Buying guide
Nerf Bars for Trucks: What the Name Covers, and What Fits by Cab and Year
Nerf bars for trucks are usually tube steps that bolt on below the doors, and they are narrower than a flat board. For a 2019-up Silverado or Sierra crew cab, start with the 3.5-inch Tyger Rider. Other trucks have their own part, because every one of these is cut for specific years and cabs.
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Straight answer
A nerf bar is usually a tube step, narrower than a running board, but titles use the words interchangeably. Our pick for a 2019-up Silverado or Sierra crew cab is the 3.5-inch Tyger Rider TG-SS2C35068: 8 brackets, threaded holes behind plugs and no drilling step in the sheet. New-body Ram and Colorado owners get their own Rider. Check your exact year and cab on the listing before you buy.
Wikipedia describes a nerf bar as a tubular device fitted to the side of a race car, and says it is fitted for convenience on a pickup truck or SUV. On a truck, it mostly means a tube step along the cab. It is one form of running board, a step mounted below a truck's doors that makes it easier to climb in and out.
The name is not a build guarantee. One Tyger title calls the same part running boards, side step, rail and nerf bars at once. The APS title on this page calls a flat 6-inch board a nerf bar. So shop by the shape and width the title states.
Our pick for the most common full-size crew cab
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 kind of title we want: years, the HD split, the cab and a part number that leads to a maker sheet.
- 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.
If you drive something else, jump to your truck below. "Our pick" means we read a maker sheet for the part. It does not mean anyone here put one on a truck.
Which one for which 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 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 a 1999-2018 GM Double Cab → MaxMate 3" nerf bars (1999-2018 GM double cab) · Listing data only
Fits, according to the listing: 1999-2018 Chevy Silverado GMC Sierra 1500 2500 LD; 2001-2019 2500 3500HD; 2019 LD/Limited (Exclude SS) | 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 an F-150 SuperCrew or Super Duty Crew and want a flat step → APS 6" Flat (F-150 SuperCrew) · Listing data only
Fits, according to the listing: Ford F150 2015-2026 SuperCrew Cab & F150 Lightning 2022-2026 & F-250 F-350 Super Duty 2017-2026 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 want a lower step or a different style
Side by side
| 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: Colorado and Canyon crewTyger Rider 3.5" (Colorado and Canyon) | Listing data onlyMaxMate 3" nerf bars (1999-2018 GM double cab) | Listing data onlyAPS 6" Flat (F-150 SuperCrew) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Chevy Colorado GMC Canyon | Crew Cab | 1999-2018 Chevy Silverado GMC Sierra 1500 2500 LD; 2001-2019 2500 3500HD; 2019 LD/Limited (Exclude SS) | Double Cab | Ford F150 2015-2026 SuperCrew Cab & F150 Lightning 2022-2026 & F-250 F-350 Super Duty 2017-2026 Crew Cab |
| Style | Rail / nerf bar (as titled) | Rail / nerf bar (as titled) | Rail / nerf bar (as titled) | Rail / nerf bar (as titled) | Running board / step bar (as titled) |
| Material | Not stated in the title | Not stated in the title | Not stated in the title | Not stated in the title | Black stainless steel (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 with 6 brackets at existing mounting locations; no drilling step in the sheet; assistance recommended | Not stated in the title | Not stated in the title |
| Price class | Mid-range | Mid-range | Mid-range | Mid-range | Mid-range |
| 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. | Colorado or Canyon crew cab owners who want a rail and a readable install. | Older GM double cab owners who want a plain round-tube look. | F-150 SuperCrew and Super Duty Crew owners who want a flat 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 | On Amazon(paid link to Amazon, opens in a new tab)Ad · paid link · check price & delivery on Amazon |
The bars, one by one
Tyger Rider 3.5-inch for 2019-up GM
The title reads "2019-2026 Chevy Silverado GMC Sierra 1500; 2020-2027 2500 3500HD", Crew Cab. That split matters, because the 1500 and HD trucks changed in different years. Part number TG-SS2C35068 leads to Tyger's sheet: 8 brackets, threaded mounting holes behind plastic plugs along the bottom of the body, no drilling step, and a second person recommended.
