Comparison
Best Truck Running Boards by Truck and Use: Compared on Published Fit and Install Sheets
No board is best for every truck, because each one is built for specific model years and cabs. So we pick per truck and per use. For a 2019-up Silverado or Sierra crew cab, our pick is the Tyger Rider 3.5-inch. We found no independent durability test of truck running boards, so we compare published fit and maker sheets, and nothing else.
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Straight answer
The best running board is the one listed for your year and cab with a maker sheet behind it. Our picks: Tyger Rider for 2019-up GM, new-body Ram and Colorado crew cabs, Tyger Riser for F-150 SuperCrew, AMP PowerStep for 2022-up GM power steps. We found no independent durability test, so this is a paperwork comparison. Check your exact year and cab on the listing before you buy.
Let's be straight about what "best" means here. Nobody on this site has bolted these on a truck, and we ran no load or corrosion checks. We found no independent durability test to borrow from. So we judge what can be checked: whether the title names the truck, years and cab, and whether a maker sheet backs it up. How we verify fitment has the details.
"Our pick" below means we read a maker sheet for that part. "Start here" and "budget option" mean the listing title is all we could read.
Tyger Auto
Tyger Rider 3.5" (2019+ GM)
A 3.5-inch rail whose title names the Silverado and Sierra years, the HD split and the cab.
Why here: It has the clearest paper trail for the truck family with the widest coverage in our data. The sheet shows 8 brackets and no drilling step.
- Fits, according to the listing
- 2019-2026 Chevy Silverado GMC Sierra 1500; 2020-2027 2500 3500HD | Crew Cab (as of November 2, 2026)
- Style
- Rail / nerf bar (as titled)
- Material
- Not stated in the title
- Weight rating
- Not stated in the title
- Install
- Bolt-on with 8 brackets; no drilling step in the sheet; assistance recommended
- Price class
- Mid-range
Check your exact year and cab on the listing before you buy.
Why it makes the list
- The part number in the title (TG-SS2C35068) ties the listing to Tyger's own instruction sheet
- That sheet bolts 8 brackets to threaded holes behind plugs in the rocker area and has no drilling step
- Title separates the 1500 years from the 2500/3500HD years
Watch out for
- 3.5 inches wide per the title, narrower than the 6-inch boards
- No weight rating in the title, so none is printed here
- The title does not mention the 2019 LD/Limited; a sister Tyger listing groups that truck with the older body, so check before ordering
Best for: Crew cab owners on the 2019-up GM full-size who want a rail with a readable install sheet.
The picks, by truck
If you drive a 2019-up Silverado or Sierra crew cab → Tyger Rider 3.5" (2019+ GM)
Fits, according to the listing: 2019-2026 Chevy Silverado GMC Sierra 1500; 2020-2027 2500 3500HD | Crew Cab. Check your exact year and cab on the listing before you buy.
View(paid link to Amazon, opens in a new tab)Ad · paid link · check price & delivery on AmazonIf you drive a new-body Ram 1500 crew cab → Tyger Rider 3.5" (2019+ Ram 1500)
Fits, according to the listing: 2019-2027 Ram 1500 (Not fit 19-24 Classic) | Crew Cab. Check your exact year and cab on the listing before you buy.
View(paid link to Amazon, opens in a new tab)Ad · paid link · check price & delivery on AmazonIf you drive a Ram 1500 Classic or older crew cab and want to spend less → Aluminum crew (Ram older body and Classic) · Listing data only
Fits, according to the listing: Crew Cab ... 2009-2018 Dodge Ram 1500, Ram 2019-2024 1500 Classic (New Body Style Not Fit), Ram 2010-2026 2500 3500. Check your exact year and cab on the listing before you buy.
View(paid link to Amazon, opens in a new tab)Ad · paid link · check price & delivery on AmazonIf you drive a 2015-up F-150 SuperCrew → Tyger Riser 6" (F-150 SuperCrew)
Fits, according to the listing: 2015-2027 Ford F-150; 2022-2025 F-150 Lightning; 2017-2027 F-250 F-350 SD | Supercrew Cab. Check your exact year and cab on the listing before you buy.
View(paid link to Amazon, opens in a new tab)Ad · paid link · check price & delivery on AmazonIf you drive a 2024-up Tacoma Double Cab → Tyger Access (2024+ Tacoma) · Listing data only
Fits, according to the listing: 2024-2027 Toyota Tacoma (Fits Hybrid) | Double Cab. Check your exact year and cab on the listing before you buy.
