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The Best F150 Running Boards

Updated on Feb 13, 2024

Written by
 RealTruck Expert Team

While Ford itself offers Ford F150 running board options, the aftermarket selection is vast, comparatively speaking. As such, there’s plenty of demand for F150-compatible running boards at RealTruck. That’s why we make sure to stock all the best F150 running boards from a wide variety of top brands, including AMP Research, APS, Steelcraft, Romik, N-Fab, Luverne, Aries, Go Rhino, Dee Zee, Hammerhead, Raptor, Ionic, Iron Cross and more. If you’re considering the idea of adding this popular truck customization, there’s more to consider than merely finding the best Ford F150 running boards. We’ll walk you through this decision and cover what you need to know before buying.

Why Running Boards?

First and foremost, running boards (sometimes called sidesteps) make it easier to get in and out of your truck, especially if yours is higher than most or if you’re not exactly the tallest person. In fact, taller drivers often prefer the extra convenience that another step between the cab and the ground provides. Running boards are also a great way to keep mud and debris from inside the cab, as you and your passengers can use them to scrape off your boots before you hop inside. This way, you protect your floorboards and door panels from dirt and scratches, while keeping your interior cleaner.

Top F-150 Running Board Picks

With our wide selection of running boards and related parts like nerf bars and hitch steps, choosing the right running boards for your F150 can get a little overwhelming, which is why we’d like to share a few of our top picks, including our favorites at three pricing tiers:

One of our top picks in the lower-price range, these black running boards are made of extruded aluminum with stainless steel trim. Premium quality and strong, with a wide, five-inch, no-slip step, the Ionic 41 series is sold in a pair with brackets and hardware for installation, with a limited lifetime warranty.

One of our top picks in the mid-range of pricing, this set is made with 16-gauge galvanized steel for extra strength, protection against corrosion, and reliable durability. The RB20 comes in a textured powder coat or protective bedliner coating and includes welded, boxed ends, high ground clearance and wide steps.

A top pick at our higher end of the selections, Power Steps are a serious upgrade for your F150. From the originators of the automatic running board, the all-aluminum, 600lb-capacity Power Step automatically retracts, hidden from view when not in use, which creates extra ground clearance. The Power Step extends automatically when your doors open, self-illuminates with LED lights and includes an anti-pinch safety feature that prevents arms, legs or feet from getting squeezed accidentally. AMP Research offers a 5-year, 60K-mile warranty.

Different Types

The average running board is a single, solid, rectangular piece that mounts parallel to the truck’s body, creating a step between the cab and the road. The best Ford F150 nerf bars are the ones that not only fit your year and model perfectly, but the ones that you like best. Slightly different from standard running boards and nerf bars, individual sidesteps (sometimes called hoop steps due to their hoop-like shape) don’t always span the entire wheelbase, so you’re left with more options for placement – but less stepping surface. With more than a million products, RealTruck is a great place to start browsing all the best F150 nerf bars, the best Ford F150 hoop steps and the best of any style of running board that could interest you.

Aluminum vs. Steel

When deciding whether to go with aluminum or steel running boards, your primary consideration is the weight – both of what you put on them and of the running boards themselves. Aluminum is lightweight and resistant to corrosion, so no matter what environments your truck encounters, aluminum could be a great choice. However, if you prefer a heavier-duty board/bar/step/hoop that can handle more weight, is naturally corrosion resistant and is suitable for off-road and worksite use, stainless steel or carbon steel is likely your best bet, despite the additional weight it adds to your truck or SUV.

Fitment and Installation

In America, trucks and SUVs outsell all other vehicles by a wide margin. As a result, in addition to the best Ford F150 running boards (and running boards for just about any other year, make and model of truck or SUV), you have more options for nerf bars, side steps, hoop steps and more, especially at RealTruck. The good news is that the vast majority of these add-ons are designed to be bolted on with regular tools, a jack and a little help from a buddy. In other cases, you might have to do a little drilling or other modifications. If yours require more work than you’re comfortable with, you can always get help from a body shop or truck outfitter.

While most running boards offer intuitive rocker-mount installations, bolting directly to pre-drilled holes in your F-150’s rocker panels with supplied hardware, we also offer frame-mount steps as an alternative!

Unlike rocker-mount steps, which bolt to thin sheet metal, frame-mount steps affix directly to your F-150’s steel frame, offering exceptional strength and durability. If you plan to do any serious wheeling, frame-mount steps offer superior rocker protection; however, they may be overkill for primarily street-driven F-150s. Frame-mount steps also typically require more labor-intensive installations, including cutting, drilling, and welding.

Drawbacks

Mostly, adding running boards is a net-positive decision, but you should be aware of a few potential drawbacks. If you’re big into offroad adventuring, you may lose a bit of your ground clearance, which technically could compromise your flexibility when blazing trails across the wild backcountry. You’ll also be adding some weight, which should be factored into your overall payload capacity, especially if you’re hauling at or near that peak.

Cost

Depending on what you decide on, in terms of materials, design, brand and warranty, a decent set of running boards can range from about $250 to $2,000. If you don’t want to install them yourself, you can expect to pay between $100 and $200 for professional installation of standard running boards, while electric running boards carry higher installation costs. Check with your manufacturer about warranty coverage and how it applies to your installation approach.

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