My '97 will be visiting the body shop in the next week due to a tire failure. The tire lost its tread and messed up the right fender as well as destroyed the OEM fiberglass step.

I have been looking for the OEM step to no avail and have just about decided on a set of black Westin Nerf Bars. I have chosen those due to them mounting to the frame and body mounts. I do not want a step or bar mounting to the body as I weigh in @ 240 and don't want any problems with fatiguing metal.

As for flares I bought a set of Bushwacker Street Flares for a subtle look. I removed the stainless strips from around the fender well opening and have a couple scratches well into the clear that I am trying to cover. Now I am second guessing myself and thinking the Extend-a-fenders may actually be a better choice. Either one will be painted to match the truck while it's in the shop.

Thoughts, suggestions, pictures?

Here is the truck as I bought it.



And here is how the truck is today

 

I think the street flairs are a subtle touch. The extenda flairs are a bit much in my book. but then again i liked your truck w the moulding and chrome wheel well trim.

And as for the nerf bars. They are completly useless as a step, they are too close to the rocker. And I hope you are looking at stainless at least, the mild steal dont last long after a couple stone chips.

have you considered DEE ZEE tough steps?

 

I ran into a guy in town the other day that had the Westin Nerfs and he let me climb into his truck....the bar seemed as usefull as the OEM step.

I will be going with the black bars, don't like the looks of chrome / stainless.

A step just sticking out looks out of place to me.

 

To each their own. Nerf bars dont work for me. I think they look better but not functional

One of your BFGs blew out?

 

I don't like nerf bars at all but have to have a step so my mom can get in the truck without much issue. Just haven't been able to find an OEM step....maybe some day I will.


No, it was one of the coopers that were on when I got the truck from Dad. The tread ripped right off. The BFGs replaced the coopers. Cooper did send me $2300 for the damage.

 

Yeah, Have heard of coopers doing that. You got lucky they actually are paying for the damage

just a FYI the lund fiberglass steps look almost identical to the factory steps

 

I have been unable to find anything Lund...I have been told they no longer make anything for our trucks.

 

They got bought out by KEYSTONE and stoped making alot of things, but you may be able to find a set in a warehouse somewhere

 

Anyone else want to share their opinion?

 

Sorry to hijack, but I'd like to hear more about your tire failure (I've been running the same tires for about 4 years now & I really like them). Was it at high speed? Heavy load? Tire pressure low?

 

No problem on the highjack....

They were 285/75-16 Durango XTR made by Cooper Tire. There were no pressure issues or load issues as found by Cooper's QC. It was strictly a tire failure, the tire was under recall for thin rubber on the side walls. The tires only had 10k miles on them or so.

I was running 80 MPH but never lost air pressure, the tread just came loose.

 

I got the Bushwacker street flares on my 93 f150 to cover up rust.
There is a picture of mine in my photo album.
I do not think the Extend-a-fenders will look right unless your tires/wheels are sticking outside the fenders.
Here is the address to bushwacker photo page:
Bushwacker - Photos
There are a couple of pictures there for are style truck with the
street flares and Extend-a-fenders.