Nerf Bars N-Fab or other?

[71stub]

I just bought an 04 1/2 ton crew cab and it needs running boards before the seats are trashed from sliding in and out. It's black and I want black nerf bars so anything chrome or stainless is out of the question. I like the looks of N-Fabs nerf bars. But I see Westin and Go Rhino offer close to the same thing. I like how they tuck up close to the cab and from what I have read they are solid with minimal flex and have a 5 year paint warranty on the powdercoat. Any other opinions or feedback out there?

[vin63]

Two sets of N-Fab bars for me...black set on the wife's 3/4-ton Duramax.

[71stub]

vin63, What's your feedback on these nerf bars?

[vin63]

They're on the expensive side for fixed step bars, but they were the nicest with the highest weight capacity at the time (2006). I have not had one problem with them and they've been on the trucks for almost 6 years now...granted, I don't live in an area that salts the roads. I couldn't afford the Amp Research steps, so these were the next best thing for our family.

A friend has a set of the Rhino steps on their 2008 Chevy CC Dually, they're nice, but I think they paid a little more for theirs.

[71stub]

I've been doing a little more research and it looks like the N-Fab and Smittybilt sell the exact same nerf steps. Same PN and everything. But they both bolt on by drilling holes through the pinch weld at the bottom of the rocker panels. Is that how yours are bolted on? Most set's I've seen either bolt to the frame or through the cab mounts. Through the pinch weld doesn't sound that soldid to me...

[vin63]

IIRC, there are a couple of existing holes the mounts use and, yes, I marked and drilled the other holes through the pinch seam. There are additional bracket/gusset structures that triangulates to the floorboard (you can bolt them to the floor if you want for additional weight capacity, but I didn't). Even the steps that bolt to the frame did not have near the same weight capacity.

[71stub]

Well I ordered some cab lenght nerf steps today so I hope they turn out well and fit out of the box decent. If I have to make a bunch of modifications I'll send them back and take a crack at making a set of my own. Thanks again for your help.

[71stub]

I put them on less than a month ago and already the powder coat is flaking off on both sides where road debris hits them. We'll have to see how they are on the "5 year warranty"

[71stub]

Amazon is taking them back on warranty. I wouldn't recomment these for anyone with a 99-06 truck as they bolt through the sheetmetal and require drilling. They rattle. And the warranty doesn't cover rock chips as normal use.