Best GMC Sierra 1500 Side Steps, Running Boards, and Nerf Bars

Side Step Variances

No two side steps are created equal. These accessories come in countless styles, finishes, and materials, ensuring a product that suits every driver’s needs. However, you’ll need to select the right product to get the most from your side steps. In this section, we’re covering the main variances from one side step to the next.

Styles

Side steps come in countless styles, offering different aesthetics, levels of accessibility, and overall characteristics. Some of the most popular step styles include: 

• Running Boards: If accessibility is your main concern, consider the running board's wide, full-length step surface ideal for climbing in and out of your truck, Jeep, or SUV. 

• Nerf Bars: Tubular side steps featuring a single oval or round, cab-length tube with step pads at each door.

• Sliders: If rocker protection is your primary concern, consider installing a set of sliders. These durable steps tuck high and tight against your Sierra’s rocker panels, offering exceptional protection against impacts and abrasions. 

• Hoop Steps: Steps featuring tightly tucked main hoops with tubular drop steps at each door. These steps offer exceptional rocker protection and rugged styling. 

• Truck Steps: Truck steps are ideal for those who don’t want the added bulk of running boards or nerf bars but could still use some help climbing in and out of the cab. Unlike hoop steps, truck steps don’t feature a cab-length tube, offering minimal rocker protection.

Materials

A side step's base material informs the product's strength, weight, and corrosion resistance. The most popular material choices include carbon steel, stainless steel, and aluminum. Carbon steel is robust, though heavy and susceptible to corrosion. Stainless steel offers similar strength to carbon steel, though with superior corrosion resistance due to the alloy's high chromium content. Finally, aluminum only offers moderate strength and corrosion resistance, although it makes up for these shortcomings with its low weight.

Finish

Next, let’s talk about finishes. The term finish is often conflated with color—this isn’t exactly correct. A finish refers to a product’s coating or plating that determines its overall aesthetics and corrosion protection. Popular finishes include polished, chrome, powder-coated, and painted.

Cab-Length vs. Wheel-to-Wheel

Steps also come in two primary lengths: cab-length and wheel-to-wheel. Cab-length steps stretch the length of your Sierra’s cab, while wheel-to-wheel steps stretch from the front of the cab, down the bedside, to the rear tire. Wheel-to-wheel steps also feature a third step at the bed for cargo access.

Fixed-Position vs. Retractable

We offer side steps in fixed-position and retractable configurations. Whereas fixed-position steps are solid-mounted to your Sierra’s chassis via one-piece, stationary brackets, retractable steps feature hinged brackets alongside electric motors. When triggered, typically by you or a passenger opening a door, retractable steps deploy for easy entry. With the door closed, the steps automatically retract against the rocker panels for a sleek, subtle appearance.

Frame-Mount vs. Rocker Mount

Lastly, we offer side steps in two mounting configurations: frame-mount and rocker-mount. Frame-mount steps affix to your Sierra’s frame via drilling and through-bolting or welding. Alternatively, rocker-mount steps offer simple installation via pre-existing holes in your Sierra’s cab. While frame-mount steps are sturdier, rocker-mount steps offer less labor-intensive installations.

Top Side Steps: Expert’s Picks

With a thorough understanding of side-step styles, finishes, and other configurations, let’s check out our expert’s top picks. We've carefully curated this list to include only the best side steps for the GMC Sierra, offering superior build quality, style, and functionality.

AMP Research PowerStep™

AMP Research is well-known in the aftermarket accessory game, best known for its highly popular PowerStep™. The AMP PowerStep is the original electric-retractable running board, featuring lightweight cast aluminum boards, a compact single-motor design, and an extra-wide 6-in. step tread, making climbing into even the tallest trucks a breeze.

AMP Research PowerSteps tuck tightly against your Sierra’s rocker panels when not in use, ensuring maximum ground clearance and minimalist styling. When needed, these steps deploy automatically for easy entry. 

AMP Research backs PowerStep Running Boards with a 5-year limited warranty.

Features:

• The original electric-powered running board

• Premium, single-motor design automatically deploys and retracts boards

• Corrosion-resistant die-cast aluminum construction

• Military-grade black PTFE coating

• 6-in. wide, cab-length steps

• Textured, slip-resistant step surface

• Low-profile integrated LED courtesy lights

• Optional Override Switch is available for manual control

• Includes vehicle-specific installation guide and mount kit

• Mounts to vehicle's rocker panel

• Newer applications connect to the OBDII port via a Plug-N-Play module

• Professional installation recommended

• 5-year limited warranty

N-FAB Black Wheel To Wheel Nerf Bars

Pair the rugged styling of N-FAB’s iconic drop steps with superior bed access via a sturdy bed step just before the rear tire. These steps feature a wheel-to-wheel design, stretching from the front of your Sierra’s cab to just before the rear tire. 

