running boards, nerf bars, step bars !!!

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Dads84

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 25, 2018
Posts
75
Reaction score
143
Location
Decatur Indiana
First Name
Troy
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
K10 scottsdale
Engine Size
305
I'm sure this has been talked to death, but I would like to add step bars to my 84 chevy k10 ( i'm getting older, and heavier ) hard to get into my truck. would like bars that attach to front cab mount , and rear spring mount, because of outside mounted gas tank. Anyone have this set up on there Square body? any pictures? a manufacture and part #. I have reg cab.

You must be registered for see images attach
 

dvdswan

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 11, 2014
Posts
2,366
Reaction score
2,036
Location
Port Orchard, WA
First Name
Dave
Truck Year
1978
Truck Model
K10
Engine Size
350
Being that our trucks are "dated", manufacturers really don't make them much more. Running boards (I've never been a fan) you could probably still get though.

I would visit a local truck store or a fabrication shop/metal shop and have some custom made. You could do a google search for styles you like and give that information to them. Key is simplicity.
 

MisterB

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 9, 2019
Posts
676
Reaction score
845
Location
Northwest
First Name
AJ
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
GMC K2500 4X4
Engine Size
350
Get yourself some steps like the ones on the Fall Guy truck. They're period correct, and work great. I got some for my truck on Amazon, and they're powder coated black. They look and work great
You must be registered for see images attach


Sent from my SM-N986U using Tapatalk
 

MisterB

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 9, 2019
Posts
676
Reaction score
845
Location
Northwest
First Name
AJ
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
GMC K2500 4X4
Engine Size
350
Here's my truck with the steps on it
You must be registered for see images attach


Sent from my SM-N986U using Tapatalk
 

AuroraGirl

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2019
Posts
9,693
Reaction score
6,869
Location
Northern Wisconsin
First Name
Taylor
Truck Year
1978, 1980
Truck Model
K10, K25
Engine Size
400(?), 350
i think your truck would look fantastic with running boards and a visor, maybe even slightly lowered(not touching the ground, just something shorter than current)
but you are functionally much better off with the steps they showed, i am going to have to cut off my running board on driver and will be unbolting passenger side
here is an example of running board. can enhance the look, if done right. but functionally reduces your ground clearance quite a bit

You must be registered for see images attach
 

trukman1

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 20, 2018
Posts
340
Reaction score
138
Location
USA
First Name
Gary
Truck Year
1988
Truck Model
K5 Blazer
Engine Size
5.7 L (350)
You might want to look at Rock Auto. I purchased nerf bars for my K5 as they were heavily discounting Square body items. I got the stainless steel bars for less than half price of other sites. Not sure if they will still have them as I purchased last year but would be worth looking into, IMO.
 

SquareRoot

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 18, 2017
Posts
4,194
Reaction score
8,033
Location
Arizona
First Name
Mike
Truck Year
85
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
350
i think your truck would look fantastic with running boards and a visor, maybe even slightly lowered(not touching the ground, just something shorter than current)
but you are functionally much better off with the steps they showed, i am going to have to cut off my running board on driver and will be unbolting passenger side
here is an example of running board. can enhance the look, if done right. but functionally reduces your ground clearance quite a bit

You must be registered for see images attach

Lol.
AG, all you gotta do is kick your foot thru the body and step on up.
 

AuroraGirl

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2019
Posts
9,693
Reaction score
6,869
Location
Northern Wisconsin
First Name
Taylor
Truck Year
1978, 1980
Truck Model
K10, K25
Engine Size
400(?), 350
Lol.
AG, all you gotta do is kick your foot thru the body and step on up.
that would require there to be body to kick :)

You must be registered for see images attach
 

Backfoot100

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 18, 2017
Posts
374
Reaction score
648
Location
Florida
First Name
Eddie
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
C1500 Suburban
Engine Size
Carbed 350
Just finishing installing a set of Aries stainless step bars on my Suburban.
Front mount is on the front body mount. Rear mount is via the front hanger of the rear spring.

The "no drill" mounting was far from that. I needed to re-engineer the step bar mounts and ended up doing quite a bit of metal fabbing to get them "right".

I planned on doing a full pictorial of it when I finally finish it up.
The shortened version of the review is its actually an excellent product. The supplied mounts are strong and well built but far from bolt-on.
If I installed it as designed, the back of the bar would stick out at least 1.5" further than the front of the bar. It looked horrid when looking down the length of the truck.
Modifying the rear mount shortened up that 1.5" to about 3/4" which is better and how I used it this past weekend but still not right. I built some spacers to put on the front of the bar but have them painted and not installed yet.

It could be that I'm just a dumb ass and I somehow managed to put the mounts on wrong to get my end result but the supplied instructions left a lot to be desired.

The good part is they look and function great when they're finally installed.
 

Dads84

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 25, 2018
Posts
75
Reaction score
143
Location
Decatur Indiana
First Name
Troy
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
K10 scottsdale
Engine Size
305
I have seen the hoop steps, but I don't want to put holes in my rockers for them. Looking for something that mounts to frame, or body mounts.
 

shiftpro

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 31, 2012
Posts
4,855
Reaction score
6,092
Location
BC Canada
First Name
shiftpro
Truck Year
73-87
Truck Model
1500, 2500, 3500
Engine Size
350, 383, 454, 496!
Lol.
AG, all you gotta do is kick your foot thru the body and step on up.

Let's go and rip her boards and headache rack off and then find the OP's truck hook him up.
Well put her mirrors on his truck too, I'm sure he'll love them.

Sorry Taylor your truck might have a few parts missing but we'll figure something out for ya.
 

45tt

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 14, 2020
Posts
272
Reaction score
1,023
Location
Florida
First Name
MJ
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
GMC Sierra Grande K15
Engine Size
350
I had running boards on a previous truck. I never really liked them but they were a gift from my folks, so I felt obligated to put them on. I like the loops that were posted by MisterB.
You must be registered for see images attach
 

Snoots

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 23, 2013
Posts
8,753
Reaction score
18,205
Location
Georgia
First Name
Roger
Truck Year
1973
Truck Model
Jimmy Sierra
Engine Size
350 w/203
Here's my truck with the steps on it
You must be registered for see images attach


Sent from my SM-N986U using Tapatalk

I'd like to see a pic of how you have them attached.
You must be registered for see images attach
 

MisterB

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 9, 2019
Posts
676
Reaction score
845
Location
Northwest
First Name
AJ
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
GMC K2500 4X4
Engine Size
350
I'd like to see a pic of how you have them attached.
You must be registered for see images attach
If you look closely, you'll see one bolt on each side that goes though the bottom lip of the panel.

Here's a link to the ones I got on Amazon. It shows pictures of the part that's up behind the rocker panel https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0062IJOJ2/
You must be registered for see images attach


Sent from my SM-N986U using Tapatalk
 

rt66paul

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 16, 2016
Posts
230
Reaction score
109
Location
California
First Name
paul
Truck Year
1991 suburban
Truck Model
2500
Engine Size
7.4
You can put those ground lights under the running boards - for a interesting look.
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
44,173
Posts
950,865
Members
36,288
Latest member
brentjo
Top