I have some chrome nerf bars on my 2006 3500 Dodge Mega cab which have started to rust really bad. Is there anyone who can give me some pointers on some that will not. I have researched and found some aluminum ones.They were Dee Zee.Thanks

Go aluminum or stainless. I know Raptor makes some stainless with a lifetime warranty. Cant speak to the stainless ones as I opted for black but my black ones fit and finish was very good. I have only had them a month so longevity is far from known http://www.raptorseries.com/index.php

On my 2005 I went with these. I went with the ABS Composite because Aluminum and stainless scratch easily. They have a lifetime warranty. I also love them because they actually have a real rubber step pad instead of the slick hard plastic.chrome Nerf bars

transamz9 wrote:On my 2005 I went with these. I went with the ABS Composite with chrome finish because Aluminum and stainless scratch easily. They have a lifetime warranty. I also love them because they actually have a real rubber step pad instead of the slick hard plastic.chrome Nerf bars

I have some Stainless steel nerfs from Westin that come chrome plated. While they haven't rusted, the chrome is getting little gold-ish spots in it. It's been doing this since it was about 5 y/o. They haven't got any or anything you can feel but I paid extra for their quality and I'm disappointed in them.

I have Innovative Creations stainless steel on my Dodge. They were already in it when I purchased. 4yrs and 60k miles more in the truck and they still look great. I had a set of stainless on my last truck as well for over 150k and about 11 years. They were looking good when I sold it. I think they were Westin bars but not sure.

Nerf bars that will not rust | Good Sam Community

Mike_Up
Explorer
Jan 28, 2017
I've had powered coated aluminum bars on Nissan trucks, black plastic on Ford SPort Trac and '16 F150, and chrome on '10 F150 and '12 F150.

Never chrome again. Corrodes or rusts. I really like the black plastic side steps on my F150. Best side step I've had. Flat all the way across and solid with no flex.

Only steps I've had issues with are chrome.
Ron3rd
Explorer III
Jan 26, 2017
transamz9 wrote:
2012Coleman wrote:
transamz9 wrote:
2012Coleman wrote:
Well, hard to explain why me and transamz9 had such different experiences, but sounds like the OP should go with Westin - checking on the availability of the lifetime warranty, and then keeping the receipt.

The ones I replaced the Westins with are lifetime warranty also and IMO much stronger feeling. I also like the step pads 100X better because they are rubber not slick plastic.
The Step pads sound nice - can you share a link?

Chrome Step Bars

Those are similar to the stainless steel Lund bars I posted in my link above. I went with the wheel well to wheel well bars that help getting into the bed. Love 'em!
transamz9
Explorer
Jan 26, 2017
2012Coleman wrote:
transamz9 wrote:
2012Coleman wrote:
Well, hard to explain why me and transamz9 had such different experiences, but sounds like the OP should go with Westin - checking on the availability of the lifetime warranty, and then keeping the receipt.

The ones I replaced the Westins with are lifetime warranty also and IMO much stronger feeling. I also like the step pads 100X better because they are rubber not slick plastic.
The Step pads sound nice - can you share a link?

Chrome Step Bars
2012Coleman
Explorer II
Jan 26, 2017
transamz9 wrote:
2012Coleman wrote:
Well, hard to explain why me and transamz9 had such different experiences, but sounds like the OP should go with Westin - checking on the availability of the lifetime warranty, and then keeping the receipt.

The ones I replaced the Westins with are lifetime warranty also and IMO much stronger feeling. I also like the step pads 100X better because they are rubber not slick plastic.
The Step pads sound nice - can you share a link?
transamz9
Explorer
Jan 25, 2017
2012Coleman wrote:
Well, hard to explain why me and transamz9 had such different experiences, but sounds like the OP should go with Westin - checking on the availability of the lifetime warranty, and then keeping the receipt.

The ones I replaced the Westins with are lifetime warranty also and IMO much stronger feeling. I also like the step pads 100X better because they are rubber not slick plastic.
2012Coleman
Explorer II
Jan 25, 2017
Well, hard to explain why me and transamz9 had such different experiences, but sounds like the OP should go with Westin - checking on the availability of the lifetime warranty, and then keeping the receipt.
Thunderbolt
Explorer
Jan 24, 2017
I just looked on Westin's web page and the stainless bars have a lifetime warranty for the original purchaser.
Thunderbolt
Explorer
Jan 24, 2017
I have the same setup only chrome stainless and after 11 years of Minnesota winters they are still solid. And Westin has a lifetime warranty on the stainless ones if I recall.

transamz9 wrote:
2012Coleman wrote:
transamz9 wrote:
2012Coleman wrote:
I've had powder coated Westin bars like this since 2003. No rust issues. Available at Auto Anything linked in a previous post on this thread.

I had the ones you have on my 2005 and replaced them with the one I linked on Auto Anything. The reason was they rusted....from the inside out. They still looked great on the outside but you could literally just about push your finger through them in places. The problem with them is that they are open on the end mounts allowing water inside. They are not powder coated inside.
Sorry to hear that. Mine are connected to a flat plate at the ends which in turn is connected to the frame - so no open ends. I didn't get them at Auto Anything - got them at one of those truck accessory places. They have held up well.

Yes, exactly like mine were. That plate is not sealed to the end of the tube. The tube has a flat bar welded in the end of it which is threaded for the bolt. That flat bar is not as big as the tube and allows water intrusion. Yours are exactly like mine were that rusted from the inside out. Mine were put on by the dealer when the truck was new in 2005. Funny thing is my truck is only driven in the rain when I am caught in the rain while driving. If the roads are wet we will take the wife's car. LOL
transamz9
Explorer
Jan 24, 2017
2012Coleman wrote:
transamz9 wrote:
2012Coleman wrote:
I've had powder coated Westin bars like this since 2003. No rust issues. Available at Auto Anything linked in a previous post on this thread.

I had the ones you have on my 2005 and replaced them with the one I linked on Auto Anything. The reason was they rusted....from the inside out. They still looked great on the outside but you could literally just about push your finger through them in places. The problem with them is that they are open on the end mounts allowing water inside. They are not powder coated inside.
Sorry to hear that. Mine are connected to a flat plate at the ends which in turn is connected to the frame - so no open ends. I didn't get them at Auto Anything - got them at one of those truck accessory places. They have held up well.

Yes, exactly like mine were. That plate is not sealed to the end of the tube. The tube has a flat bar welded in the end of it which is threaded for the bolt. That flat bar is not as big as the tube and allows water intrusion. Yours are exactly like mine were that rusted from the inside out. Mine were put on by the dealer when the truck was new in 2005. Funny thing is my truck is only driven in the rain when I am caught in the rain while driving. If the roads are wet we will take the wife's car. LOL
transferred
Explorer
Jan 24, 2017
Smittybuilt black step rails on my 05 3500, holding up well at 143,000 miles.

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