Two things to watch. The title does not mention the 2019 LD or Limited, and a sister Tyger listing groups that truck with the older body, so check before ordering. That comes from listings, not a GM document. And nothing in the title or our sources covers the 2027 Silverado 1500, so that truck stays unverified. The Silverado page has both traps.
Strength: a clear title and a readable sheet. Weakness: at 3.5 inches, it is narrow, and no weight rating is stated, so we print none.
Tyger Rider 3.5-inch for the new-body Ram 1500
This Rider* is titled "2019-2027 Ram 1500 (Not fit 19-24 Classic)", Crew Cab, so it draws the Classic line for you. Part number TG-SS2D35098 ties to a Tyger sheet with 6 universal brackets on factory studs and no drilling step. The sheet tells you to clear paint off the studs with a wire brush or thread die.
The title runs to 2027, and we could not read Tyger's own page to confirm that year. Older trucks and the Classic need a different part, and Tyger's sheet for that crew Rider warns "DRILLING MAY BE REQUIRED". The Ram 1500 page goes through both.
Strength: the plainest Classic exclusion in our data. Weakness: narrow, and no use to anyone with a Classic.
Tyger Rider 3.5-inch for Colorado and Canyon
The mid-size Rider* is titled "2015-2027 Chevy Colorado GMC Canyon", Crew Cab, under part number TG-SS2C35168. Tyger's sheet uses 6 brackets and clip nuts that slide into holes in the body after you remove the rubber plugs. It uses the 1st, 2nd and 4th mounting locations and has no drilling step.
One long range in the title covers a lot of model years, and nothing in it breaks them down. Confirm your year on the listing.
Strength: a maker sheet on a mid-size truck, which is rare in our data. Weakness: crew cab only per the title, and a single range covers every year.
MaxMate 3-inch for older GM Double Cabs
The MaxMate* is titled for 1999-2018 Silverado and Sierra 1500 and 2500 LD, 2001-2019 2500 and 3500HD, and the 2019 LD/Limited, excluding the SS, with Double Cab named. That is the rare title that takes up the 2019 LD question at all.
The name Double Cab needs care here. ARIES files the Silverado and Sierra Double under extended cabs, with smaller rear doors or a seat-forward layout. It files the Tacoma Double under crew cabs. So this GM part says nothing about a Toyota, and the cab explainer covers why.
Strength: covers older trucks that newer lists skip. Weakness: 3 inches per the title, the narrowest step here, and listing data only, with no sheet we could read.
APS 6-inch flat for F-150 and Super Duty
The APS* is here because of its title, not its shape. It says "Running Boards Nerf Bars" on a black stainless flat board. It is listed for the F-150 2015-2026 SuperCrew, the Lightning 2022-2026 and the F-250 and F-350 Super Duty 2017-2026 Crew Cab, and it uses Ford's two cab names correctly.
If you came looking for a slim tube, this is not it. If you want more foot area on a SuperCrew and do not care what it is called, it is a fair option, though the Tyger Riser on the F-150 page has the maker sheet and this one does not.
Strength: a 6-inch step with clear cab wording. Weakness: stainless grade not stated, no weight rating in the title, listing data only.
What to look at before you buy
| Criterion | What to look for in the title or sheet |
|---|---|
| Width | Titles here run from 3 inches to 6 inches. Wider means more foot area and a bigger look |
| Year | Read the whole range, including any "not fit" wording |
| Cab | The cab name in the title, compared with your own doors |
| Length | Most run along the cab; wheel-to-wheel parts add the bed. See bed and cab fitment |
| Part number | A part number lets you look for the maker's sheet |
| Drilling | Named per part. Some sheets have no drilling step, others warn about it |
| Weight rating | Only from the maker's document. Tyger's sheets state none |
| Finish | We found no corrosion measurements, so read any corrosion claim as the seller's wording |
Tyger's sheets also note left and right sides. On the crew cab Riders, one step pad sits closer to one end of the bar, so identify the correct side before you lift it.