View(paid link to Amazon, opens in a new tab)Ad · paid link · check price & delivery on AmazonIf you drive a 2007-2021 Tundra CrewMax → Aluminum 6" (2007-2021 Tundra CrewMax) · Listing data only
Fits, according to the listing: 2007-2021 Toyota Tundra Crewmax Cab 4 Full Size Doors. Check your exact year and cab on the listing before you buy.
View(paid link to Amazon, opens in a new tab)Ad · paid link · check price & delivery on AmazonIf you drive a Colorado or Canyon crew cab → Tyger Rider 3.5" (Colorado and Canyon)
Fits, according to the listing: 2015-2027 Chevy Colorado GMC Canyon | Crew Cab. Check your exact year and cab on the listing before you buy.
View(paid link to Amazon, opens in a new tab)Ad · paid link · check price & delivery on AmazonIf you drive something else
Compared: the parts with a maker sheet
These five are our picks. Compare the install lines, because that is where they really differ.
| Spec sheet | Our pick: Silverado and Sierra crewTyger Rider 3.5" (2019+ GM) | Our pick: Ram 1500 new body crewTyger Rider 3.5" (2019+ Ram 1500) | Our pick: F-150 SuperCrewTyger Riser 6" (F-150 SuperCrew) | Our pick: Colorado and Canyon crewTyger Rider 3.5" (Colorado and Canyon) | Our pick: power steps, 2022+ GMAMP PowerStep (2022+ GM) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fits, according to the listing | 2019-2026 Chevy Silverado GMC Sierra 1500; 2020-2027 2500 3500HD | Crew Cab | 2019-2027 Ram 1500 (Not fit 19-24 Classic) | Crew Cab | 2015-2027 Ford F-150; 2022-2025 F-150 Lightning; 2017-2027 F-250 F-350 SD | Supercrew Cab | 2015-2027 Chevy Colorado GMC Canyon | Crew Cab | Listing: 2022-2026 Chevy Silverado/GMC Sierra. Maker sheet 76255-01A: Silverado 1500/Sierra 1500, All Cabs, 2022-2026 |
| Style | Rail / nerf bar (as titled) | Rail / nerf bar (as titled) | Running board / step bar (as titled) | Rail / nerf bar (as titled) | Powered retractable step (as titled) |
| Material | Not stated in the title | Not stated in the title | Not stated in the title | Not stated in the title | Not stated in the title |
| Weight rating | Not stated in the title | Not stated in the title | Not stated in the title | Not stated in the title | Not stated in the title |
| Install | Bolt-on with 8 brackets; no drilling step in the sheet; assistance recommended | Bolt-on with 6 brackets to factory studs; no drilling step in the sheet; assistance recommended | Bolt-on to factory studs with plastic retainers; no drilling step in the sheet; assistance recommended | Bolt-on with 6 brackets at existing mounting locations; no drilling step in the sheet; assistance recommended | Guide 76255-01A: 3-5 hours, professional installation recommended, drill 19/64-inch holes through the pinch weld, OBD II plug |
| Price class | Mid-range | Mid-range | Mid-range | Mid-range | Premium |
| Best for | Crew cab owners on the 2019-up GM full-size who want a rail with a readable install sheet. | New-body Ram 1500 crew cab owners. Not for the Classic. | SuperCrew owners on the 2015-up F-150 who want a wide step and a clear install sheet. | Colorado or Canyon crew cab owners who want a rail and a readable install. | Owners of a 2022-up Silverado or Sierra 1500 who want a step that folds away and accept a harder install. |
| On Amazon(paid link to Amazon, opens in a new tab)Ad · paid link · check price & delivery on Amazon | On Amazon(paid link to Amazon, opens in a new tab)Ad · paid link · check price & delivery on Amazon | On Amazon(paid link to Amazon, opens in a new tab)Ad · paid link · check price & delivery on Amazon | On Amazon(paid link to Amazon, opens in a new tab)Ad · paid link · check price & delivery on Amazon | On Amazon(paid link to Amazon, opens in a new tab)Ad · paid link · check price & delivery on Amazon |
"Not stated" on weight means just that. The Tyger sheets give no rating, and we print none from dealer pages.
The picks, by use
Best documented install: Tyger Rider
Three of the Rider sheets we read have no drilling step. The 2019-up GM sheet uses 8 brackets on threaded holes behind plugs. The new-body Ram sheet uses 6 brackets on factory studs and tells you to wire-brush paint off the studs first. The Colorado and Canyon sheet uses 6 brackets. Do not read that as a rule for the whole line: Tyger's sheet for the older Ram Rider says drilling may be required. Listed fit is on each line above. Check your exact year and cab on the listing before you buy.
