If you haven't bought aftermarket steps / ladders in the past, get Heavy Duty ones! There are a LOT of cheap **** truck steps available that seem like a good buy, but are junk. Also, make sure they are installed securely and properly. You may want a body shop to install them... just make sure they are secure and don't move around.
The side bars / steps / nerf bars that came on my truck from the factory are awesome, are still rock solid after 10 years, and have no rust on them. Other people I know who install similar aftermarket parts end up with weak, wobbly, rusty parts.
I use the steps on my truck all the times, and also use the huge grab bar similar to what you can see in the picture by MFL.