Hey guys, I have a delimma.

My 04 Supercab is too high for some people to get in and the consensus is that I need some running board of some kind.

I hate full size running boards, too many make the truck look too low to the ground.

Anyone have any suggestions of nice low profile or something running boards or tube bars or whatever they are called that don't make you truck look like a piece of crap?

 

I had the same issue. I didn't want people sliding off my seats and wearing them down so I knew I needed running boards of some kind. So I was then torn between chrome or black nerf bars. I have a white with tan Lariat. I thought the chrome would look good with the white, but I didnt want it to stand out too much. But I thought the black just wouldnt match and it would kind of "dumb down" the truck. I ended up going with the black and couldnt be happier. It just blends in with the shadows under the truck so it doesnt stand out at all. I say go with black - its functional, and it doesn't stand out.

 

When I was out today, I got in and was thinking about the seats wearing out. My dad has an 01 suburban and the drivers seat has a hole from all of the sliding in and out, this really kills two birds with one stone...

The bars look good on your truck, what brand are they and did you install them yourself?

 

Look in my gallery for what I did to my factory step brackets. If you have the factory running boards, you can go my route with them. Big improvement IMO.

 

How is the black nerf bars holding up. With the weather and what not.

 

With 1.75" removed, are the running boards now higher then the lowest point of the frame? I hate bottoming out the running boards when I'm offroad so this mod is the best alternative to removing the boards altogether. Is there anymore room to cut out more of the bracket and raise them up even higher so there is almost no gap from the bottom of the door to the top of the board? I'm sure that pulls them in even more making them even more useless but there has to be SOMETHING there for the wife and kids and in-laws to step on. Finally, do you have any guidelines or tips on how you hacked them? Did you simply make two parallel lines 1.75" apart and cut them or was there some measuring and marking done while the boards were still on the truck?


Jerry

 

Get the automated electric steps.

 

OK, here is a short and sweet answer

As seen in the pics, I tried to find the straightest (non-curved) point of the bracket, and cut two parallel lines at 1.75" as you thought keeping the same line with the outside of the bracket.

I chose this height due to my usage of the step (for my wife), since by taking them up and keeping the same lines with the outside of the bracket, you also take them in towards the truck. Any further in IMO would render the steps useless as steps. As of right now I have to step on mine side footed and not dead on since the toe of my shoes will not go in between the rocker and the step now, but I still kept enough coverage for door protection from other cars.

The step does sit above the frame.

Any other questions feel free. I wish I had taken some better pics, but I do a lot of mods without thinking in the spur of the moment

 

My bars are DeeZee nerf bars that I got on ebay. I installed them myself in less than an hour. They are holding up beautifully!! I havent had anything scratch or chip them, and no rusting or fading. They look great.

 

I figured you had to sidestep them, thats not a surprise. The fact that they are above the frame is all I needed to hear, I'm going to do the same mod, thanks again!

Those AutoSteps are sweet! Not $1300 sweet but sweet none the less.

 

I love my westin nerf bars, i've had them on for 5 years and they haven't faded, and show very little wear. However, i had another vehicle that had the running boards and after 2 or 3 years they were faded and began drying out... even after weekly cleaning and applications of armor all.