There are two major categories when you talk about step bars which are also called running board. These two categories would be the stainless steel standard and wheel-to-wheel nerf bars. The stainless steel make may be round or oval. There is another category which is the powder-coated style which is made of steel having a powder- coated finish. Vehicle owners get confused over which type to purchase and install to their vehicle. Let us help you out in choosing the best side step to purchase for your vehicle and that perfectly fits your requirements for doing such.
In general, side steps of whichever design serves one main purpose and this is to provide a lower step for your vehicle. You might have known this from the moment you considered adding this accessory to your vehicle. Now in addition to a lower step, each specific design has its added benefits. To start with, Stainless steel nerf bars are considered to be the most durable and sturdy for its kind. It can carry heavy weights and not get bent.
A stainless steel standard step bar has a diameter of 3 inches. This is the standard for the rounded or tubular side step design. The stainless steel standard has a length that starts from below the front passenger door to below the back passenger door.
Another design to consider are the oval truck steps where instead of the usual round metal tube, an oval metal bent tube is used. The added benefit to this is that instead of the standard 3 inches, the diameter of this truck step has a range from 4 inches to 6 inches which is wider and more comfortable for passengers to step on. The oval step design is just new to the world of nerf bars but has gained popularity due to the added width. The next category is the wheel-to-wheel side step.
The wheel-to-wheel side step design is very ideal for pickup trucks. This is because the length of this type of nerf bar extends from behind the front wheel to just after the passenger cab, before the rear wheel. When sometimes you want to reach something on the bed of your truck, like say a toolbox, you can easily do so by stepping on the wheel-to-wheel nerf bar. This type of truck step may also have an additional step pad for easy, slip-free truck bed access.