By All the Side Step Options for the New 2021+ Bronco
In this article, we’re going to be covering all the side steps and rock slider options for the brand new Ford Bronco, and there is a lot to choose from. We went to Sema 2021 and hunted down over 20 different manufacturers all making some sort of an option for this brand new application. Let’s dig in.
VIDEO: ALL THE SIDE STEP OPTIONS FOR THE NEW FORD BRONCO
What to Consider When Looking for Side Steps
There are a lot of things to consider when you’re looking for steps or rock sliders. First off is to consider if you need a step, a rock slider, or a combination step and rock slider. If you just need to get in and out of your Bronco, you’re not going to do a lot of hardcore off-roading, and you’re not worried about banging it on anything, you would be great just getting a set of side steps. If you don’t care about having a step but you want to protect the Bronco from hitting things on the trail you would want a set of rock sliders. If you need it to perform both of those functions you can look at combination steps and rock sliders.
You will also want to make a decision about whether you want these made from steel, the strongest option but heavy, or aluminum — doesn’t matter how strong it is it’s more than strong enough to support your weight and it’s light.
Usually, when you’re looking at this product you also would have to decide if you want frame-mounted or pinch weld mounted, and in this case with the Bronco, all the manufacturers we talked to agreed that they didn’t want to tap into the frame because there are some NVH (Noise, Vibration, and Hardness) features in there as well as some electrical wiring running through the frame that they did not want to mess with and they all agreed that the pinch weld is more than strong enough.
ROCK SLIDE ENGINEERING
Let’s start with the star of the show and that was the product from Rockslide Engineering which we found on more builds than any other product out there for a very good reason. This is a combination rock slider and power-retractable step that’s stainless steel on the outside with aluminum components on the inside so it’s strong where it needs to be, light where it counts, and also resists corrosion. When you open your door the step drops down a full 12 inches making this the lowest drop step currently available for the Bronco. This large drop makes it easy to get in and out of any Bronco and when the step is up it’s a nice low-profile rock slider that can stand up to moderate trail duty.
If you know you’re going to be even more hardcore than that they’re going to sell an optional skid plate. This product is expensive. It is going to set you back a little bit over $2,000, but this is a product that is going to stand the test of time and is the best of all worlds.
CHECK OUT THE ROCK SLIDE ENGINEERING STEP SLIDER FOR THE 4-DOOR BRONCO HERE!
CHECK OUT THE ROCK SLIDE ENGINEERING STEP SLIDER FOR THE 2-DOOR BRONCO HERE!
HAVOC OFFROAD
Havoc Offroad introduced a set of fully functional steps and rock sliders constructed of tubular steel with a black powder coating for standing up to the trail punishment. They are built with a lower bar as a rock slider and an upper bar that they put a plate across that acts as a fully functional step. They make them for two-door and four-door Broncos and they cost between $500 and $600.
Havoc Offroad is also one of the only companies that we found that were making tubular style off-road doors for the Bronco. These doors are made out of 1 1/4-inch tubular steel, are powder-coated black, and use a rotary latch for secure and rattle-free operation. Those going to set you back about $600 for a two-door and a little over $1,100 for a four-door.
N-FAB
NERF SIDE STEPS
The next option comes from N-Fab and they’ve been making drop steps for over 20 years — a very popular brand on any make and model. This step is the traditional N-Fab drop step style. It has a little grip plate for traction and they make a nice angle to the drop step so that if you do drag it across anything on the trail it will typically slide over. With these steps, you get a little bit of both functionality and form.
CHECK OUT THE N-FAB NERF SIDE STEPS (GLOSS BLACK) FOR THE 4-DOOR BRONCO HERE!
CHECK OUT THE N-FAB NERF SIDE STEPS (TEXTURED BLACK) FOR THE 4-DOOR BRONCO HERE!
ROAN RUNNING BOARDS
N-Fab also has introduced their Roan Running Boards. These are tough running boards that add an aggressive look to your Bronco. Constructed from 1.75” steel tubing with a fully-welded 12-gauge steel top plate, these Roan running boards surpass the functionality of conventional running boards and protection of armored side steps. These steps are designed to hold up to 475lbs and have large 5.5” wide steps for easy access into your Bronco in any condition. The Roan Running Boards are finished in a durable textured black powder coat finish to stand the test of time. The mounting system is adjustable for versatile fitment with stock or lifted vehicles and is easy to install.
CHECK OUT THE N-FAB ROAN RUNNING BOARDS FOR THE 4-DOOR BRONCO HERE!
TRAILSLIDER
The N-Fab TrailSliders are tough rock sliders that are designed to stand up to extreme offroad conditions. These steps are constructed of 3/16” heavy-gauge steel tubing and are finished in a durable textured black powder coat finish to stand the test of time. The compact mounting system greatly reduces the chance of snagging your sliders on the trail.
CHECK OUT THE N-FAB TRAILSLIDERS FOR THE 4-DOOR BRONCO HERE!
RKR RAILS WITH STEPS
The N-Fab RKR Step System is a versatile rail system featuring removable steps for additional functionality. The rail is constructed of 1.75” tubular steel with a textured black powder-coat finish. These steps are very similar in design to the Warn side steps.
CHECK OUT THE N-FAB RKR RAILS WITH STEPS FOR THE 4-DOOR BRONCO HERE!
ADDICTIVE DESERT DESIGNS
We also don’t have pricing on it but ADD made a very low-profile rock slider and we’re expecting in the future that they’ll make a step as well.
Fab Fours
Our friends over at Fab Fours didn’t release their product in time for SEMA, but we’ll expect to be able to be seeing steps and rock sliders from Fab Fours as well.
