Comparison
OEM vs Aftermarket Running Boards: Fit, Warranty and Price Class
Take OEM if you want the truck maker's name on the part and the warranty, and you can live with the premium price class. Take aftermarket if you want more styles, often for less, and will read the title closely. Fitting aftermarket does not by itself void your truck's warranty, but damage it causes may not be covered.
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Straight answer
Factory boards come with the truck maker's fit and warranty. Ford warrants Original Accessories for at least 24 months, unlimited mileage. Aftermarket parts come in more styles and price classes, but fit comes from a title or maker sheet, and the warranty from the part maker. Ford says aftermarket does not necessarily void the truck warranty. Check your exact year and cab on the listing before you buy.
What's on this page
The short verdict: neither side wins on principle. A factory part gets you the truck maker's name and fit, and it usually costs more. An aftermarket part gets you more shapes and price classes, and you carry more of the checking yourself. A running board is a step mounted below a truck's doors that makes it easier to climb in and out, whoever built it. We use Ford as the worked example, because Ford's pages were the ones we could read in full.
Side by side
Read 2 November 2026.
| Factory (Ford's pages) | Aftermarket (listings and maker sheets we read) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who states the fit | Ford, in its own titles and cab filters | The seller's title, sometimes a maker sheet or page |
| Example | "F-150 SuperCrew 2021-2027 5 in. Aluminum Step Bars in Black" | Tyger TG-SS2C35068: "2019-2026 Chevy Silverado GMC Sierra 1500; 2020-2027 2500 3500HD, Crew Cab" |
| Styles | Step bars and retractable steps in the titles we read | Rails, 6-inch boards, drop steps, power steps, hoop steps |
| Warranty | Ford Original Accessories: the greater of 24 months/unlimited mileage or the rest of the 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper coverage | Varies by maker: Westin states 5 years on the Pro-e, RealTruck's AMP guide 5-year limited, many listings nothing we could read |
| Install paper | "No drilling required" on the Super Duty step bars we read | From a full Tyger or AMP sheet to none at all |
| Price class | Premium, on the Ford pages we read | Budget through premium |
| Independent test | None found | None found |
The differences, point by point
Fit
A factory part puts the truck maker behind the fit claim. Ford's catalog keeps its cabs apart, with filters for Super Crew, Super Cab, Crew and Regular, and titles that name years. Coverage on some cabs is better there than on Amazon. We have no Amazon listing in our data for a 2015-up F-150 SuperCab, and Ford's catalog shows several parts for it.
On the aftermarket side, the title does the work, and quality swings wildly. Tyger gives you a part number and a sheet. Some titles give you no brand and one year range across three trucks. Listings can also disagree with their own maker on the last model year, so read closely. How to check a listing fits gives you the routine.
"OE Style" is not OEM
This trips people up. OEM means the part comes through the truck maker. "OE style" on a seller's title describes a look. COMNOVA's listing for older Super Duty trucks reads "OE Style Running Boards", and it is an aftermarket part. Nothing wrong with that, as long as you know what you're buying. Check the Super Duty page for that truck.
Warranty on the part
Ford's warranty page is plain. Ford Original Accessories "will be warranted for whichever provides you the greatest benefit": 24 months with unlimited mileage, or the remainder of the 3-year/36,000-mile New Vehicle Limited Warranty. Defective components replaced under bumper-to-bumper coverage are eligible for labor reimbursement.
There's a catch inside the factory catalog. Ford Licensed Accessories "are warranted by the accessory manufacturer", not by Ford. And Ford's step bar pages also list steps by RealTruck Advantage. We did not confirm how Ford classes those, so ask your dealer who stands behind a given part before you buy it.
Aftermarket terms belong to the part maker. Westin states 5 years on the Pro-e, with limited lifetime on the LEDs. RealTruck's guide for AMP's 76255-01A states a 5-year limited warranty. Carr's Hoop II sheet states Limited Lifetime and excludes labor. Most no-brand listings give us nothing to read at all.
Warranty on the truck
This is what most people actually want to know. Ford's support page says an aftermarket product "will not necessarily void" the New Vehicle Limited Warranty, but if it fails or causes another part to fail, that repair is not covered. The FTC said in 2018 that conditioning warranty coverage on specified parts is generally prohibited under Magnuson-Moss, unless the part is provided free or the FTC grants a waiver. That cuts in favor of your right to choose. It doesn't make a bad install free. More on do running boards void your warranty?. This is not legal advice.
