Best Running Boards for Ram 1500: Our Top 4 Picks and In-Depth Reviews

If you aren’t so tall or not so young, it’s tough to get inside your truck without the best running boards for RAM 1500. Thanks to the overwhelming popularity of running boards, the market has been flooded with them, and not only do they allow you to get inside your truck easier but also make it look better. Some larger trucks incorporate running boards directly on their vehicles, and when you buy them, you don’t need to invest additionally. This all speaks about the popularity of running boards as a useful addition to your car. In this article, we’re going to take a look at running boards for Dodge Ram 1500, as well as 2500 and 3500 models. All of these models have one thing in common – speed and power. We all know that Dodge makes some of the best vehicles in the USA, and if you happen to be one of the lucky owners, you can reward your powerful truck with such an investment.      

Best Running Boards for Ram 1500: Quick Answer

For most Ram 1500 owners, the right running board is the one that matches the exact truck generation and cab style first, then the preferred step width and look. A 2019+ new-body Ram 1500 Crew Cab, a 2019-2024 Ram 1500 Classic, a Quad Cab, and a Ram 2500/3500 can require different brackets even when the product photos look similar.

If you want the safest buying process, start with year, Ram 1500 vs Ram 1500 Classic, cab style, and bed/body notes before comparing price. Tyger, APS/iBoard, and other brands often split listings by those details, so do not buy a generic Ram running-board listing unless the fitment table clearly includes your truck.

[gs_table id=”9391″]

Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links. If you buy through these links, GarageSanctum may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Search Ram running-board fitment on Amazon

Fitment references checked for this update include Tyger Star Armor for 2019-2026 Ram 1500 Crew Cab, Tyger Blade fitment notes, Tyger Trax Classic/2500/3500 notes, and iBoard product information. Use manufacturer pages for fitment rules and Amazon for current marketplace listings.

Best Running Boards for Ram 1500/2500/3500

Here is a comparison table for our 4 top picks reviewed here: [gs_table id=”8968″] In this section, we’re going to give you a couple of great running boards for Ram 1500, 2500, and 3500. Beware that every running board on this list supports all three models, with the only difference in year of production, regarding the vehicles.

1. APS iBoard Running Boards

As mentioned earlier, APS is a company well-known for its high-quality running boards, and this time, it’s no exception. APS iBoard Running Boards are perhaps one of the best for their price. They come in a powder-coated matte black or chrome finish, as well as in a plethora of diameters and lengths. As versatile as they are, you won’t have any problems deciding for any of these. The great thing about iBoard is that it comes in a 5-inch set of boards for extended-cab pickups, meaning that it will go from your front to rear wheel. Of course, we don’t need to mention that it fits nicely on your Ram 1500, 2500, and 3500. The full-metal construction makes these boards more than durable enough, even for the harshest conditions. Aside from astonishing durability, we also have a low-profile design, so they don’t get in your way when not being used. If you value functionality, modern, minimalistic design, and excellent price-to-performance ratio, APS iBoard Running Boards are a sight for sore eyes. Pros

• Easy installation
• Decent price-to-performance ratio
• Minimalistic, yet modern design

  Cons

• A bit more expensive
• Easily scratchable

 

2. Tyger Auto Star Armor Kit

Tyger Auto Star Armor Kit is a piece of versatile running boards available not only for Ram 1500 but also for Ram 2500 and 3500. Starting on a good note, these running boards are looking pretty sleek but rather simple. The simplicity might be a good thing for some buyers and others won’t like it. Being so good-looking, these running boards are also sturdy, durable, and powder-coated, to strengthen already strengthened construction. Featuring one-piece design, these boards are made of four-inch heavy-duty triangle mild steel tubing. With all this durability and build quality, Tyger Auto Star Armor Kit also offers rust-resistant powder-coating, alongside UV-resistant non-slip step pads. To summarize, Tyger Auto Star Armor Kit represents a reasonably affordable product with lots of great features for the price. It’s one of the best running boards for Ram 1500/2500/3500 on the list. Pros

• Extremely durable
• Sleek, elegant look
• Simple bolt-on installation

Cons

• Not the most original design

   

3. Tyger Auto 5″ Black Side Step Nerf Bars Running Boards

Running boards from Tyger Auto will blend perfectly with your black truck, especially if it’s matte black. With that, you get minimalistic, yet efficient running boards that will not get in your way. These 4″ running boards are made of heavy-duty steel tubing, and as every product on the list, they’re powder-coated. One thing we like here is that Tyger Auto took care of rust resistance, meaning that you won’t have to worry about rust, even in the harshest conditions. Thanks to the effortless installation, these running boards can be installed in a matter of minutes. The manufacturer also includes a 5-year warranty, which is as high as you can get. Pros

