Pickup Truck Side Steps: Everything You Need to Know Before You Buy

If you own a SUV, pickup truck or van, chances are you’ve had days when getting in or out have been an issue. For cars that run a little taller and still provide the coveted high driving position, side steps and running boards are the easy and practical upgrade that ensure hassle-free entry and exit into your vehicle, while also providing decent side protection.

Side Steps vs. Side Bars vs. Running Boards – Know the Difference

For anyone not directly involved in the car industry, car lingo can get very confusing very fast. But like everything, it’s the minor details that matter. The differences between pickup truck side steps, running boards and side bars are subtle, and all are often used interchangeably. What parts have in common, however, is that they aid drivers, passengers, children and the elderly to safely get in and out of a vehicle. It’s the design differences that set them apart.

Side steps are technically shorter steps positioned at specific door entry points. Their main aim is provide a textured and non-slip surface and a usable step into the cabin interior. Side rails or bars are tubular bars that run the length of the door sills. They are designed to mount further way from the pickup or van chassis and reduce the stepping distance into taller vehicles. Most also have integrated but narrower rubber or PVC padding to ease entry and exit.

That said, running boards are wider step-like platforms sitting closer to the vehicle, often spanning the entire distance between the front and rear wheel arches. They’re common as factory and aftermarket options in everything from larger pickup trucks to smaller SUVs and long and short wheelbase vans. Like side rails, they can have textured padding located just under the doors, Or more often include textured or perforated metal surfaces along the entire length,, providing more stepping space. Which you choose will largely depend on your vehicle, and the look you’re after considering the differences in mounting and varied profiles.

Why Have Side Steps and Running Boards on Your Pickup?

Fitting side steps, side rails or running boards to pickups provide multiple safety and practical benefits:

• Simplified vehicle access: Standard pickups like the Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger have ground clearances averaging 270-280mm. This is fine for most adults, but can be challenging for younger children or the elderly, increasing the likelihood of falls and injuries. Larger luxury SUVs, such as the Range Rover and Mercedes go lower, with ground clearances averaging 150-200mm, depending on the trim and suspension setup. Where side steps and running boards come into their element is special factory or modified aftermarket pickups, including the Raptor or Isuzu D-MAX Arctic pickups, with clearances verging on 300mm.
• Side Protection: Thick metal designs keep spraying gravel, road debris and roadside obstacles clear of the paintwork, panels and wheels. Running boards, side steps and side rails act as effective barriers against rocks, tree stumps, mud and road salt, preventing rust, dents, scratches and chipping. They also shield tyres from punctures. As bolt-on extras, the parts also protect vehicles in minor side collisions, such mishaps in car parks and roadside kerbs.
• Keep your pickup clean: Pickups see frequent use off-road, on farms, construction sites and unpaved roads. Perforated metal designs keep out water, mud and debris from sticking to shoes and spoiling the interior. Moreover, passengers and drivers won’t be wiping dirt or grime off the doors and sills when getting out either.
• Functional aesthetics: Running boards are positioned closer to the chassis, providing streamlined looks and making trucks look lower, longer and more polished. Conversely, tubular side rails protrude further out for a more aggressive and rugged look primed for off-road use. There are also retractable versions that hide side steps when doors close, retaining cleaner factory aesthetics.

Materials and Finishes

Selecting the right materials and finishes in pickup truck side steps, side rails and running boards ensures lasting durability, safety and style. Common options include aluminium and stainless steel in the tubes and platforms and hardwearing plastics or synthetic rubber in step inserts. Choose aluminium for lower weight, high corrosion resistance and good strength-to-weight ratios. The material is preferred for vehicles used mainly on paved roads in urban settings.

For demanding farm, off-road and work use, stainless steel side steps and running boards have comparable rust resistance (more with higher chromium content), but outclass aluminium variants for overall strength and impact-resistance. Carbon steel is another tough alternative, albeit with protective coatings to stave off rust and staining when exposed to water and mud.

Coatings and finishes protect metal from weathering, corrosion and abrasion. Power coated pickup side steps have a tough protective layer that resists chipping, scratches and fading. It can also be optioned in a variety of colours, gloss levels and textures to seamlessly integrate with the styling and colour schemes of any pickup.

To emphasise looks, choose chrome or polished/brushed side steps. Chrome finishes provide a distinctive mirror-like sheen that pairs well with factory chrome trim. Polished side steps provide a bright, lustrous reflective surface using raw steel or aluminium, while brushed variants a low-glare satin look. Both can be rebuffed and sanded for minor dents and scratches to restore  their original looks.

Here, also consider materials in the steps themselves. Rubber inserts provide high wet and dry grip, high impact resistance and more flexibility in colder weather.  On the other hand, choose ABS plastic step inserts for firmer stepping platforms that keep their shape, provide a cleaner, more modern appearance and are generally easier to clean.

Other Buying Considerations

While most side steps and running boards are make-, model- and trim-specific, take care with lengths and widths in lower cost and universal variants. Proper sizing and running boards and side steps with supplied installation hardware ensure a clean fit without the need for drilling or chassis modifications, considering the parts simply bolt onto factory mounting points.

Before deciding on variants, also consider the ground clearance in your vehicle. Choose drop depths that don’t negatively impact how you use your pickup, van or SUV. Here, pickups provide more room for both lower-sitting side rails or higher running boards – more so than vans and crossovers.

Lastly, to ensure you get a product that lives up to expectations and lasts, choose side steps, side rails and running boards with defined warranty periods.

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