Running boards are the fastest way to make a tall truck or SUV easier to live with, and the right set changes how the vehicle looks from the curb. This running boards buying guide walks through the 7 decisions that matter: style, material, fitment, step surface, weight rating, brand value and installation. It is written by the PartSmith Co. parts team, the same people who check running boards orders against cab configurations every day in our Running Boards & Towing department.
Why running boards are worth it
Three reasons come up in nearly every order. Access: kids, older passengers and anyone in work gear climbs in without the grab handle gymnastics. Paint protection: boards catch the road grit that otherwise sandblasts rocker panels on gravel and winter roads. And resale presentation: a truck with straight, solid boards reads as cared for.
There is a fourth reason nobody admits: they finish the stance. A four door pickup with an empty gap between the wheels looks unfinished once you have seen the same truck wearing boards.
The 7 running boards decisions in order
1. Style: oval, flat panel or drop step
Oval nerf bar style boards are the classic look, a tube with step pads at each door. Flat panel boards give a full length walking surface, the choice for families and fleets. Drop step designs hang lower for lifted trucks, trading some clearance for an easier climb.
2. Material: what actually survives winters
Powder coated steel is the value pick and shrugs off boot traffic, but scratches need touch up in salt states. Aluminum never rusts and weighs less, which helps on doors used fifty times a day. Polished stainless steel costs more and keeps its shine for years, the pick for trucks that get washed more than they get worked.
3. Fitment: cab configuration decides everything
This is where orders go wrong. Running boards are made per cab length, so crew cab, double cab and regular cab each take a different part, and some models change mounting points between generations. Every listing in our department names the exact configurations it serves. When in doubt, send your VIN through the contact page and we confirm fit for free before you buy.
4. Step surface: pads, tread or full grip
Rubber step pads work fine in dry states. If you see ice half the year, pick boards with raised tread or full length grip strips, because a wet polished tube in January is a physics lesson. UV stable pads matter in the south, where cheap rubber chalks and cracks by year three.
5. Weight rating: the number that separates grades
Good running boards are rated at 300 pounds or more per step, backed by mounting brackets that spread the load into the frame or pinch weld. Bargain boards save money in the brackets, which is why they sag after a season. Check the rating line in the listing rather than guessing from photos.
6. Brand value: where the money goes
You are paying for bracket engineering, coating quality and packaging that survives freight. Our department carries lines we have unboxed and inspected, and every listing states what ships in the kit, hardware included. Compare the total kit, not just the tube.
7. Installation: the honest one to two hours
Nearly all modern running boards bolt to factory holes with hand tools, no drilling. Budget an hour per side the first time, half that once you have done a set. The only common surprise is a seized captive nut on older northern trucks, so keep penetrating oil in reach. For torque specs and jacking safety, the Car Care Council tips are a neutral reference worth a read before you start.
Running boards and your vehicle type
Pickups take boards or drop steps depending on lift height, and long bed work trucks often add a rear kick step from our Tools & Accessories department. Full size SUVs almost always want flat panels for third row access. Crossovers use slimmer boards that double as rocker protection, and lifted rigs running 35s should consider frame mounted sliders instead, because style boards are not rated for rock contact.
Towing setups pair naturally with boards, since the same buyers usually need hitch gear anyway. While you measure for boards, check the towing wall in the same department, and if lighting is next on the list, our Electrical & Lighting department stocks the plug and play upgrades.
How we ship and back running boards
Running boards travel as oversized parcels or light freight depending on length, boxed with corner protection because a dented tube is a returned tube. Orders placed before early afternoon usually dispatch the same business day from our USA warehouse, tracking lands in your email at label creation, and the shipping page covers the freight details. Fitment is verified before dispatch, and the returns window protects the rare mismatch.
What running boards cost, honestly
Budget steel sets with basic pads start around the price of a nice pair of work boots, and they do the job for a few seasons in dry climates. Mid range aluminum and coated steel kits with proper 300 pound brackets sit in the middle band, which is where most buyers should land. Polished stainless and powered deployable steps occupy the top shelf, and the deployable kind adds motors and wiring that deserve a weekend, not an evening.
Watch the hardware line when comparing prices. A cheap kit that needs a separately purchased bracket set usually costs more in total than the mid range kit that includes everything, and it costs a second afternoon too.
Five mistakes to avoid
Ordering by photo instead of by cab configuration is mistake number one, and it accounts for most returns in this category. Second is ignoring the weight rating, which shows up later as a sagging step and a stressed bracket. Third is skipping thread lock on the bracket bolts, which back out over washboard roads.
Fourth is mounting boards on a rig that actually needs rock sliders, then finding the limit on the first trail. Fifth is forgetting winter: if your state salts the roads, rinse the mounting points each spring and touch up any coating chips, and the set will outlast the loan on the truck.
One more tip from the warehouse floor: unbox and lay out every bracket before you start. Ten minutes of counting saves the classic half installed discovery that one clip nut went missing in the packing foam.
The short version
Pick the style for how the vehicle is used, the material for your climate, and verify the cab configuration twice. Insist on a 300 pound rating, favor kits with complete hardware, and plan a relaxed afternoon for the install. Do that and running boards are the most satisfying bolt on upgrade per dollar a tall vehicle can get.
Browse the full range in the Running Boards & Towing department, or read more guides in the guides hub.
Running boards FAQ
Do running boards fit any truck?
No. Running boards are built for specific cab and bed configurations, so a crew cab board will not fit an extended cab. Match the listing to your exact configuration or send us your VIN and we will confirm fit before you order.
Are running boards hard to install?
Most running boards bolt to existing factory mounting points with hand tools in one to two hours. No drilling is needed on the majority of late model trucks and SUVs.
Which material lasts longest?
Stainless steel and powder coated aluminum last longest in snow and salt states. Black powder coat hides scratches best, while polished stainless keeps a bright finish with occasional cleaning.
Do running boards affect towing or clearance?
Boards sit inside the frame line on nearly all applications, so towing is unaffected. Ground clearance drops slightly, which matters mainly for serious off road use where sliders are the better choice.
What is the weight rating I should look for?
Quality running boards carry 300 pounds or more per step. Check the rating in the listing if heavy passengers or work boots with gear are the daily reality.