Have you found them useful enough to advise your buddies to install on THEIR new truck?

Nope. The ones I have had in the past rusted quickly and collected mud and snow.

While I don't have a p/u anymore, I have some on my suv and they are great. I also wanted them to help protect the sides of my vehicle.

Was happy with the OE boards on my '16 F150. Especially with kids.

They're $$$ but the NFab boards look quite nice.

Never have been a big fan of most power retractable boards, always hit my shins on them.

Depends on what you want to use them for. Typical "running boards" are a step at best, decoration at worst. If you want something for protection, particularly off-road, look into sliders. Much beefier, attach directly to frame, no steps or hoops to hang up, and are designed to take the whole weight of the truck (well, at least the side of the truck in question) and "slide" them over rocks.

I have 3 small boys and a dog they are an absolute must. I have Toyota factory boards on my Tundra but they are being replaced with slider steps that bolt to the frame and not the pinch welds so they can take rock hits and protect my rocker panels from damage.

https://sleeoffroad.com/products/sok1241/

You have to buy quality no matter which type you go with or as Yooper pointed out they’ll rust to crap quickly.

I have had Westin tube style nerf bars on my Silverado for 20 years now and they are not rusted.

My wife is vertically challenged, she finds the running boards on my new Jeep Gladiator very helpful for her entry. I find it useless, and just step over it, I do like the look.

They help to protect your rocker panels from rusting out. So, yes, I would recommend them.

No. But I am finding them more useful as the trucks are getting taller and taller. I'm 6' 2" and have to hop up in these new Silverado HD's, using the "oh shit" handle and whatever else I can grab

All depends.

I have an older Sport Trac, with OEM running boards bolted to the frane. Not RV tough, but sturdy. Thet are helpful. My elderly mother finds them necessary to get into the truck.

I Find them useful as a step ehen washing and waxing the roof.

NFabs on my Tundra (for my wife, mostly). I'd have AMPs if I were made of money.

Frame mounted sliders if you go off road in any rugged terrain. If you stay on groomed roads, then whatever suits you fancy.

Yes. I had factory OE on my 2019 Tundra which was nice. But I took them off and installed Go Rhino brand which actually help. They help me get up in the truck that reduces the wear and tear on the side of the seat. They also help me clean the top of the cab an the windshield.

As a mechanic I HATE THEM. THey make it a PITA to rack and lift a truck. You have to be careful that the lift contacts the frame BEFORE it contacts the running boards. Sometimes the mount brackets are placed JUST RIGHT to get in the way of the lift arm. We've had a few occasions that it was so much of a PITA to rack a truck we used the alignment rack drive on platform to do oil changes. The general services kids will use a floor jack to do tires.

Other than that, meh, they're ok.

I have the OEM ones on my 2010 F150 and they are a great addition. I'm 5'6" and my wife 5'5" and getting in and out without them would be much less easy.

I have the standard ones on my escalade. The auto uppy downie ones are a bit lower to the ground and make using them easier. I wish I had installed them. Next truck 100% yes on the auto boards

I have them on both my '18 F-150 and my '19 Honda Passport. I'm short and old. I like the convenience of that extra step. My Ford running boards are powered and hide mud and stuff. I have to remember to manually power them out for a carwash.

We got Havoc HS2 which are powder coated stainless. I like them but now I’d like a 2” lift. The wife really wanted them because the truck sits so high. They are a sister company to N-Fab.

https://havocoffroad.com/p/hav...s2-black-hoop-steps/

I removed the ones that came on full size truck bought back in '17. I use my truck a lot for work and load/unload regularly. If you use a truck a lot for work climbing in and out becomes wasted time and effort.

Ended up lowering rear of truck r/r shackle with smaller and removing axle spacer so that with my height it easier to get in/out of cab and bed.

Running boards are really just in the way when your over a certain height. Unless of course you have a jack/lifted truck.

Westin oval tube nerf bar type, powder coated black on our Ram 1500 crew cab. 7 years old; still look perfect.