Running boards/nerf bars?

Some might say that a truck trying to be a sports car is corny.

 

because it is.

 

i think they look way better with out thats just my opinion

 

Just before I first went off-roading in my stock 04, I took off my stock running boards just in case. It was a good thing I did because if not I would've gotten high-centered and beat the crap out of them.

After I get my lift on, I may put them back. The truck looked better with them and it was easier to get in with them (I'm fat). IMHO, the truck looks more like a base model w/o them.

 

To look at it a different way....

Would you rather beat the crap out of those running boards or dent & mess up your rocker panels?

You're better off having 'something' there to protect your rocker panels & paint job. Afterall...a new set of running boards will cost you a lot less than having your rocker panels fixed & repainted.

 

If you really "need" something on there why not "invest" in real protection...Sliders come in many variations and can have outside rails ( steps) added.
Janster makes a "great" point for protecting the expensive parts by being proactive....price "steps"-v- "sliders" you might be surprised
Read in the TW vendor section and surprise yourself, what a "slider/hoop" combo does for one "Rock-truck" may help a "Soccer-Mom" get into the side of her p/u bed ..

Think outside the "BOX" on any of your "mods"...amazing results can happen.....


S

 

The problem is, the stock running boards hand down 3-4" from the rocker panel. So, they are more likely to hit something and bend up into the sheet metal. Better to take them off and give yourself the added clearance I think

 

running boards aren't built to take a hit. if you have them on on the trails and they hit, there is the chance that they'll bend up into your rockers.

At the URE meet, Owen (don't know his handle on here) lost one of his running boards to rocks. I went right after him on the same obstacle and didnt touch the rocks. Apparently he did damage to his running boards the meet before last, too.

Running boards, while on the trail, are more likely to cause more damage (although it will normally only be the board breaking) than prevent damage.

 

Its all a matter of preference. Our opinions shouldn't matter. I've got kids at 34 and they use them to get in and out. I love them to wash the roof and to protect the sides from door dings.

 

Grant it, they are not running boards but my side steps took a hit when I went off roading the last time. They protected my truck. So for what its worth, they're still on.

 

True, but i depends on the situation. When I went wheeling, I would've ruined my running boards for nothing because without them, I cleared the toughest obstacle by about an inch to the rockers.

 

My dad had a set of "nerf bars" on his Chevy and he bounced it off a big curb and they actually jammed into the body. Didn't protect anything. Instead, it did more damage considering the body never would have never hit the curb to begin with.

As for my "sports car"/truck. I've been four wheeling up here in the mountains for years. Finally got a 2wd to change it up a bit. It's nice to be able to haul stuff AND be able to carve these mountain roads for fun. Corny for some, fun for me. It's all good.

 

Good deal. Some people don't need sliders, just steps to get in and out and stand on to wash the roof.

 

So quick question, if my truck didn't come with nerf bars and I find someone who pulled their factory bars and I want to put them on, will I have to drill a bunch of holes in my frame?

 

No.... If the nerf bars came off the same generation truck as yours - they should mount in the same location as they were mounted on the previous truck. And that's assuming the nerf bars are specific to that year/generation truck.

 

i do, keeps my doors from getting dinged

 

Exactly.

While i can see the 'off road' arguement against, i can certainly say that 'on road' they offer a lot of protection against annoying door dings from slobs who couldn't give a $#!+, as well as some protection from shoppers lacking the decency to not balance their cart in a sloping lot when finished with it.

They also help limit the ricochet factor from stones jettisoned from the front tires.

 

Although I do admit that I like the looks of them, I also pretty much have to have them in order for my mom to be able to get in the truck when I go visit her. She's getting pretty close to 60.

 

went wheeling the other day with some local guys. both running boards were pretty much bent to hell. they protected the truck, but they are unusable now. didn't know what the trail was going to be like, but choose on what you will be doing, not what looks good

 

I agree, I like them for the look.
I hate them because in the winter I ALWAYS have mud lines on the back of my pants in the winter from sliding out of the truck.
I prefer the pipes to boards.