Nissan Frontier Running Boards and Nerf Bars: How to Choose

This guide is for Nissan Frontier owners choosing a step into the cab: a full-length running board, a nerf bar or a step system. On a Frontier the cab decides most of it, King Cab or Crew Cab, and then the years and the style of step you want.

What to check first on your Frontier

• Cab. Running boards are cut to the cab length they are listed for. Raptor's fitment notes split its Frontier boards by cab: three fit only the King Cab or Extended Cab (two full-size front doors and two smaller rear doors), and one fits only the Crew Cab (four full-size doors). Count your doors before you order.
• Years. Our vehicle pages split the Frontier into 2005-2021 and 2022-2026. Raptor's Frontier boards are titled 2005+, which spans both. N-Fab's nerf bars below are titled 2005-2021 only.
• Bed. A step rarely depends on the bed, and N-Fab's Epyx title says all beds. Cab and years are what to match.

Running boards or nerf bars

Running boards give a full-length step below the door opening. Nerf bars, in N-Fab's words, are tubular steps mounted to the rocker panel, typically with a step pad at each door; N-Fab describes a side step or nerf bar as a foothold for getting into and out of the cab. Raptor alone offers three surfaces for the King Cab: a full-tread OEM-style board, a tread step, and an oval board. For a wider comparison that includes powered steps, see Running boards vs nerf bars vs power steps.

Raptor running boards for the King Cab

• Raptor Running Boards, 2005+ Nissan Frontier, Black (RAP2207-0431BT): aluminum 5" OEM-style full-tread boards that Raptor says give a factory-installed look.
• Raptor Running Boards, 2005+ Nissan Frontier, Black (RAP1907-0431BT): Raptor's Tread Step board, aluminum with a full-length slip-resistant tread-style step pad.
• Raptor 5" Running Boards, 2005+ Nissan Frontier (RAP2007-0431BT): black aluminum oval boards with angled end caps and a wide 5-inch slip-resistant step surface.

Raptor's note on all three says they fit only the King Cab or Extended Cab. Each kit includes driver and passenger boards, brackets and hardware.

Raptor running boards for the Crew Cab

• Raptor Running Boards, 2005+ Nissan Frontier (RAP1707-0589): aluminum 6" OEM-style boards for the Crew Cab only, according to Raptor's note. The kit includes driver and passenger boards, brackets and hardware.

N-Fab steps

• N-Fab Inc 22C Frontier Crew Cab All Beds Epyx Step Systems, Textured Black: an Epyx step system titled for the Frontier Crew Cab with any bed; the title reads 22C rather than a year range, so check the fitment table for the exact years. The listing gives little beyond the part number; read the product page for what is included.
• N-Fab Nerf Bars, 2005-2021 Nissan Frontier (W2W): a textured black set from N-Fab's Nerf Step series for the 2005-2021 truck. The title names no cab, so check the fitment table for the cab it is listed for.

Shop by Frontier and by brand

Start from your truck's page: Running Boards for 2005-2021 Nissan Frontier or Running Boards for 2022-2026 Nissan Frontier. To browse by type, see Truck Running Boards and Truck Steps: Nerf Bars & Side Steps. For Raptor, see Raptor Series Running Boards and Raptor Series Nerf & Step Bars.

A step sits low, in winter slush and road salt; rinse it when you wash the underside of the truck. Each product page lists the years, makes and models it fits. Use the vehicle selector to confirm your year and cab; we ship across Canada and prices are in Canadian dollars.

FAQ

King Cab or Crew Cab: which running boards fit my Frontier?

Count your doors. Raptor's notes say RAP2207-0431BT, RAP1907-0431BT and RAP2007-0431BT fit only the King Cab or Extended Cab (two smaller rear doors), and RAP1707-0589 fits only the Crew Cab (four full-size doors).

Will a step for a 2005-2021 Frontier fit a 2022 or newer Frontier?

Only if the title covers it. The Raptor boards here are titled 2005+. N-Fab's nerf bars are titled 2005-2021 only. Our vehicle pages split the Frontier at 2022, and the vehicle selector confirms each part.

Do I need to know my bed length?

Rarely for a step. N-Fab's Epyx step system is titled for all beds on the Crew Cab. Cab and years matter more.

What comes in a Raptor running board kit?

Raptor says each kit includes driver and passenger boards, brackets and hardware.