N-FAB Step Bars

[TBTn7]

Got a set of 3" round textured black bed access (3 steps per side) N-FAB step bars for the 2017 1500 crew cab. They do not have a bracket for attaching to the body pinch weld like the factory nerf bars do. I have not mounted them. They assured me that they were a 100% bolt on. They are not. It requires at lease one hole drilled in the body where the upper slot of each bracket is and you can also do a couple self-tappers in each bracket if so desired. The truck body sheet metal is so thin I don't think self-tappers would do much of anything except cause rust.

The paint job ain't all that either. Bare metal showing here and there, but they claim they are galvanized so they shouldn't rust. The rear has a cap but the front of the tubes are open-ended. I can envision them packed full of mud. They seem to be solid but not sure I'm going to keep them.

I emailed them asking about additional brackets for attaching to the pinch welds. So far, the few manuf. I have contacted "after the sale" have yet to reply. Hopefully they will.

Those of you who have these please post your experiences.

 

[MADDOG]

I used self tappers. I drilled a pilot hole, lined up the bars, set the self tappers, sprayed the area with some paint, then seated the self tappers. Did the same thing with the previous two sets and they did just fine.

Mine are painted but, as I feared, they chipped up some due to rocks and other debris. I am going to pull them off, blast 'em and use bed liner on them.

The ones I had on the last two trucks were coated, not painted, and I didn't have this chipping problem.

 

[TBTn7]

Are yours fastened to the pinch weld seams? Do they feel solid when you step on them? I am a belt and suspenders kind of person. Maybe a little OCD? Haha.

 

[MADDOG]

No, mine bolt into the OEM holes that have nutserts in them.

It was the same for the 2007 & the 2014. All of them were 2500's though. I'm not sure if the 1500's have different mounting points but it sounds, based on what you are describing, that they do.

 

[TBTn7]

My 2017 1500 has two nutserts in each of 3 mounting points above the pinch welds in the sheet metal and two holes through the pinch welds. The factory mounts have 4 bolts in each bracket. Two through the pinch weld and two in the nutserts. I'll mount the bars and if I am not happy I can easily make some small hidden T-brackets which will connect the vertical plate to the pinch welds.

 

[lone12star]

I’ve been thinking about swapping mine out for Nfabs


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[TBTn7]

I will give credit where it is due. N-FAB replied and said they cannot supply additional brackets for mounting to the pinch welds. They did not design the bars to connect there. Right, but I think they should have.