficult to weld than mild steel, simple designs like bends in tubes or rectangular bars are more common than complex ones.
Unhardened steel is referred to as mild steel. In comparison to hardened steel, which might be used to make mounting brackets with great strength, it has more flex and is less likely to shatter. It will corrode right away if it isn’t coated. The best steel running boards are galvanized, which electrically attaches a rust-resistant zinc coating to the steel. The galvanized finish is then protected with additional layers of coating. They must be completely coated. All of these coatings may chip off or lose their integrity where fasteners or stairways are located or are exposed to road debris. It is fairly easy to repair and weld mild steel. Look for running boards made of coated steel with a five year warranty.
Step bars made of aluminum won’t rust, but they will corrode with time. Aluminum is difficult to weld, just like stainless steel, hence these frequently come in straightforward extruded and bent configurations like ovals, tubes, and rectangular bars. They typically cost more when manufactured in more intricate shapes. Since aluminum weighs roughly the same as or even less than stainless steel and requires more thickness to produce the same strength, one person can install them more easily. Aluminum can be coated, brushed, or polished to a brilliant luster. Direct contact between aluminum and steel can cause galvanic corrosion, which weakens the metal and rusts the steel.
Will Installing Running Boards Void my Vehicle’s Warranty?
No. The Magnuson Moss Warranty-Federal Trade Commission Improvements Act is a Federal rule in the United States that mandates that a dealership or manufacturer must demonstrate that an aftermarket part is to blame for a failure. They have the burden of proof. This doesn’t mean that a dishonest dealership won’t treat you unfairly, and if your running boards inflict damage to your vehicle, the warranty won’t cover it. However, they are unable to assert, for example, that your step bars hurt the transmission.
As a result, it does make sense to exercise caution, especially in the areas where you connect to the frame. Ensure that every surface is spotless, and avoid scratching any coatings that serve as protection. After installation, we would spray any places that came into contact with rust preventive like Cosmoline or Fluid Film, wash it frequently, and touch up the spray coating a few times a year. It’s a good idea to check your bolts at the same time to make sure they haven’t loosened. You should also watch out for steel hardware coming into touch with an aluminum step bar or frame, or vice versa, since this can lead to galvanic corrosion.
What makes them nerf bars?
The name “nerf” refers to when a racer bumps another car in order to pass them during a race, which is where the nerf bar got its start. Race vehicles have tubular fittings on either side of the car body to make this maneuver safe.
Nerf barsdo I need any?
Boots that are muddy or wet can be quite slippery, which increases the risk that your feet will fall off the foot pegs.
Additionally, it’s possible for your feet to fly off the foot pegs if you ride aggressively.
These are both potentially hazardous circumstances that could result in rolls, fractured bones, and worse if your feet get caught in the back tire. Both of these possibilities are avoided by the nerf bar.
They also shield your legs and feet from rocks and other objects that the front tires could hurl up.
Nerf bars can help keep your tires from becoming tangled in those of other ATV riders.
Additionally, it forms a safety barrier around your feet to shield it from dangers and snares.
Reduce ground clearance running boards?
Although certain manufacturers occasionally conflate side bars and running boards, ARIES makes a few significant distinctions between the two categories. The advice provided here is meant to assist you in selecting the product that will best meet your needs and interests.
Nerf bars, step bars, and side steps are just a few of the various names for side bars. The main purpose of a side bar is to act as a surface for stepping into the car. They are typically installed on bigger vehicles like pickup trucks and SUVs as a result. However, smaller cars like crossovers and compact SUVs also have them for cosmetic reasons.
Typically, side bars are built to install with a specific distance between the step and the vehicle’s body. Depending on the model, this area can change, although it is often a few inches. Additionally, they are made to mount low on the car, reducing ground clearance but offering a more useful step for raised cars. Running boards are often wider than side bars, which are typically smaller than individual step pads for each door on the vehicle.
Running boards differ from side bars in that they:
- Give the step and the car some extra room.
- Reduce ground clearance to make stepping into raised cars easier.
- Individual, specially placed step pads
- generally narrower than running boards in width
A running board offers a surface for stepping into the vehicle, similar to a side bar. Instead of leaving a gap, it typically attaches flush with or close to the rocker panel of the car. Running boards often have a smoother profile and are wider than side bars. The flat stepping surface often has a tread that runs the length of the board rather than discrete step pads.
Running boards are a practical step and give aesthetic appeal to a variety of vehicles, including bigger pickup trucks, SUVs, and smaller crossovers. Running boards often offer more ground clearance than side bars, which mount down and away from the car, making them a great option for lower vehicles.
You can walk on rock sliders.
When you go off-roading, this equipment is crucial because the main function of rock sliders is to support your vehicle’s weight from the underneath. This is especially helpful if you are navigating very challenging rock tracks and don’t have enough ground clearance. Utilizing rock sliders to intentionally “belly slide your 4WD between rocks and sand ridges” is another great advantage of them.
In contrast to side steps, which you can undoubtedly use as rock sliders, rock sliders can still be used as side steps in addition to their intended purpose of protecting the underbelly of your vehicle.
Rock sliders are primarily made to act as a barrier between your car and off-road hazards, reducing the likelihood that your car will sustain damage. They are especially useful for shielding your lower panels and sills. If you damage a sill, the repair will cost a lot of money. Therefore, it is preferable to prepare in advance and spend the money on the rock sliders. Make careful you get this attachment from a reputable company or fabricator, such as Phat Bars.
By doing your homework in advance, you can be confident that the product you purchase is durable and able to withstand repeated abuse.
You need scrub bars, right?
Your car’s panel work may be expensive to replace when damaged and vulnerable to collisions. For the purpose of shielding the panels from unanticipated bumps, scrubbing, or rubbing, scrub bars are a wise investment.
They are excellent for protecting against stones, trees, muddy rut walls, and bouncing off roosters and are similar to bull bars. They provide an extra layer of defense against anything striking your front quarter panels, depending on how wild your travels will be.
Your car will “slide, knock, or rub against the object on the scrub/brush bars instead of directly striking the front quarter panels.” This indicates that the damage is limited to a more durable (steel) bar that can support the load and is often simple to fix or conceal.
The scrub/brush bars offer piece of mind, are robust, and are simple to attach and remove. They are therefore perfect for the function of shielding your car.
Is a diesel Tundra on the way from Toyota?
Toyota diesel engines are dependable. Diesel engines use less fuel, are dependable, and emit fewer pollutants. Toyota has adopted this technology as a result, and its new Tundra diesel vehicle will be released in 2022.
Eco-friendliness was one of Toyota’s objectives for the new Tundra. For those seeking to cut emissions and fuel usage, this new diesel vehicle will be an economical option.
Whatever kind of driving you perform, the Toyota i-Force MAX engine will deliver a strong ride. The new diesel engine allows for longer distance travel between fill-ups.
A strong, dependable engine is something that many cars, including the Toyota Tundra, offer. You can rely on the i-Force MAX diesel engine to perform. Come in for some Toyota diesel servicing to keep your new car operating at peak performance.