APS Running Boards and Side Steps: Listed Fit by Truck

A running board is a step mounted below a truck's doors that makes it easier to climb in and out. APS is one of the less talked-about names in the category, but its paperwork is more useful than you might guess. Its site lists parts by year, cab and part number.

Who is behind APS

APS Auto Parts Specialist Inc. calls itself a manufacturer based in Ontario, California, focused on stainless steel side steps, grilles and carbon steel hitches. Its About page gives 2004 as its founding year, lists a Vancouver location and says it sells mainly through distributors. That is why you find the name on retailer sites and on Amazon more often than on a store of its own. Pricing and availability on its site sit behind a wholesaler login. All of this is the company's own statement.

The lines, in APS's words

The site menu sorts steps into these groups. It gives names and little else on the category pages.

If you searched for APS DS series or M3 nerf bars, they sit under Side Armor, and APS's manual page groups Truck Armor with Nerf Bar ST and Nerf Bar M3. If you searched for iBoards, the APS menu we read says iRunning Board. We didn't find a page tying the two names together, so ask before you assume they match. Nerf bars explains the shape differences across brands.

What APS lists for the Ram 1500

Here's what the maker's own iStep 6 inch stainless rows say, read November 2, 2026. Each part comes with letter suffixes such as A, B, C and H. The category page doesn't explain them, so ask which finish you're getting.

The 2009-2018 Quad Cab product page says "Incl. 2019-2024 RAM 1500 Classic" and notes "Classic Old body". Ram 1500 Classic vs new body explains why that line matters.

Now look at the install line, because this is where the two Quad Cab parts part ways. The page for IB04FAG9A says "Rocker Panel Mount/Drilling Required". The page for IB04FAE9A says "Rocker Panel Mount". So don't assume no-drill on an older truck. The IB04FAE9A page also describes a "6-inch-wide full length ribbed step pad" and a hairline finish, and it gives no load rating.

Its F-150 list works the same way, with Regular Cab and Super Cab rows at 2015-2026. We read part of it, so go to APS for the rest.

The three listings in our Amazon data

None of these titles names an APS line or a part number, and we read no sheet tied to them, so they carry no recommendation. All of it is listing data, according to the seller.

• Ford flat board^*. The title names the 2015-2026 F-150 SuperCrew, the 2022-2026 Lightning and the 2017-2026 F-250 and F-350 Crew Cab. See F-150 running boards for other choices.
• Ram flat board^*. The title names the 2019-2026 Ram 1500 Crew Cab and adds "Will Not Fit 2018 Previous Generation Build in 19-24".
• Super Duty drop step^*. The title names the F-250, F-350 and F-450 Regular Cab, with no years at all. That makes it rare, as Regular Cab listings are thin on Super Duty running boards, and it also means you must get your year confirmed.

The two flat boards say black stainless steel and give no grade. Check your exact year and cab on the listing before you buy.

Warranty and install

The warranty page gives "1 year factory warranty for iStep and iRunning board". It covers defects in materials, workmanship and finish under normal use and is limited to repair or replacement. It excludes road hazards such as gravel or debris, misuse, improper installation, accidents and product modifications, along with freight, removal, installation and labor. The original purchaser makes the claim with a purchase order or invoice number. It names no other series, so ask about S, T, A or H Series, Side Armor and Truck Armor. This is general information and not legal advice.

For the install, APS posts manuals by series, and its file names are codes, so you need the part number to find yours. We print no install time, because we read no manual that states one for these parts. How to install running boards covers the general job.

Who it suits, and the alternatives

APS suits you if you want a stainless board and don't mind getting a part number from the seller. It's a harder sell if you want a maker sheet behind the listing before you click. For that, compare the sheets on Tyger or see our picks on best running boards. For how we read every fit line, see how we verify fitment and how to check a listing fits.