RealTruck AMP Research PowerStepXTreme Retractable Electric Truck Steps with LED Step Lights & Dual Motors | Fits 2022 - 2026 Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra 1500/2500/3500HD | 78255-01A

Why it's worth it

The PowerStep Xtreme swings a 6-inch aluminum board out from under the rocker panel when you open a door, then tucks it away when you close it. You get a wide, lit step for passengers and full ground clearance the rest of the time.

This is the only kind of step that doesn't force a trade-off. Fixed boards make you choose: hang low enough to be an easy step, or tuck up high enough to clear a rut. The PowerStep does both. AMP Research rates the board for 600 pounds and spec's it at 6 inches wide, cab-length, so there's room for a full boot instead of a toe. When the door shuts, it folds back under the rocker and you're driving a truck with stock clearance again.

If you bought a truck to take people places, this is the pick. A 6-inch step that drops several inches lower than any fixed board is the difference between a grandparent getting in unassisted and needing a hand. Owner surveys back this up — most buyers who go electric say easier entry for passengers was the reason, not clearance. The onboard LED strip helps too, since most of these steps get used in a dark driveway.

From our review of 8 truck nerf bars and running boards, by Ben Carter, Tech Editor

What we like

• +This is the only kind of step that doesn't force a trade-off
• +If you bought a truck to take people places, this is the pick
• +The finish is built for salt country
• +Installation is the part to plan for

What to know

• –The recurring complaint isn't the product, it's what shows up in the box
• –Some longtime AMP buyers say quality slipped after the brand consolidated under RealTruck
• –It's the heaviest and most expensive thing here by a wide margin, and it fits a narrow band of trucks — 2022 and newer Silverado…