Mistakes that cost you a return
- Buying by the word. "Nerf bar" in a title does not promise a tube. Read the shape and width.
- Trusting the year alone. A 2021 Ram 1500 can be a Classic, and those are separate listings.
- Reading Double Cab as one thing. ARIES places Silverado and Tundra Doubles under extended, and the Tacoma Double under crew.
- Assuming no drilling. Some kits have no drilling step. Others warn about it, and Tyger's older Ram sheet is one.
- Taking a seller's load number at face value. A title claim is not a maker document, and bases differ.
- Fixing the wrong problem. If the first step is too high, a drop step may suit you better. See side steps. If you want it out of the way, look at power running boards.
Find your truck
What do you drive?
Start with the truck. We only show what a listing title or maker states for it.
More makes and years are under all trucks. The Tacoma page covers Toyota's mid-size truck, where the cab names change again.
Bottom line
For a 2019-up Silverado or Sierra crew cab, buy the Tyger Rider 3.5-inch if you want a slim step with a clear sheet. Ram and Colorado owners have the same logic with their own part. Want a bigger step? Go wider, and see best running boards. Everything above follows the rules on how we verify fitment. Check your exact year and cab on the listing before you buy.
New to the term? What are nerf bars? starts from the beginning.
Tailgate questions
Are nerf bars and running boards the same thing?
The words overlap on listings, so do not rely on them. One Tyger title says running boards, side step, rail and nerf bars for the same part, and the APS title calls a flat 6-inch board a nerf bar. Generally, a nerf bar means a tube. Go by the shape and width the title states.
Are nerf bars worth it?
They are worth it if you want a slim step and can get a part with a clear sheet, such as a Tyger Rider, which bolts on with a helper recommended. They are a poor fit if you or your passengers want a big foot area. At 3 to 3.5 inches wide per the titles here, they are about half the width of a 6-inch board.
Do nerf bars need drilling?
Not always, and not never. Tyger's sheets for its 2019-up GM, new-body Ram and Colorado Riders have no drilling step. Its sheet for the older Ram crew Rider prints "DRILLING MAY BE REQUIRED". Listing-only parts may say nothing at all, so read the sheet for your part number.
How much weight can nerf bars hold?
There is no shared figure, and the Tyger sheets we read state none. Only a maker's own document can answer for a given part. Westin states 300 lbs. of weight capacity per side for its Pro-e power board, which is a different product. Not stated means just that, and says nothing about what the part can hold.
Are the nerf bars here for ATVs or quads?
No. Wikipedia describes nerf bars on quad bikes as a way to keep the wheels of two machines from tangling, which is a different part with a different job. Everything on this page is for pickup trucks. If you want quad parts, search by your machine's model.
Where this comes from
- Wikipedia: Nerf bar
- 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-SS2C35168 (PDF hosted by CARiD)
- Tyger Auto instruction sheet TG-SS2D35318 (PDF hosted by CARiD)
- ARIES Automotive: truck cab guide
Keep reading
- ComparisonBest running boardsThe best truck running boards are the ones listed for your year and cab. Our picks by truck and use, with no lab scores, only published fit and maker sheets.
- 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.
- CompatibilitySilveradoSilverado 1500 running boards split at 2019, with an LD exception, and by Crew, Double and Regular Cab. See what the listings state and where to start for yours.
- CompatibilityRam 1500Ram 1500 running boards by body and cab. New-body and Classic boards are separate listings, and power steps split again. Fit quoted from titles and maker sheets.
- 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.
- 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.
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