I like the look of the nerf bars on the 04+ better than the plastic ones I have. However on a stock 4X4 in my opinion they are extremly unneccesary especially off road. Now if the truck was lifted that is different.

Also remember the factory steps are just that steps they are not any form of Rock Sliders and the factory ones don't offer a whole lot of protection.

For Off road at stock height I would take them off

 

I bought my truck last summer with the stock black nerf bars on and initially liked the look of them, then i went four bying...

First tank trap i went through i bottomed out on them and put a decent sized dent in the driver's side bar. When i got home that day i popped them off to repaint them with rhino guard, but decided not to put them back on because i think it looks way better without. so if anyone needs some bars i have a set.... haha.

One good thing about them tho, if you don't have front mud flaps and do a lot of dirt road driving they do offer some protection from gravel chipping the hell out of your paint from your front tires.

Tanner

 

accually guys, if either of you are serious I am looking for a set of bars for a 99 supercab

it's a 4X4, but it see mostly roads so I'd like to pick up a cheap set for the women in my life who can't get in my truck, LOL

 

I had Frame mounted nerf bars on my 97 and transfered them to my 00. Well worth the money. They take the shït kicking and keep the panels straight. wehn they got bent I would take them off and drive over them to straighten them then put them back on. I got high centered on a berm and had it not have been for them the damage to my rocker panels would have been worse. The rocker panel mounted ones are all but useless because if they get pushed hard enough they will tear the rocker panels. Well they eventually rusted through from the abuse. So because I can no longer find frame mounted bars I run barless...... They do tend to drag on things so you have to adjust your driving style accordingly.

JMC

 

I had the factory black "step bars" on my truck. With every contact with a rock etc they broke or bent. I finally just made a pair of rock sliders for it from 2"x3" 1/4" wall square tubing that are frame mounted. These have taken a beating and have protected the rocker panels well. I can use them as a lift point for a high lift as well. IMO, if you can find someone to make a pair for you that is the way to go. The factory style bars are just cosmetic, and to make it easier to step into your truck.

 

even though they may seem like good protection off road they are also more prone to getting damaged like some of you have said so whats the point? Id say take them off when you go offroading and put them back on on the street. They help prevent door dings thats why I like them

 

Nerf bars are always a bad idea. Rock sliders or bust. The easy way: Bolt up some angle iron under the door cil.