Price class
We print no figures. On the pages we read, Ford's step bars sit well above budget and mid-range rails like the Tyger Rider. Power steps run premium on both sides, with AMP as the aftermarket example.
Mopar and GM
We read Ford because we could. Mopar's own store refused our reader, and the warranty numbers we saw for Mopar steps were on dealer pages, so we leave them out. For Ram factory options, see Ram 1500 Mopar parts. We read no GM accessory warranty. For Ford's full lineup, see Ford running boards.
Take OEM if, take aftermarket if
Take the factory part if your truck is under warranty and you want one name behind it, your cab is thin on Amazon (a SuperCab, say), or you're buying from your dealer anyway and want the install handled.
Take aftermarket if you want a style or a price class the factory doesn't sell, such as a drop step, a 6-inch board or a budget rail. You also need to be willing to check the title against your truck.
If you drive a 2019-up Silverado or Sierra crew cab and want a maker sheet → 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 2019-up Silverado 1500 crew cab and want the budget end → COMNOVA 6" (2019+ Silverado) · Listing data only
Fits, according to the listing: 2019-2026 Chevy Silverado 1500, 2020-2026 Silverado/Sierra 2500HD 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 an older-body Ram 1500 or a Classic crew cab → 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 and want a drop step → Tyger LanderX (F-150 SuperCrew) · Listing data only
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 Colorado or Canyon crew cab → COMNOVA 6" (Colorado and Canyon) · Listing data only
Fits, according to the listing: 2015-2026 Chevrolet 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 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 2019 Silverado or Sierra 1500 crew cab and want it powered → AMP PowerStep 76254-01A (2019 GM)
Fits, according to the listing: 2019 Silverado & Sierra 1500 with 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 the full comparison
Not every box above comes with a maker sheet, and how we verify fitment explains which ones do. Check your exact year and cab on the listing before you buy.
For dealers, retailers and marketplaces, see where to buy running boards.
Tailgate questions
Do aftermarket running boards void the factory warranty?
Not by themselves, by Ford's own account. It says an aftermarket product will not necessarily void the New Vehicle Limited Warranty, but repairs are not covered if it fails or causes another part to fail. The FTC said in 2018 that conditioning a warranty on specified parts is generally prohibited, with exceptions. This is not legal advice.
What does OE Style mean on a running board listing?
It is seller wording for a look, and it does not tell you who made the part. One COMNOVA title reads OE Style Running Boards, for example, and COMNOVA is an aftermarket brand. A factory part is sold through the truck maker's own catalog or dealer. If the title does not carry the maker's name, assume aftermarket.
Are factory running boards better than aftermarket?
We found no independent test that compares them, so nobody can honestly say better. What differs is the paperwork. Ford names cab and years in its own catalog and states its warranty on one page. Aftermarket quality of information runs from a full Tyger sheet to a title with no brand in it.
Are Mopar or GM factory running boards covered the same way as Ford's?
We can't say. Mopar's own store refused our reader, and the warranty figures we saw were on dealer pages, so we print none. We did not read a GM accessory warranty either. Ask your dealer for the written terms. Ford's terms on this page cover Ford accessories only.
Where this comes from
- Ford Accessories: warranty information
- Ford Accessories: running boards, step bars and rock rails for the F-150
- Ford: will aftermarket modifications void my warranty?
- FTC: staff warns companies it is illegal to condition warranty coverage on specified parts (April 10, 2018)
- Tyger Auto instruction sheet TG-SS2C35068 (PDF hosted by CARiD)
- Westin Automotive: Pro-e power running boards
Keep reading
- Question & answerDo Aftermarket Running Boards Void Your Truck's Warranty? What the FTC, Ford and Ram SayDo running boards void a truck warranty? What the FTC, Ford and Ram's own booklet state, what stays uncovered if a part does damage, and what we could not read.
- CompatibilityFordFord running boards by truck and cab. What aftermarket titles and Ford's own step bar catalog state for the F-150, Super Duty and Ranger, including power steps.
- CompatibilityMopar and OEMMopar side steps and running boards for the Ram 1500 by cab, what Ram's warranty booklet says about them, and the aftermarket listings to compare them with.
- 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.
- 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