Need Input for Nerf Bars

I need some advice on purchasing nerf bars for my 2012 tacoma acess cab. I see there are different aftermarket brands that come in painted black and chrome. My truck is a dark magnetic gray . What bars do you think I should go with. I want bars that look good and are good quality. I was told the chrome will rust in time from the salt they use here in winter and the black could be repainted.

 

get sliders, they are worth the investment and will hold better and longer than nerf bars...my own .02

 

Good looking truck man congrats! My advice is to think about what you want to do with the truck? Will you be going off road at all? Are they just for looks? Are they more of a necessity to help people get in and out of the truck?
If you are thinking of wheeling it and going off road you would want "sliders" for protection. If they are for looks just about anything will do and my suggestion would be to contact Brandon at AVID OFF Road out in Arizona. He will make you a pair of very solid step bars, mail them out to you, you get them powder coated whatever color you want and you're set.

http://www.avidoffroad.com/#

And if they are for helping people get in and out you may not want to get a tubular surface unless you use some skateboard paper to reduce the risk of slipping. Anything you get will reduce your ground clearance so take that in mind. Surf this forum, there's plenty of vendors and opinions out there! Good luck!

 

+1 for avid. I'm finally putting mine on my truck tonight. I just sprayed them with primer and bed liner, they look great.

 

I've got the oem ones and I'm happy with them. I think they look good and since they are aluminum there's no fear of rust

 

Chrome will rust, black painted steel will rust also, both can be repainted if they start to show rust. If you buy anything black painted, I'd hit it with another coat of paint or bedliner before putting them on the truck. Factory paints tend to be thin and don't hold up well, especially on the salty New England roads.

If you're set on nerf bars and like the chrome look, consider stainless steel. Take a look at my pictures, the bars I've got on my double cab are 5 years old and still shine like they're brand new. The ones I bought were Hunter brand and cost me $350 when new 5 years ago.

You'll get a lot of votes for sliders but if you don't off road and have no desire to off road, you simply don't need something that substantial bolted to the truck in my opinion. Sliders can be used as steps but that is not their primary function so you have to do a lot of searching to find a style that suits you.

 

have you looked at the N-fab stainless steel side steps?

 

I have these , just not currently on my truck though

 

How come you took them off? They looked pretty good on the MGM.

 

Changed it up for a bit

 

Oz- which are those?

 

NFab Stainless Steel bars

 

Yep , 2" Stainless Nfabs

 

I have stainless steel nerf bars. They help my daughter and wife climb in and out of the truck. For myself, they are in the way. The back of my leg usually hits them when I climb out of the truck. I stand on them to reach the top when waxing, but the door has to be open.

Probably should have gotten the nfab styl bars.

 

Thanks. Been looking and just can't decide

 

I love those... Sweet looking truck!

 

Like OZ & Pugga said, nfab stainless steel or black bar painted w/ bedliner.
I went with Raptor black oval bars on my mgm tundra this time & applying bedliner this summer.
One season & the show signs of rust.
My oem's on the tacoma handled 5 yrs in Vermont no rust fwiw.
As far as the pathfinder nerf bars, I do not know what they make theirs out of but every single PF I have ever seen in VT has rusted off bars.
Never seen a bar get literally eaten away as much as theirs.

 

Thanks

 

N-Fabs

 

Do the n-fabs offer protection from the parking lot door dingers? The most damage I get is people throwing their doors open into my truck. I usually park as far away as possible but sometimes that just isn't an option.