Best wide step: Tyger Riser on the F-150
If you want more foot area, go 6-inch. The Tyger Riser 6-inch* is listed for the 2015-2027 F-150 SuperCrew, according to the listing. Its sheet uses factory studs and plastic retainers to prevent corrosion between the aluminum body panel and the steel brackets. The F-150 page has the rest. Check your exact year and cab on the listing before you buy.
Best lower step: drop steps
For a tall truck where the first step is the problem, look at a drop step. The Tyger LanderX* is listed for the same F-150 SuperCrew, and the Tacoma page starts with a drop rail. We could not read a sheet for either, so they stay options and not picks. Check your exact year and cab on the listing before you buy.
Best for the budget end
These are listing data only, but their titles are clear about truck and cab.
| Spec sheet | Budget optionCOMNOVA 6" (2019+ Silverado) | Budget optionAluminum crew (Ram older body and Classic) | Start here: Tundra CrewMaxAluminum 6" (2007-2021 Tundra CrewMax) | Listing data onlyCOMNOVA 6" (Colorado and Canyon) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fits, according to the listing | 2019-2026 Chevy Silverado 1500, 2020-2026 Silverado/Sierra 2500HD 3500HD Crew Cab | Crew Cab ... 2009-2018 Dodge Ram 1500, Ram 2019-2024 1500 Classic (New Body Style Not Fit), Ram 2010-2026 2500 3500 | 2007-2021 Toyota Tundra Crewmax Cab 4 Full Size Doors | 2015-2026 Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon Crew Cab |
| Style | Running board / step bar (as titled) | Running board / step bar (as titled) | Running board / step bar (as titled) | Running board / step bar (as titled) |
| Material | Not stated in the title | Aluminum (title) | Aluminum (title) | Not stated in the title |
| Weight rating | Not stated in the title | Not stated in the title | Not stated in the title | Not stated in the title |
| Install | Not stated in the title | Not stated in the title | Not stated in the title | Not stated in the title |
| Price class | Budget | Budget | Budget | Budget |
| Best for | Silverado 1500 crew cab owners who want a wider step and a budget price class. | Crew cab owners with a 2009-2018 Ram 1500, a 2019-2024 Classic, or a 2010-up 2500/3500. | 2007-2021 CrewMax owners. Not for the Double Cab. | Colorado or Canyon crew owners who want a wider step. |
| On Amazon(paid link to Amazon, opens in a new tab)Ad · paid link · check price & delivery on Amazon | On Amazon(paid link to Amazon, opens in a new tab)Ad · paid link · check price & delivery on Amazon | On Amazon(paid link to Amazon, opens in a new tab)Ad · paid link · check price & delivery on Amazon | On Amazon(paid link to Amazon, opens in a new tab)Ad · paid link · check price & delivery on Amazon |
The price class is budget for all four, per our data. What you give up is the sheet: we cannot tell you the bracket count or whether there is a drilling step. The COMNOVA Silverado title also names the Sierra for HD trucks only.
Best slim look: nerf bars
The Tyger Rider above is the slim option in our picks, at 3.5 inches according to the titles. If the look is what you are after, nerf bars goes further into tubes and rails. Listing titles use the words loosely, so go by the width in the title.
Best fold-away: power steps
AMP Research
AMP PowerStep (2022+ GM)
The powered step with the clearest paperwork in our data: a maker install guide that names cabs, tools and time.
Why here: It is our pick for a powered step: RealTruck's guide names the cabs, tools and time, though it asks for real work.
- Fits, according to the listing and maker sheet
- Listing: 2022-2026 Chevy Silverado/GMC Sierra. Maker sheet 76255-01A: Silverado 1500/Sierra 1500, All Cabs, 2022-2026 (as of November 2, 2026)
- Style
- Powered retractable step (as titled)
- Material
- Not stated in the title
- Weight rating
- Not stated in the title
- Install
- Guide 76255-01A: 3-5 hours, professional installation recommended, drill 19/64-inch holes through the pinch weld, OBD II plug
- Warranty
- 5-Year Limited Warranty (guide)
- Price class
- Premium
Check your exact year and cab on the listing before you buy.
Why it makes the list
- RealTruck's install guide states a 5-year limited warranty and connects through an OBD II plug
- The guide lists every cab: 79-inch board for Crew, trimmed for Double and Single Cab
Watch out for
- The guide calls for drilling through the pinch weld and rates the job skill level 4 (experienced)
- Professional installation recommended; the guide states 3-5 hours
- The title gives no part number, so match 76255-01A on the listing
- Premium price class
Best for: Owners of a 2022-up Silverado or Sierra 1500 who want a step that folds away and accept a harder install.
