I don't get out much, don't get to look at other trucks, I was wondering can anybody explain to me in a simple way how Nerf Bars are bolted on? Like are they bolted to the frame, or the body? Do you have to drill holes? Do they serve the perpose of standing on? I mean if i do use them to step on, they are not going to fall off? Right? Or are they just on trucks just to look good?

 

i have factory ones on my fx4. Pretty sure they are bolted straight to the frame underneath. I stand all over mine to wash the roof, get in the truck whatever. Work great at deflecting car doors of rude people that have no regard for others vehicles too.

 

i have an 01 and they are mounted to the body. i think they are held up with 10 bolts?? i took mine off. thats how i know.

 

I bought aftermarket nerf bars and installed them on mine. The ones I bought bolted to the factory drilled holes in the body...not the frame. All I had to do was remove the tape from the factory holes and put in an insert that came with the bars and bolt them on. I am not the smallest guy in the world and they don't budge at all to step up into the truck.

 

Loopmd Thank You for that information I have a 2003, never had bars, today im going to crawl under it and look if i have bolt holes in my body to mount nerf bars. What im worried about is nobody around here that sells Nerf Bars have have nothing in stock, so i don't even get to look at them how they mount , before I buy them, and i need them to use to step on, my truck is high and sometimes i have trouble getting in the truck, I bounce my head off the top door opening when i jump up to get in.

 

I picked mine up at autozone.com for 200 with free shipping I wiegh 250lbs mine bolt to the body and I havent had any problems with stepping on them to wash the top of the truck. The directions for install were very good.

 

I have Westin's on my '04 FX4 (new body style)that bolt to the body through silver dollar size holes with supplied hardware(no drilling) and they are pretty solid as I use them all the time.

 

Im assuming "Nerf bars" are the same as "running boards" or "Step bars" correct? if so.... those are BUILT to aid in entry and exit of your truck... and if they are made to assist in entering your vehicle, they can withstand being stood on for a while im sure.... i am over 300 lbs, and 6'6" tall... so getting into my truck isnt an issue, but im going to get some step bars myself, just for the added luxury and i have used them many times to get into friends trucks, and they are solid Think about it... a class 3 hitch is bolted to your frame, and it can withstand as much as 10,000lbs GVWR.... a nerf bar is also bolted to the frame (or well supported body mount) and should be able to withstand the pressure..... i would think of it like this, the bars themselves should never give you an issue... if you are worried about bolts holding it on, believe it or not, bolts are stronger than weld... which is why class 3 hitches are bolted on and not welded... (at least, i know my class 3 is bolted on) weld is a weak point, it does good to seal off metal, and hold it in place, but it is also a weak point because it is not really a PART of the construct... its added on and semi meshed by heat... while welding is good, i would trust a bolted on set of step bars over welded... and as for where it is being bolted to, i wouldnt worry about it too much... if the spot is there for that purpose, its obviously not going to be a weak spot on the body/frame... if it was, it would bend out of shape as soon as you stepped on it.... those things are mighty useful

 

here is something you should see.... think about it... a running board with 2 little mechanical JOINTED pieces that move to drop the running board down to a lower level when you open the door.... how many weak spots can you think of there? it works....

http://www.truckaddons.com/Catalog/s..._powerstep.htm

 

I just put a set of stainless steel Nasta's on my 2001 and I love them. I'm 250+ and they don't really give when I step up on them. They are just bolted to the body in the holes on the underside of the rockers.