Nerf Bars

Are you ready to add that much needed lift to your truck? Install your newly purchased stainless steel nerf bars now. This particular nerf bars installation requires a three-quarter inch and a 14mm socket or wrench aside from the included hardware. Begin your installation on the front passenger side of your vehicle.

Take your single bolt plate and place it inside the square hole on the rocker panel. To make this easier, insert your other hand’s little finger to hold the bolt plate. After you’ve got the bolt plate through, secure it tightly by using a plastic washer. This will prevent the bolt panel from sliding off the panel.

Grab your front panel brackets and position it with the two slotted holes at the bottom while the single slot hole is at the top. Put the single slot hole through the bolt and place a two-bolt plate unto the two slotted holes. Secure these bolts with flat and lock washers as well as a nut. Do the same with the single bolt panel you had mounted a while ago. Once you have installed the hardware and the brackets on the front passenger side, do the same steps with the remaining hardware unto the other sides of the vehicles. Now that you have all your brackets installed, it is time to mount the actual nerf bars.

Start your nerf bar installation at the back and prepare your bolt with the lock washer next to the actual bolt head followed by the flat washer. Position your nerf bar direct to the bracket hole and place the bolt through. Make sure the bolt is secure and the bar is aligned appropriately. Do the same thing to the other side to install the other end of your nerf bar.

Once the nerf bars are mounted, take your three-quarter inch and a 14mm socket or wrench and tighten all the bolts and nuts securely on the brackets.

Although the ultimate origin of the word "nerf" is not known, it is attested to have been in use in 1961 among hot-rod enthusiasts. Among them, it meant customized bumpers. In 1963, it was adopted by auto racers and given the meaning "to intentionally bump or nudge a competing car with enough force to knock it off course but not to crash." In 1970, the term "NERF", for Non-Expanding Recreational Foam, was used as a trademark for toy guns and balls that are made of foam. Because the toys were soft and light, they were thought to be less durable and effective. This is why, in 1995, the word "nerf" was given another meaning, "to make less effective."

Nerf bars, however, take their origin from hot rodders and auto racers. They refer to tubular contraptions that are mounted on both sides of a truck or SUV below the rocker panels, running alongside the doors. They can also be seen in racing cars, especially those with open wheels. Often the tubes are round, although others are oval, and still others include a section that is flat at the top. They protrude several inches from the doors and they may or may not be padded.

There are many variations of nerf bars. They differ in the diameter of the tube. Some are specifically designed for specific truck models, while others are universal. They can also be mounted on the vehicle's chassis or the body. Stainless steel is perhaps the most common material they are made of, although others can be chromed or powder-coated steel. Some are crafted from aluminum.

Nerf bars perform either of two functions, or both. One is for aesthetics. They certainly can make a truck or SUV look more attractive. Whether they sport a reflective finish or the vehicle's body color, nerf bars add a touch machismo to any truck.

Since trucks are typically tall, getting on board can be an effort. For a little help, you can use the nerf bars as ladders as you pull yourself up into the vehicle's cabin. When off-roading, you can expect to fall into some deep rut once in a while, or perhaps scale a mound that proves to be too tall. These can scrape the bottom of your truck. Thanks to nerf bars, this can be avoided.