Ordered my 2019 F350 SRW and one of the items I intentionally left off was nerf bars/running boards. Looking for recommendations for direct bolt after market products. I’m capable of easily getting in and out at 63 yrs but my wife isa small lady and it’s a struggle for her in HD truck.
Primarily we tow ourAS and travel - this will be my final truck. Thanks

 

Just pony up and buy the AMP retractable ones. Your wife will love them.

 

I agree. I had the AMP Research steps on my last truck and loved them. If you don't like those, I'd suggest the N-Fab side bars, or one of the many copies of them.

 

If you value function consider these: https://www.luvernetruck.com/running...-grip-5-inches . They are OK in snow and when it is wet. In my limited experience others are less than OK when wet or in the snow.

 

I like the slim grip style and functionality.

 

Why didn't you just get the factory power steps? These trucks are tall, at any age it would be annoying jumping in and out daily. Power steps were a must have for me, imo they give the best appearance to the truck. While Ford keeps increasing the price on them they still cost less than AMP. With AMP you still have to take the time to install yourself or pay to have them installed. The only additional feature with the AMP's is extra lighting.

 

Actually my dealer rep didn’t recommend them. He was familiar with our use and boondocking travels etc. so I passed on them. I do lik3 the step style that bolt directly on.

 

Im 63. my wife is 54. Im 5'8". My wife is 5'2". I have a Lariat CC with snow plow prep. And 20" wheels. I did not order the running boards. I kind of like the Nerf style. Or Raptor style which are platform running boards that sit high and tight to the body of the truck. I bought a set of Havoc I think there HST 3s or something like that. They look very similar to the Raptor running boards. The step up to them is a bit high. Maybe 6 inches less than the floor of the truck. But they do make it easy to get in and out. Not as easy perhaps as a set that sits lower. I did look at the Luverne steps as well. They have very aggressive expanded metal boards providing great grip. They are just a bit too commercial looking for me.
The Havocs cost around $500.00. They are wrinkle finish powder coat. I can see where I climb in will eventually be worn to bare metal. They look exactly the way I wanted and the finish looks durable, but I can see myself having them Linexed eventually.

 

I wanted a little more industrial look. Went with the Magnum RT. We really like them. The bonus, it will dent the Jackars' car before they dent your truck.

Watch your shins though!!!

 

Ive had 2 sets of the NFab nerf bars...the powder coat ALWAYS chips and peels/rusts, just cant avoid it in salty winter driving. They were pretty good and replaced first set, but wanted me to send the old ones back and that cost almost as much as a new set! They definately look better before they peel tho! I finally just had them re-coated locally...this time I went OEM.

 

The Havocs I installed will dent the strokers cars pretty effectively as well. I had a 1995 GMC Yukon GT that came with pipe steps. It was black. I sold it with 156,000 miles and there was not a single ding anywhere on the sides of that truck.
The Powder coat always seems to chip or peel for me. I dont really think its durable enough of a finish for areas that get abused. Stepping on it with dirty work boots... maybe with a stone stuck in the tread... theres no way its going to hold up. If they are well made they will outlast the powder coat. I intend to Linex them when they get ugly.

 

The rear doors on many cars and SUVs today are shaped in a way that no step/nerf bar can stop. I hate it, no matter how hard you try to keep something nice there are those people who's heads are so far up their *** they will just swing those doors open, using the vehicle next to them as a stop.

It is a good feeling when you actually witness a door wack your step/nerf bar.

 

Heres what the Havoc HSTs look like. They stick out a few inches. Definitely will end most parking lot dings on the doors anyway. But unfortunately its true that some jackos are bent on destroying other peoples property or are simply so defective they are unaware that others might actually care about stuff they own. But it helps. And I try to park in safe spots. The first week I had my truck I parked in a food store lot... far from any other vehicles. I was only in there for 10 minutes. As I walked up to my truck I could see the shopping cart up against my truck on the far side. Thankfully it was right up against my rear wheel. All it hit was rubber. I cant understand how anyone could be so mindless. But it seems more and more I am shocked at the total disregard for others. Not just disregard.... because thats a passive ignorance... more and more its aggressive, arrogant, intentional obnoxious behavior.
I doubt I will put any political stickers on this truck. Out of fear of some rat pr!@k mother f@$*er keying the paint or something in a WallyWorld parking lot.

 

By the way, in my picture above you can faintly see foot steps where I get in. They were only on for a day there. Now after getting in and out with heavy lug soled work boots... not even covered in mud. Theres boot prints there. The prints clean off for now but Im sure in a year or two there will be bald spots in the powder coat. Im sure Linex will hold up but Ill wait to coat them until they are ugly.