Sliders vs. nerf bars

Sorry for the noob question, but what is the difference between sliders and nerf bars (or running boards)? I understand that sliders are more for protection than the other two options but to my untrained eye they look like the same thing. Are they sturdier? Do they mount differently? Thanks.

 

sliders are for protection from rock and stuff heavy duty
nerf bars are for looks only....
hope that helps

i would spend the extra $200 and get sliders

 

Sliders can protect you truck big time. They stick out past the side of the door. Also they can support the weight of the truck. Nerf bars. Just help you get in and provide minimal protection.

 

Thanks for the info. So sliders will actually protect the bottoms of the doors whereas nerf bars would be more likely to get mangled? Would sliders help protect the bottom of the truck if I were to do something stupid like get it high centered?

 

No, not really. The frame hangs lower than the sliders so you would be high centered on the frame and most likely crunch that super well designed exhaust.....Thanks for that toyota. But if you were to slide into a rock or tree or something of that nature, the slider would protect you. The nerf bar will just buckle and get pushed into your door and rocker panel. Often times doing more damage than if you had nothing at all. We make sliders in the weld on and bolt on version. And ours are made out of 1 3/4" .120" wall HREW tubing where most nerf bars are made of something in the .065" wall range or less, similar to exhaust tubing.

 

A lot of the time a set of well built sliders will cost the same or a little less that a set of nerf bars/steps. They will last a lot longer as well. My chick uses my sliders to get in an out fairly easily and she is 5'4". The only drawback to slider is that they catch dirt, mud and grime and usually transfer it to the back of your pant legs. I can deal with it though.

 

Awesome. Thanks for clearing that up guys!

 

Same, I hate the thought of welding something to the truck.

 

Sliders offer actual protection and can look better in my opinion nerd bars are stupid not practical its for people who wanna look like they go off road but really clean their truck everyday.

SLIDERS will not protect the under carriage. You can get armour for under your truck Im looking into this at the moment.

I took a rock on the bottom part of the body under the driver door decent size hole. no biggie

 

We're talking about metal truck parts, right?

 

you should take a look at n-fab rock rails. They are sliders that bolt on and they have a detachable step. It looks pretty good IMO and i was thinking of getting some for my truck.

 

They aren't sliders and the steps aren't detachable .

They are step bars that attach to the underside of the cab floor to the factory running board locations , you cannot lift the truck with them like real sliders that are mounted to the frame

 

learned the hard way about the nerf "westin" bar. hooked up my hi lift jack to it the other day and I just saw the thing start to bend and finally start digging into by underbody lol. prob gonna order me some sliders soon.

 

This helped, thank you.

 

it take a bit of doin

 

They mount directly to the slider, in this case Trail Gear sliders

 

But are sliders any good for a short person too get in a lifted truck?

 

Those are what I need,I like the REAL sliders but need the steps for my short wife and older mother.

 

I would sure hate to recommend them to you and then have them not work for you. In my case my truck is lifted 3 inches and on 275/70R/17, ok now for me, I am 5'7" weigh 210 and I'm 67 years old... and they work great for me.