RealTruck's guide states 3-5 hours, skill level 4 and professional installation recommended, and it calls for drilling through the pinch weld. Plan for that. The AMP 76254-01A* title names only 2019 Silverado and Sierra 1500 crew cabs, so do not stretch it to later years. All the other trucks are on power running boards. Check your exact year and cab on the listing before you buy.
How we compared
| What we look at | Why it counts | What we don't claim |
|---|---|---|
| Title names truck, years, cab | A wrong year or cab means a return | That the title is correct or current |
| Exclusions stated | "Not fit 19-24 Classic" saves a wrong order | That silence means it fits |
| Maker sheet readable | Brackets, drilling and tools are in writing | That the install will go the same on your truck |
| Width and shape in the title | That is the actual style | That the word in the title means anything |
| Load rating from the maker | Dealer figures disagree | Any rating we could not read from the maker |
One more thing on load: most of the parts above have no rating from the maker that we could read. We leave that line open and do not fill it in from dealers.
Quick calls
Rail or board? Take a rail if you want the slim look and a board if you want foot area. Fixed or power? Fixed unless you want the step gone and accept the install. Cab-length or wheel-to-wheel? Cab-length if the job is getting in and out; ARIES says wheel-to-wheel also covers the bed and costs more. See bed and cab fitment. Extended or crew? Different boards. Extended cab vs crew cab explains the names.
Bottom line
Take the part that names your truck, year and cab and has a sheet you can read. On a 2019-up Silverado or Sierra crew cab, that is the Tyger Rider 3.5-inch. If your truck has no pick above, go to all trucks and start there. Check your exact year and cab on the listing before you buy.
Lower steps are on drop steps, and Tyger has the brand behind several picks. For makers without a page of their own, see other running board brands. The fit finder is on the home page.
Tailgate questions
Which brand of running board is the most durable?
We cannot tell you. We found no independent durability or corrosion test of truck running boards. Anyone naming a most durable brand should show the test behind it. What we can compare is who publishes a usable install sheet, and on that count Tyger and RealTruck AMP gave us the most to read.
What company makes the best running boards?
No company is best across every truck, and no independent test we found ranks them. Our picks lean toward Tyger and AMP because we could read their sheets. That is a judgment about paperwork, not a claim that the steel is better. Other brands may be fine; we could not read enough to say.
What are the best running boards for a truck I use for work?
For a work truck that needs a step along the bed too, look at wheel-to-wheel boards. ARIES describes them as running from the front wheel to the rear wheel, and they cost more. They also have to be listed for your bed length. Our current picks are cab-length parts, so check the bed and cab fitment page.
Are the most expensive running boards the best?
Not as a rule. The premium class on this site is mostly power steps, and there you pay for the motor and the fold-away, along with a harder install. We found no test showing that a premium fixed board outlasts a budget one. Fit and a readable sheet matter more to us than the price class.
Where this comes from
- Tyger Auto instruction sheet TG-SS2C35068 (PDF hosted by CARiD)
- Tyger Auto instruction sheet TG-SS2D35098 (PDF hosted by CARiD)
- Tyger Auto instruction sheet TG-RS6F60118 (PDF hosted by CARiD)
- Tyger Auto instruction sheet TG-SS2C35168 (PDF hosted by CARiD)
- RealTruck AMP Research installation guide IM76255 (PDF)
- ARIES Automotive: truck cab guide
Keep reading
- CompatibilityAll trucksWhich running boards fit your truck depends on model, year block, cab and sometimes bed. See the splits listings state for each truck and where to start.
- Buying guidePower running boardsPower running boards come out with the door and fold away after. See which trucks each listing names, what the install takes and which load figures hold up.
- Buying guideNerf barsNerf bars for trucks by cab and year. What the name really covers, how wide the rails are, what the install sheets say, and our picks where we read a maker sheet.
- Buying guideSide stepsTruck side steps come as rails, 6-inch boards, drop steps and power steps. Compare styles by year and cab, with fit marked as the listing or maker states it.
- About usHow we verify fitFit here is what a listing title or maker sheet states, marked as such. What we read, what blocked us and why you still confirm year and cab before you buy.
Who writes this
runningboardsfortrucks.com Editorial Team
Fitment, buying advice and explainers
We are the editorial team at runningboardsfortrucks.com. We read listing titles, maker pages and instruction sheets, then write down which truck, year and cab each one states and where we read it. We do not run lab tests and we do not own a test fleet, and we say so openly.
- Fit quoted from the listing or maker
- Sources and dates on every page
- No lab tests, stated openly
- Publisher details in the imprint