N-FAB Black Wheel to Wheel Nerf Bars feature durable tubular steel construction with a heavy-duty, 3-in. diameter main tube. N-fab positions tubular drop steps at each door and bedside, featuring non-slip, dimple-died step pads for exceptional traction. Rugged textured black powder coating guards the underlying steel against rust and unsightly corrosion. 

N-Fab Black Wheel To Wheel Nerf Bars are proudly made in the USA and come backed by a limited lifetime structural warranty. 

Features: 

• Tubular steel construction

• Textured black powder coat finish

• 3-in. diameter main tube

• Simple, no-drill installation

• Includes all hardware, bracketry, and instructions

• Sold in pairs

• Patented drop-step design

• USA-made

• Limited lifetime structural | 5-year finish warranty

Go Rhino® RB30 Slim Running Boards

Get the latest off-road styling with Go Rhino® RB30 Slim Running Boards. These sleek steps pull inspiration from the legendary Ford Raptor, featuring a low-profile, plate-steel construction for superior strength and rugged aesthetics. These steps don’t just look the part—they’re also built to perform. Go Rhino manufactures its RB30 Slim Running Boards from galvanized steel for superior corrosion resistance, then applies your choice of bed liner or textured black powder coat for a sleek finish. 

Though slim, these steps feature stout 5-in. wide step surfaces, offering exceptional traction. The step plates feature a unique flow-through design to prevent dirt, mud, and snow accumulation, regardless of weather conditions. 

Go Rhino backs its RB30 Slim Running Boards with a limited lifetime structural and 5-year finish warranty. 

Features: 

• Rugged Ford Raptor-inspired styling

• Durable 16-gauge galvanized steel construction

• Textured black powder coat or protective bed liner finish

• Extra-wide 5-in. step 

• Flow-through design prevents the build-up of dirt, mud, and snow

• Rocker-panel-mounted

• Mounting kit and instructions included

• Simple, no-drill installation

• Limited lifetime structural | 5-year finish warranty

N-FAB RKR Step System

Sliders often sacrifice accessibility for protection—while they may protect your truck’s rocker panels, they offer little assistance into the cab with tightly tucked designs and slippery tubular steps. These shortcomings are virtually non-existent with N-FAB’s RKR Step System, offering all the protection of sliders with the accessibility of premium drop steps.

N-FAB’s RKR Step System consists of N-FAB’s premium, 1.75-in. diameter, steel RKR rails in a corrosion-resistant powder coat finish, but that’s not all. Each order includes detachable RKR steps, allowing you to bolt on drop steps when necessary and remove them when you need extra ground clearance. 

N-FAB proudly manufactures the RKR Step System in the USA and backs each order with a limited lifetime structural and 5-year finish warranty. 

Features:

• RKR Step System includes a pair of RKR rails and detachable RKR steps

• 1.75-in. diameter steel tubing construction

• Treated inside and out and finished with a textured black powder coat

• Welded 1-piece construction for strength and longevity

• Simple bolt-on installation

• USA-made

• Limited lifetime structural | 5-year finish warranty

Go Rhino 4000 Series Polished Stainless Nerf Bars

You can’t beat Go Rhino’s 4000 Series Polished Stainless Nerf Bars for sleek, classic styling. These tubular nerf bars feature durable stainless steel construction for exceptional corrosion resistance. Thanks to stainless steel's natural corrosion resistance, it allows for a raw, mirror-polished finish. Stainless steel is also sturdy, providing each running board with a 250-lb. capacity.   

Go Rhino includes oversized, slip-resistant step pads at each door, ensuring maximum traction in all weather conditions. Go Rhino backs each order with a limited lifetime warranty. 

Features:  

• Enables safe and easy entry to your truck’s cab

• Corrosion-resistant stainless steel construction

• Lustrous polished finish

• Oversized step pads feature slip-resistant surface

• Options to fit most trucks and SUVs in 2, 3, and 4-door configurations

• 250-lb. weight rating

• Sold in pairs

• Limited lifetime warranty