• Great rust-resistance capabilities
• Stylish design
• Incredible durability

Cons

• The design offers nothing new

 

4. Galaxy Auto 5″ Oval Curved Running Boards

Running boards from Galaxy Auto are one of the best for your Dodge Ram 1500, as well as 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500, but only for Crew Cab. With that in mind, these running boards don’t have a problem fitting into 2009-2018 Ram 1500, as well as 2010-2019 Ram 2500/3500 vehicles, which are one of the most popular in this series. Those who want a simple installation won’t have to worry since these can be installed with a direct bolt-on. All of the necessary hardware and instructions are located in the package. As for the build quality, we can say that it’s at the top level. For the affordable price, Galaxy Auto offers you 5″ high-quality, heavy-duty stainless steel that’s going to last you a lifetime. Due to the slippery characteristics of stainless steel, the manufacturer also added non-slip step pads. Pros

• Compatible with almost every newer Dodge Ram
• High-quality stainless steel
• Non-slip pads
• Affordable price

Cons

• Fits only to Crew Cab

What are Running Boards Made Of?

But, before we get to the nitty-gritty of the topic, it’s essential to know what you’re looking for. Despite looking relatively the same (even though they aren’t), running boards come in different sizes, shapes, and materials. This time, we’re going to take a look at the materials your running boards could be made of. The cheap and the lower-quality option are running boards made of molded plastic. As its name implies, it’s the most affordable type of running board. Plastic is cheap, and it’s all around us, meaning that you get precisely what you pay for. If you’re looking for pretty running boards rather than being obsessed with durability, it’s an excellent way to go, unless you expect them to carry a tremendous load. The great thing about these running boards is that they come with an aluminum baseboard for additional stability and durability. Still, plastic is plastic, and you can’t expect it to behave like it’s steel. Speaking of steel, steel running boards are much sturdier, durable, and are made to last. Those who want undisputable quality and durability should look for steel running boards. Of course, they’re more expensive, but just as with plastic ones, you get what you pay for. They might not be as beautiful, but they’re made for big loads. Even if you have over 300 pounds, these running boards will probably love you for your body more than your girlfriend.

Who Makes the Best Running Boards for Trucks?

As with every product out there, some people have preferences for specific brands. For example, we use Samsung and Apple in the smartphone world to measure the quality of other manufacturers. Here, in the running board industry, things are a bit more complicated, as we have more manufacturers battling their way to the top. In the article about power running boards, we’ve mentioned AMP Research, Aries Offroad, and Bestop as some of the best power running boards manufacturers. When it comes to classic running boards, these manufacturers aren’t some of the most popular. One of the brands we often recommend is Tyger Auto. Tyger Auto produces some of the most excellent, most durable running boards for trucks. Their running boards are usually very durable with easy installation, although they’re not very cheap. APS is another company that makes impressive running boards and focuses more on the traditional look with no compromises in build quality. Their running boards are slightly more affordable, and the difference in quality is negligible. Finally, we have a well-known company – Westin. Westin makes versatile and almost universal running boards that support a plethora of vehicles. Whether you drive SUV or a big truck, Westin running boards are among the best out there. So, there you go, Westin, APS, and Tyger Auto are only some of the best running board manufacturers. This doesn’t mean that these are the only quality running boards on the market, just to be precise.

Do Running Boards Protect?

Back in the day of their inception, running boards weren’t used for protection. That was the job for nerf bars. While nerf bars have a racing background as they were used for protection against bumping into other racers, running boards were used in almost every vehicle for standing, sitting, and even lying down. However, since running boards are located at the sides of your car, they can also be used for protection. If you live in an area with a lot of bumps and curvy roads, running boards can come in handy. This is because sometimes, when driving across gravel terrain, those tiny stones jump and bounce when you drive over them. Furthermore, these stones can collide with your car and damage your paint. If these stones are too big, you can even damage the lower part of your chassis. Running boards will take that collision instead of your car, which means that they will take all the damage. Running boards might be damaged in that case, but it’s far cheaper to replace running boards than it is to fix or buy a new car, especially if we’re talking about running boards with easy installation. That’s why we always say that you go for running boards that require no drilling. This way, you’ll replace them easier and avoid the hassle of having to damage your car’s chassis. Here is a video showing you how to install your running boards on a RAM 1500 truck:

Summary

  These are only some of the best running boards for Dodge Ram 1500, 2500, and 3500. Before you make your purchase, be sure to check the running boards in person, to make a greater picture. Some of these boards are also great for other vehicles, meaning that you can reuse them for another vehicle if you happen to sell your Ram. All in all, Dodge Ram is a fantastic vehicle on its own, and with added running boards, you’ll be happier to know that it’s easier to get in and out of it and protect it from various terrains. This concludes our best running boards for RAM 1500 review. In case you need running boards for another vehicle chek out our best running boards review.