Dee Zee
Dee Zee brought a really unique product to the market. It is an actual rock slider, but it has a channel rail so that you can insert and position the steps all along that rail so you can put the steps anywhere you want them and then take them back off so that you have just a rock slider. This is a nice combination of both products. This system is made from steel and we don’t have pricing on this just yet.
ARB
ARB came to market with their rock slider and it has a really cool brushed metal insert that has their logo on it that looks fantastic and really matches their new bumper. This is intended to be a rock slider but the step does come out a little bit at an angle so you could probably put your foot on there and use it should you need to.
WARN
Warn has also come to market with a bunch of new bumpers for the Bronco and a complementary sidestep that has removable steps so it’s a rock slider and it has functional steps. When those functional steps are on, they sit at a pretty sharp angle so you wouldn’t want to catch those on anything accidentally on the trail.
GORHINO
GoRhino introduced their Vertex V3 oval-style aluminum bars. These are just steps and are not going to stand up to hitting anything on the trail and the brackets stick down pretty low. These steps actually cost $700 all total installed, and to be honest, we think that’s priced a little bit high for something that’s not going to take a beating on the trail.
GoRhino also introduced their Dominator Extreme DSS steps (Image to the left) which are steel and are meant to be a little bit more of an off-road-ready step. Those are only going to be about $530. We’re still not sure about whether or not they are a rock slider, but it is going to be a little tougher and remains a functional step.
In addition to these two steps, they have a large array of steps that you can get for your Bronco, but they are more of a cosmetic upgrade and don’t add a good deal of protection offroad.
ZROADZ
ZROADZ has launched their sliders for both the 2 and 4-door Broncos. They are made from heavy gauge steel so they are tough to stand up to trail use and have perforated steel plating on top to provide a nice wide stepping area. Although these are not listed as rock sliders, their steel construction and high-clearance design make them a solid option for offroad adventures. These steps are priced between $1,050 – $1,200 depending on whether you get the 2 or 4-door version.
CHECK OUT THE WESTIN HDX DROP STEPS FOR THE 4-DOOR BRONCO HERE!
CHECK OUT THE WESTIN HDX DROP STEPS FOR THE 2-DOOR BRONCO HERE!
WESTIN
Westin Automotive has introduced four different types of steps for the Bronco starting with their XDS Rock Sliders (Image to the left). Although these are just rock sliders, they do stick out about 2 – 2½ inches which can be just enough to put your toe on there as a slight functional step but it is primarily intended to be a rock slider. These sliders are made from steel so they are built to be tough to handle abuse on the trail.
Westin has also introduced their Outlaw tubular style steel steps which are 6-inch drop steps that have a rounded style so it has that nice clean look. Although it is mostly a fully functional step, it is made of steel so we would expect it to be pretty tough for moderate trail use.
Westin’s HDX Drop Steps (Image to the right) were also introduced which are made out of aluminum. They have a much more angular design and are meant to complement the design of the HDX front and rear bumpers. Since it is made from aluminum it will not be that tough, and with the pretty sharp edges, it is not the best option if you want a rock slider.
CHECK OUT THE WESTIN HDX DROP STEPS FOR THE 4-DOOR BRONCO HERE!
CHECK OUT THE WESTIN HDX DROP STEPS FOR THE 2-DOOR BRONCO HERE!
Lastly, they made their Grate Step. This is for those that find themselves in a lot of mud and want a proper running board. This is going to run the full length of the cab and has a nice 6-inch wide step that gives you a huge platform to step on but is not something you want to bang into anything on the trail with.
4WP
4WP Factory also introduced their combination tubular and sheet style to match their bumpers. This will function as a rock slider and a fully functional step though it doesn’t have the most ground clearance of some of the options that we’ve talked about. These will set you back between $800 – $900 for a set.
ARIES ACTIONTRAC
For those who like the idea of a powered retractable step but don’t need the Rock Slide Engineering rock slider features, check out the Aries Actiontrac. These are only going to set you back around $1,400 and have an 8-inch power-retractable drop step that moves quickly right when you open that door and retracts as soon as you close it. It is also tucked up and out of the way enough for light trail use.
CHECK OUT THE ARIES ACTIONTRAC RUNNING BOARDS FOR THE 4-DOOR BRONCO HERE!
EXPEDITION ONE
Expedition One has also introduced a really nice tubular style slider and step combination that is a fully functional step that can stand up to the punishment of the trail. It also features a really nice stainless steel tread plate that runs the length of the car and has a nice emblazoned logo.
BODYGUARD
Bodyguard has introduced their box-style slider and step which sits at a 25-degree angle so it serves as a rock slider but it’s also a functional step. It is designed to match their front and rear bumpers with that cool studded look. This is a solid bar that retails for around $1,250 which is pretty expensive for a non-powered step.
RTR
RTR has brought to the table their tubular designed slider which is similar in design to the Expedition One sliders. Their design allows them to be used as steps as well and also kick out for protection for the rear tire. They are available for both the 2-Door and 4-door Broncos and are priced around $1,550 making them the most expensive non-powered step on this list.
A few more honorable mentions came from brands like Baja Forged and DV8 Offroad, but we didn’t have any pricing information available for them yet.
All right, those are all of the steps and rock sliders you need to know about, hopefully, you found that helpful. Now that you have a good idea of the steps you might want for your Bronco, go ahead and check out our YouTube video where we dive into all of the front and rear bumper options for your Bronco! If you have questions about the products in this article you can reach us toll-free at 833.MOTOROSO or you can hit us up on live chat Motoroso.com. Thanks for reading!
