Nerf/Sidestep Bars decision on 3rd gen

So are you Happy with them and are they easy to install ??

 

And by 'inside' and 'outside'/inner and outer, I suspect you're referring to truck body?

One more... On that spacer washer, goes between the bracket and the truck body? (I could really use Fig. 2-3 right about now)

 

Yes to both. They are kind of high to use as steps to get in the cab but will help protect the body and make it easier to access stuff on the roof.

All aluminum too (steps and brackets) so no worries about rust.

 

Inside = toward the center of the truck.
Outside = toward the outer side of the truck.

Picture makes it look like the washer goes between the head of the bolt and the bracket. Not between the bracket and the body.

I have a subscription but I can't figure out how to copy the information here. I did manage to get the text to copy but not the images. Sorry.

 

No worries! I thoroughly understand your description here!

With the exception of the correct torque, they are on!

I got impatient waiting til this eve to go to a friends solid driveway and use a creeper... Rocks, dirt and a piece of cardboard sufficed!

 

I got those too, put them on in about 20 minutes.

 

Post a few photos of the 3" N-Fabs mounted on your truck. I can only find shots of the 2" tubes mounted.

 

So I went with the ICI MAgnum RT steps. And let me tell you in advance, they look awesome installed. But these things are a pain in the rear end to have to install. The mounts were easy and just like the video tutorial showed, BUT when it came time to attach the step, its insanity.

First, there is no room to fit your fingers in the brackets to get the bolts in place, so I had to reverse the required install, putting the nut, washer and locking washer on the outside, rather than on the inside of the step.
Second, the third bracket is higher than the front bracket. What this means is that when you go to lock it in place (which takes some funky angles on your wrenches, and very tight spaces.) it will be slanted. Adjusting the step down on the back bracket will alleviate the slant imposed.
Third, I did this last night, and it started raining and then got cold as crap. I highly recommend you do this during the day, with at least 4 people in a shop, and just pay them to install it. At this point I can say with full confidence. I wish I had just paid the freakin $50 bucks to the shop and let them deal with the headache.
So in conclusion, the steps look awesome, and just what I wanted. However, I highly recommend if you go with this brand, let someone with a shop and more patience do this. Otherwise, these things will drive you to drinking.

 

Could you have mounted the brackets to the bar first, leaving them slightly loose for adjustment, and then mounted the whole assembly to the truck? That's how mine worked (different brand and style from yours.)

 

@Sola Gratia Possibly, the only thing is that makes it very heavy, and when I attempted to do that on the drivers side, the holes would not line up on the body for some reason. So in the end I had to do what the instruction called for. I would recommend a different brand

 

No, mine are different, but the bracketing looks similar. Took me about 20 minutes to mount mine by the method above, then went back and tightened all the bolts.

 

@Sola Gratia Thats awesome, thats what I was anticipating it taking. but it took over 2 hrs in the end to get them level, tight, and installed correctly. There are much easier ones to install and I highly recommend the average Joe to look to ones like @Sola Gratia and the 20 minute install.

 

Does anybody make cab length Nerf steps for the access cab? Black

 

I have the Raptor Nerf Bars from RealTruck.com - @$209 for Powdercoat Black. I think the front mount was slightly out of tolerance but everything fits and you can barely tell. They are $150 cheaper then everything else on the market and feel solid. Easy to install.