Luverne Grip Step review - With Photos

[ASD Dad]

I have a 2015 NVP 3500 SL.  I have 3 kids that are 10 yrs old and under and they can actually get in and out of my van just fine.  The issue is my parents and in-laws.  They are in their 70's and we have been carrying a small folding step stool for them to get in and out easier.  I have been avoiding running boards as I didnt want to lose too much ground clearance and I honestly didnt like many of the options we have.  Well my wife has wanted me to get a set for a while since my in-laws live next door and we see them constantly.  My van is used for all the family outings so I finally broke down and ordered a set.

 

I bought these - http://www.luvernetruck.com/category/360/Grip%20Step%207%22%20Running%20Boards

 

I got them from Amazon after searching the model numbers.  They will not just come up without the numbers on Amazon.  Many sites sell them but the best price I found was Amazon and they have Prime shipping and great return policy.  They were under $400 shipped.

 

They arrived well packed in two boxes.  One had the actual running boards and the other is the bracket and mounting hardware.  Since they are aluminum steps the long package was quite light.  The brackets are powder coated steel.  

 

So - first step - Throw Out the directions!  No seriously.  Do it.  Do it now and thank me later.  I would only use the directions to sort of get a general idea of how they mount and how the brackets work.  The rest of the steps and measurements were utter garbage.  You can quickly tell after you start laying things out how bad the directions really are.  

 

The big issue?  Well the directions and parts are new.  When they changed I am not sure but if you look at all the online directions (even at Luvernes site) they are different with different part numbers.  The actual parts list has different part numbers!  The original directions were dated from 2012.  The new parts and directions are dated 2017.  At some point they added three twisted steel braces to keep the steps from flexing.  The original directions and photos dont show them.  The 2017 parts list and directions do show them.  

 

Extra bracing is good, right?  They would be good if they remotely lined up correctly!  (remember the throw out the directions part?).  If you go off their measurements they work on the drivers side, one works on the passenger and the other is a foot off.  Not even close.  The issue here is the welded bolt/bar T-bolt they made that slides into the oval holes in our frame.  Well at one measurement there is no hole!  

 

Next issue - those welded bolts dont fit in the holes...  I had to grind off the corners to make them fit correctly.  

 

Next big issue - those nice new braces do Not line up correctly.  They were so far off I thought it I had the wrong parts.  Nope.  They all matched the parts list with the correct NV on it.  Back to the work bench to modify those to fit.  They are still not perfect but they are mounted and work.  

 

Next issue - since you have to drill all the holes (3 per bracket - one bolt through the pinch weld and two lag bolts into the body) and no factory pinch weld is straight it was fun to get everything leveled up.  First time I clamped things to the weld I was 1" off from end to end!  You dont have much wiggle room due to the pinch weld being narrow.  (On my past trucks the bars bolted to factory mounting points or existing bolts/studs, it was very easy to line up).

 

So after I figured all that out to begin with I got a plan going and got everything mounted and level within 1/8" end to end.  The biggest issue was those new support braces being so comically off in alignment.  Those braces DO work well so I wanted them but they were a giant pain.  I would have called Luverne but it was the weekend and they were closed.  I need these boards for Thanksgiving so just made it work on my own.

 

After all that, am I happy?  Overall I honestly think I am happy with how they turned out even all that mess.  I am not sure I would buy them again but there was nothing else I liked off the shelf.  The actual steps and brackets are well made.  They are very grippy which I wanted.  They dont flex much even under my father-in-laws weight (he was a football linebacker in college - big guy!).  They do flex a little but nothing concerning.  The steps will never rust but the brackets and hardware may rust eventually.  I did lose ground clearance of course but that would happen with most running boards other than retractables or something like a modified N-Fab that was tucked up against the body.

 

I may go back and weld in some other braces since I like how they work.  I can just weld them to the frame vs. making a T bolt.  I would have welded in the wonky Luverne pieces but I have to use a friends welder and I didnt want to drive over there and bug him to borrow it.  

 

I will post photos of them mounted up.  I had to go back and realign the drivers side today so didnt take photos yet.

Edited November 21, 2017 by ASD Dad

[Mark Rogers]

Those look pretty similar to the Steelcraft running boards I bought.  The Steelcraft version was much cheaper (just under $200 new on ebay), but they're steel so I expect them to rust someday.

 

The Steelcraft boards use similar T-bolts, but not just three of them.  Instead, they use T-bolts for all of the connections to the vehicle, so there's no drilling required.  Most of them fit just fine, but a few needed some gentle persuasion from a rubber mallet.

 

I like the look of the brackets on Luverne's instruction sheet.  I especially like that there are a couple of support brackets that connect the main brackets to the frame, so they're not just hanging on the rocker panels.  I bet that helps with flexing.

 

The Steelcraft running boards only attach to the rocker panels.  There is some flexing, but not much.  The outside edge of the board sags close to half an inch with a nearly 300 pound load, compared to putting the same load on the step above the running board.  The rear half of the passenger side running board used to flex a lot, but then I convinced Steelcraft to send me an additional mounting bracket for that side.  It made a huge difference!  I'm hoping they update their mounting hardware so future buyers don't run into this problem.

 

For comparison, here are the installation instructions for each one.  Although, it sounds like you should listen to ASD Dad about the Luverne instructiions.

• Luverne: https://assets.curtmfg.com/masterlibrary/01LUVERNE/415100-401164/installsheet/415100-401164.pdf
• Steelcraft: http://steelcraftautomotive.com/guides/600-41300.pdf

I haven't tried the Luverne running boards, so I can't say which one is better.  Steelcraft is nice in that it's cheap and easy.  But the Luverne version looks like it might be better engineered overall.  I wish I could do a side-by-side comparison.

[ASD Dad]

Added some quick photos.  I may add some more later, the van is filthy right now!

[iowarhino]

Has anyone tried to put on running/step boards that fit the Nissan Titan or just gone by length and installed custom ones?    I dont like most of the options for NV 3500, and want something that is full length on both sides and not just the passenger side.   Have a 2015 NV 3500 SL

Edited May 14, 2018 by iowarhino