Truck Steps

Fixed, folding or retractable truck bed steps hang from the rear bumper or along the sides of the body, offering convenient access to cargo stored in the bed or on overhead racks. They typically include one, occasionally two or three, treaded anti-slip metal rungs supported by a metal frame, wire cables or rubber belt sides. Each rung is designed to accommodate a single footing placement with grab handles also available for additional assistance if needed.

For significantly taller trucks, especially those with lifted suspensions and/or larger tires, hoop steps are a compact, U-shaped single-step option that the driver and passengers use to effortlessly enter and exit the cab. They may be individually bolted to the underside of the vehicle or incorporated into a structural tube that runs the length of the cab.

Nerf bars are fixed cylindrical or oval-shaped metal tubes that sit at least a few inches below the vehicle, run the length of the cab and have dedicated stepping pads or drop steps below the driver and passenger doors that provide traction when getting in and out of the vehicle. However, users can still leverage several points along the tube if they wish but footing would be less secure than other step options.

Rock sliders serve the dual purpose of protecting the truck body’s rocker panels, the area beneath the doors and between the wheel wells, and providing a stepping surface for accessing the cab. Especially applicable to those who go off-road, these guard against impacts and abrasions to the vehicle’s undercarriage when traversing obstacles or hazards. However, the stepping surface is often very narrow and higher off the ground compared to other step options.

Running boards are truck side steps that provide a flat, full cab-length stepping surface that can be utilized for safely entering or exiting the cab. Although they offer the widest platforms of any step option, they are mounted just below the doorsill and don’t minimize the distance to the ground by too much. Trucks can be fitted with running boards that are fixed or retractable, a premium option that utilizes electric power to deploy the steps when the doors open or close.