What Step Rails to put on?

[ERohloff]

Need some advice - got a '05 3500 QC 4X4 coming in soon. Planning to put on step rails.

What has been your experiences with the different types. Thinking in terms of

1. Solid mount, good step feel -

2. Retention of the original finish luster -

3. resistance to rust -

Truck is silver, want shiney( SS or chrome) and a no-drill attachment.



Examples I found in JCWhitney are,



A. Bully (polished SS) $300

B. Smittybilt (SS) $380

C. Westin (chrome over SS) $450

D. MAAP (SS) $380



Lots of other around like Lund, Owens, etc... ... ...



What do you guys think? Any other neat ideas?



bob r

 

[kernen]

Step tube option

I have MOPAR step tubes, chromed oval style, very solid and well constucted. I have had Westin, Mapps and IMO the MOPAR are far superior. The oval style give you or your passenger a wider step for firmer footing. These are mounted on my 04. 5 Crew 4x4

 

[ERohloff]

Mopar steptubes ?

The dealer where the truck was ordered has steptubes also. They are made by Bully. 10% discount on accessories when bought with new truck.

Are there "Mopar" steptubes or do the various dealers just get an aftermarket brand and offer those?

But the underlying question is - Is there much difference btw the various aftermarket suppliers. Esp good info would be if there are any "crap" ones out there... ... . Usually "You get what you pay for " so that could be a start to selection... .

bob r...

 

[klenger]

I've got the Westin CPS bars. Very happy with them.

 

[PJ]

I have a set of Dee Zee's on my latest truck that got transfered from my 04 I traded in last November. They are great. I had a set just like them made by Westin on my 98 12v. I like the powder coat Black ones as they are harder to see and don't jump out at you like the chrome ones do. You can also do a "touch up" if you happen to FUBAR them off road, (like Im gonna 4x4 my $40k truck at my age). They are also a great door stop for any rice rocket that tries to park too close to you ar Wal-Mart!

I had these Orig installed on my 04 and they were a 15 min bolt on to my new truck and they used all factory mounts and holes. NO drilling required! I really like them, along with the fact that I have a bad back,hip and two bad knees. Climbing up into the truck is almost impossible without them! It is almost as much fun as climbing OUT of my Corvette without the top off.

 

[crobertson1]

I also have MOPAR step bars. They were very easy to install and are pretty solid.

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[kernen]

MOPAR step tubes

The steptubes are actually MOPAR,not aftermarket. No drilling required and have excellent mount to frame hardware. Plus you get the full warranty of your vehichle on the tubes if they are purchased w/ vehichle from dealer. You do get what you pay for and these are worth the money imo

 

[PJ]

The steptubes are actually MOPAR,not aftermarket. No drilling required and have excellent mount to frame hardware. Plus you get the full warranty of your vehichle on the tubes if they are purchased w/ vehichle from dealer. You do get what you pay for and these are worth the money imo

Did you get your truck up in Guthrie? John Vance Motors? I bought from him back in 97. I have a ranch at I-35 and Waterloo in Edmond... Just wondering... .

 

[kernen]

I have purchased vehichles from JOHN VANCE MOTORS in the past, but not this time. they were not as competitive as BOB HOWARD DODGE. That surprised me. It appears we are neighbors, I live off of Waterloo west of I-35.

 

[Fireman Dave]

I just installed Westin Platinum stainless bars (black) on mine this week. I only wish I'd put them on years ago. I really like the way they look, and they feel good and solid. The main brackets bolt to the body mounts for an easy installation. The self threading bolts that attach the support braces to the bars are lame, though. Those might be replaced with some straight through bolts with nuts in the future.

 

[KCJackson]

The steptubes are actually MOPAR,not aftermarket. No drilling required and have excellent mount to frame hardware. Plus you get the full warranty of your vehichle on the tubes if they are purchased w/ vehichle from dealer. You do get what you pay for and these are worth the money imo

I agree... I have the black powdercoat version on my new 05 (see Readers Rigs), and they are tight as a drum. They don't vibrate or rattle, and look like they can take a beating. They're also in a good position to prevent lower door damage from rocks and debris kicked by the front tires.

 

[MNielsen]

BRohlof,

I have had the Westin wheel-to-wheel S/S on for about a year and live 6 blocks from ocean and have had zero problems with corrosion and steps feel solid even under my 252lbs load I put on them when entering or exiting the vehicle.

 

[Bertram65]

I just installed Westin Platinum stainless bars (black) on mine this week. I only wish I'd put them on years ago. I really like the way they look, and they feel good and solid. The main brackets bolt to the body mounts for an easy installation. The self threading bolts that attach the support braces to the bars are lame, though. Those might be replaced with some straight through bolts with nuts in the future.

I have the same one's on my truck, I had had them on for over a year now, the finish is holding up very well, almost no chips or scratches.

 

[ECappleman]

Bertram65,

What did you use (and where) for the lower door jam protector?

 

[zues]

I installed the Amp-research automatic retracting steps. They work perfect and cannot see them when doors are closed.

 

[Bertram65]

Bertram65,

What did you use (and where) for the lower door jam protector?

They are made by Ventshade, called the Stepshield. Got them from the local truck accessory place. They work pretty well and are held on with 3M two sided tape.