Nerf bar recomendations for a 2016?

[truckin-on]

I have a 2010 CC 3500 that I put NASTA all-stainless nerf bars on. After 6 years of north east snow and salt, they still look great! I just ordered a 2016 CC 3500, with the black appearance package, and intended on buying a new set for the new truck. Unfortunately, come to find out they no longer make them :{

When I looked at some alternatives, I was disappointed to see that the other stainless bars don't have stainless hardware. Also, one option said it would not fit 2013+ with DEF tanks! Does anyone know if or how the DEF tank alter how the bars mount to the rocker?

I don't really care for the factory straight bars, but I'm re-considering them, especially the factory black bar option. Does anyone know if the black bars are black-pained aluminum, but otherwise identical the chrome ones?

Anyone have any recommendations for all-stainless bars?

-Truckin-on

 

[mrbb]

I Just had a set of Westin PRO Traxx 4 ,
5 inch stainless steel side bars installed
on my 2016 2500ccsb
they were the only one's the shop had that fit with the DEF tank, I don't know what the difference is, and didn't honestly shop around,, was getting a cap installed and they HAD them on hand, and a few older folks I help out couldn;'t get into my truck without a step of some sort
so, got them
I personally am NOT a fan of side bars
but these do seem like solid bars, life time warranty
dealer had them installed in about 15 minutes or less too!

 

[Ram4Sam]

I have a 2010 CC 3500 that I put NASTA all-stainless nerf bars on. After 6 years of north east snow and salt, they still look great! I just ordered a 2016 CC 3500, with the black appearance package, and intended on buying a new set for the new truck. Unfortunately, come to find out they no longer make them :{

When I looked at some alternatives, I was disappointed to see that the other stainless bars don't have stainless hardware. Also, one option said it would not fit 2013+ with DEF tanks! Does anyone know if or how the DEF tank alter how the bars mount to the rocker?

I don't really care for the factory straight bars, but I'm re-considering them, especially the factory black bar option. Does anyone know if the black bars are black-pained aluminum, but otherwise identical the chrome ones?

Anyone have any recommendations for all-stainless bars?

-Truckin-on

I can't recommend any brand of steps.......But I sure as heck don't see how the def tank matters for the side steps. I put a cheap set on my 2014 and transferred them to my 2016. They mount to the body, don't go near the frame of the def tank....?????? I don't see the issue......

Sam

 

[truckin-on]

I can't recommend any brand of steps.......But I sure as heck don't see how the def tank matters for the side steps. I put a cheap set on my 2014 and transferred them to my 2016. They mount to the body, don't go near the frame of the def tank....?????? I don't see the issue......

Sam

Thanks! I couldn't see how the DEF tank would have anything to do with it either, given how they mount. I may just move the set from my 2010 to the new truck.

 

[wyosteve]

My 2015 3500 SRW has the Black Out pkg. I ended up getting a set of Lund 5" wide steps from AutoAnything. They are a matte black composite, so minimal salt/corrosion issues (even though we don't have much of a problem here in Wyo.). The mounting brackets aren't stainless though. DEF tank was no issue in mounting. Install was very easy, especially after watching a YouTube video of installation.

 

[Loren]

Westin Nerf Bars

I can't recommend any brand of steps.......But I sure as heck don't see how the def tank matters for the side steps. I put a cheap set on my 2014 and transferred them to my 2016. They mount to the body, don't go near the frame of the def tank....?????? I don't see the issue......

Sam

I haven't checked any brand of nerf bars for several years but am now back at it since I hope to be buying a new truck soon.

I have installed Westin bars on my 2000 Dodge (wrecked, unfortunately) and my 2008 Dodge. Both of these were chrome-plated, stainless steel bars and both sets mounted to the FRAME of the truck, not to the body. They came with a lifetime warranty. The bars on my 2008 truck still look brand new.

I met a guy many years ago who had a set on his Ford Powerstroke. He told me that he ran that truck into a ditch and one side of the truck was being supported by the nerf bar, not the wheels nor the frame. The accident didn't even bend the bars. He was sold on Westin bars and so was I. He was a big guy, too, probably 250 - 300 pounds and climbed onto those bars every time he got into his truck.

In case you can't tell, I recommend Westins.

-- Loren

 

[truckin-on]

OK, a bit of searching and there is still an "all-stainless" bar option.

STEELCRAFT 222507P 10-15 DODGE RAM 2500/3500 CREW CAB 3" SIDE BARS ALL Stainless, available through A-zon for ~$240

and Ionic (probably the same manufacturer), same part number: 222507P. The "P" indicates Premium, and presumably the 304L Stainless Steel Bars, Brackets, and Bolts. Looks to be the same as my NASTA bars, will see once they show up.

-truckin-on


And

 

[mrbb]

my bar is ALL stainless, and mounts to the frame, and is again a westin made bar!
HAD you of bought before dec 30 2015, they were giving a rebate for free custom cut floor liners or window rain deflectors, just found this out, so, MIGHT be getting something free LOL

I am NOT sure about the bolts on mine if all stainless, didn;'t look that close, but if they EVER did rust, there NOT that big a deal to replace, or just add your own SS hardware if it makes you feel better
MOST of the bolts on your truck are NOT stainless steel?? just saying!

