Side Steps, Running Boards, Car Side Steps, and Ute Side Steps
Side steps and running boards make climbing into a taller vehicle easier and protect lower door sills from mud, boots, and daily scuffing along the way. CBT Auto Parts stocks car side steps and ute side steps in fixed, folding, and electric styles, sitting alongside Roof Racks and Tow Bars inside Body and Exterior Parts.
Every automotive side step here is matched to your exact make, model, and cab configuration before it ships, so aftermarket never means an awkward gap or weak mounting point. Load ratings are confirmed before dispatch, and most orders leave the warehouse within 24 to 48 hours, tracked across Australia.
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Materials: Aluminium, Steel, and Rubberised Finishes
Side steps are typically constructed from either aluminium, valued for its light weight and natural corrosion resistance, or steel, generally offering greater strength and load capacity at a higher overall weight. Aluminium side steps suit drivers prioritising fuel economy and reduced vehicle weight, particularly on smaller SUVs and passenger vehicles where the additional strength of steel is less necessary. Many steel and aluminium designs are finished with a textured rubberised step surface or grip tape, improving traction in wet weather and reducing the risk of a slip when entering or exiting the vehicle.
Side Steps vs Running Boards: Same Job, Different Design
Side steps and running boards refer largely to the same product in Australian usage, mounted below the doors to assist entry and exit on a taller vehicle. The distinction, where drawn at all, tends to be in shape: running boards are typically a longer, flatter board running most of the length between wheel arches, while side steps often refer to shorter, step-specific platforms positioned directly below each door. Either term reliably points to the same category on this page, and listings are grouped by vehicle fitment rather than by which name is used.
Fixed, Folding and Electric Side Steps
- Fixed side steps are permanently mounted and offer the strongest, most rattle-free platform for regular use.
- Electric side steps extend automatically when a door opens and retract when closed, improving ground clearance and off-road approach angle when not in use.
- Automatic running boards operate on the same principle as electric side steps, the terms often used interchangeably by manufacturers and buyers alike.
- Folding or manually retractable designs sit between the two, offering some clearance benefit without the added complexity of a motor.
Electric running boards add convenience and clearance but introduce a motor and wiring system that requires occasional maintenance, unlike a simple fixed step bar.
Automotive Side Steps: What They Actually Protect
Automotive side steps do more than assist entry, since they also shield rocker panels and lower door sills from stone chips, mud, and general road debris kicked up while driving. On a ute or 4WD used for towing, farm work or regular unsealed road driving, this protective function is often as valuable as the step function itself. A vehicle without side steps tends to show more paint chipping and rust along the lower sill over time compared with an equivalent vehicle fitted with a quality set. Passengers, particularly children or elderly family members, also benefit from the reduced step height a good set of side steps provides, making entry and exit noticeably easier on taller 4WDs and utes with raised suspension.
Car Side Steps vs Ute Side Steps: Different Priorities
Car side steps on a passenger vehicle, or SUV, tend to prioritise a low-profile, styled appearance that complements the factory bodywork, since ground clearance and off-road capability are less of a concern. Ute side steps, particularly on 4x4 side steps fitted to touring and work vehicles, prioritise strength and ground clearance, often built from heavier gauge steel or aluminium to withstand loading, towing and rough terrain use. A step bar rated to support an adult's full weight repeatedly, including in muddy or wet conditions, is a baseline requirement for the ute segment that passenger vehicle steps do not always need to meet.
Running Boards, Car Fitments, and Step Bars Explained
Running boards car listings generally group by vehicle platform first, since mounting points, wheelbase, and door count all affect which running board length and bracket kit is required. A running board car kit typically includes the board itself, mounting brackets, and all fasteners required for a bolt-on fitment without drilling on most factory mounting point-equipped vehicles. Step bars, a related but distinct product, are typically a tubular rather than flat platform design, offering a similar function with a different aesthetic and often a lower profile.
Fitting Side Steps and Running Boards
- Confirm whether your vehicle has factory mounting points, since this significantly simplifies a bolt-on fitment.
- Electric and automatic running boards require access to a power source and control module during fitting.
- Torque all mounting bolts to specification, since undertightening is a common cause of movement or noise over rough terrain.
- Recheck bolt tension after the first few hundred kilometres, particularly on a new fitment carrying regular weight.
Why Buy Your Side Steps From CBT Auto Parts
- Fitment is checked against your exact make, model, and cab configuration before dispatch.
- Fixed, folding and electric side step styles available, covering passenger, ute and 4WD use.
- Side step orders ship within 24 to 48 hours, tracked door to door across Australia.
- Sits alongside Roof Racks and Tow Bars, useful for a full touring or work vehicle setup.
- Support team available to confirm load rating and mounting type before you order.