 

[truckin-on]

Curious - Westin mounts to the frame, not the rockers? All the bars I'm familiar with mount to the factory holes in the inner rockers.

I had a previous bad experience with the mounting brackets (mild steel) rusting out after a few years in the harsh salt-infested roads of the northeast...

 

[mrbb]

I'll take some pictures tomorrow if you like
but they seem to be mounted to the frame(and that;s what dealer told me too)
there rock solid, I'm close to 230 lbs and they don't movie me standing on them
Like I said, I didn't search these out, these where what the shop I had truck in for the cap sold and carried, and I needed steps for a few older folks I help out, as couldn't get in my truck safely as it was without them?

he told me life time warranty and was 375 installed, not cheapest, but see them online for about the price he sold them to me and installed them, so wasn't going to say NO
my bad back doesn't let me do much work anymore
but if you'd like pic's
let me know , glad to do so if it helps you?

 

[Ram4Sam]

I'll take some pictures tomorrow if you like
but they seem to be mounted to the frame(and that;s what dealer told me too)
there rock solid, I'm close to 230 lbs and they don't movie me standing on them
Like I said, I didn't search these out, these where what the shop I had truck in for the cap sold and carried, and I needed steps for a few older folks I help out, as couldn't get in my truck safely as it was without them?

he told me life time warranty and was 375 installed, not cheapest, but see them online for about the price he sold them to me and installed them, so wasn't going to say NO
my bad back doesn't let me do much work anymore
but if you'd like pic's
let me know , glad to do so if it helps you?

Please send some pics, I'm betting their on the rocker panels.......one of us will be surprised.....

Sam

 

[Bob4x4]

I have seen some aftermarket that bolt to the body mount and have small supports to the frame.They tend to make noise and eliminate the proper isolation the body mounts are designed to provide

 

[mrbb]

ok so I am WRONG mine do NOT mount to the frame, but the rocker panels
they have grade 8 hardware and NOT stainless steel
I think the grade 8's will last a LONG time
I would honestly think the support brackets would rust out before the bolts,
they seem to be black powder coated, so should be pretty durable, but rocks and such I can see making chips, and leading to rust, IF one really wanted I BET you could have them coated in a GOOD spray on bed liner material and that should make them about bullet proof from rust, if done when NEW and before being installed to make life easier
I am NOT worried about the rusting, as odds are I will end up with a new truck again before that happens, and I do live in a VERY heavy road slat place, my fenders started rusting out at 10 yrs old, and that's with a LOT of care and cleanings
the rust started UNDER the paint, both surface sides were rust and damage free, came from between pained sides??? GO figure NO way to beat that crap!!
just a pain of living where they use road slat and worse I think is that darn chemical spray solution, that stuff seems even nastier than just the rock salt mix they use!

they are super solid, the frame being SO far away I gather is why they do NOT mount to it, would be a LONG distance for brackets to mount to frame to then get all the way outside the door, be asking for some serious strong HD brackets to support things that far extended I think

but here are a couple pictures



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[Loren]

Westins were frame-mounted in 2008

I have no idea how any of the current nerf bars are mounted, but the Westin chrome-plated stainless steel bars that I installed on my 2008 truck are frame mounted.

The paint on the brackets is peeling or gone and they're very rusty, but they're still attached to the frame. There is also a small stabilizing bar that does attach to the body. See photos.

Front mount:

Rear mount:

 

[mrbb]

I have no idea how any of the current nerf bars are mounted, but the Westin chrome-plated stainless steel bars that I installed on my 2008 truck are frame mounted.

The paint on the brackets is peeling or gone and they're very rusty, but they're still attached to the frame. There is also a small stabilizing bar that does attach to the body. See photos.

Front mount:

View attachment 94186

Rear mount:

View attachment 94187

MINE above you are stainless steel Westins , just installed on Dec 23 2015, on a 2016 2500 short bed

 

[Bob4x4]

Loren see post 12 the body bolts are special bolts.yours have been removed and replaced with bolts that make the body mount bushings non-functional,and tieing the rocker panel to the frame bracket

 

[Loren]

Loren see post 12 the body bolts are special bolts.yours have been removed and replaced with bolts that make the body mount bushings non-functional,and tieing the rocker panel to the frame bracket

Bob,

When I installed my bars I did remove the OEM body mount bolts and replaced them with the longer bolts Westin provided in the kit. I'm not going to go down and tear everything apart to see if it looks like the installation has affected the body mount bushings or not, but when I installed them I didn't see anything that gave me concerns.

I see what you mean about the small bars providing an attachment between the body (rocker panel) and the frame by way of the main mounting bracket. I haven't noticed any ill effects from that, although I suppose there could have been some.

The point I am making here is that these bars are mounted to the frame, contrary to what some folks have claimed. Again, I don't know how today's bars mount. Mine are from 2008.

-- Loren

 

[watersupply189]

I purchased black powder coated Lund Attitude nerf bars. They mount to the rocker panel on my 2016 Ram 3500 Crew Cab. They look really good and are solid....