Best Electric Running Boards: AMP PowerStep Lineup vs Go Rhino VoltStep

How we made this guide: picks and specs come from our catalog and fitment data, owner quotes come from verified reviews and the guide was drafted with AI help, then checked and edited by Trevor Hall.

The best electric running boards for most trucks are the AMP Research PowerStep (an F-150 set from $1,599.99), the Go Rhino VoltStep for less on the same truck (F-150 from $1,399.99) and the PowerStep Xtreme (F-150 from $2,199.99) for snow, ice and mud. The PowerStep is the safe default: it has 872 owner ratings averaging 4.7 and is listed under 15 truck lines.

Choose the PowerStep XL (from $2,299.99) for a lifted truck, the Smart Series (from $1,949.99) to run the boards from your phone and the Vision (from $2,099.99) for a full-length LED strip. On the 15 truck lines in our fit table, a set runs from $1,399.99 to $2,299.99 before install. All six carry a five-year limited warranty: AMP lists it in every PowerStep spec table and Go Rhino on its VoltStep listings.

From is the starting price of the board across all vehicles; the F-150 column is what that truck pays.

How electric running boards work

An electric running board waits folded under the rocker panel. When a door opens, a controller powers the motors and the board swings down and out; when the doors close, it tucks back under the body.

The door signal reaches the controller in one of three ways. Plug-and-play AMP kits read it through a module in the OBD-II port, hard-wire kits splice into the truck's wiring and the VoltStep uses a wired magnetic sensor on each door jamb.

How we picked

We did not bench-test these boards. The picks rest on spec tables, prices, fit lists and owner reviews: six series from two makers, 1,214 owner ratings and 542 written reviews on file. Every pick gets honest cons.

Which electric running boards fit your truck

Fit is set by truck, cab and sometimes engine, so start with your truck line.

Each row lists the boards on that truck line's page on our site. The VoltStep's own fit table also names Silverado and Sierra 1500 kits, but none is on our 1500 pages yet, so run Check fit on its card with your year and cab before you order. The XL, Vision and VoltStep parts we list for the F-150 are SuperCrew only, the XL and Vision parts for the Silverado 1500 are crew cab only, and the Vision has separate F-150 parts for trucks with and without the 3.5L PowerBoost.

Best overall: AMP Research PowerStep

The AMP Research PowerStep is the base model of the line. Its spec table lists one Brose motor per side, a board that stops if something blocks it and mounting to the pinch weld. Plug-and-play kits are offered on many applications.

“Great steps and the quality is very good! Installation was easy.”

AMP Research PowerStep Running Boards owner · 5 out of 5 stars

A 2025 F-150 PowerBoost owner reports the plug-and-play module did not work with the truck's OBD-II port. PowerStep parts for the F-150 are split by PowerBoost and other engines, so pick the one for yours.

Skip it if your truck is lifted, your winters are hard or you want phone control. The XL, Xtreme and Smart Series each cover one of those.

Best lower-priced pick: Go Rhino VoltStep

Of the six boards here, the Go Rhino VoltStep is the only one not made by AMP Research. It is listed under 10 truck lines and costs less than the PowerStep on each: an F-150 starts at $1,399.99 against $1,599.99, and a Colorado at $1,399.99 against $1,849.99.

Go Rhino builds it with two motors per board and lists a five-year limited warranty, the same term AMP gives the PowerStep line. One owner adds that lights on each side illuminate the step when it is down. A wired magnetic sensor on each door jamb triggers the boards, and an interior bypass switch turns the automatic function off for a car wash or while loading cargo.

“The running boards look great and function as they should, but unfortunately they have developed a noticeable rattling/vibrating noise when they retract.”

Go Rhino VoltStep Electric Running Boards owner · 3 out of 5 stars

Skip it if you want phone control or a full-length light strip.

Best for snow, ice and mud: PowerStep Xtreme

The Xtreme is the dual-motor PowerStep. Its spec table adds integrated LED convenience lighting and an optional override switch.

A second motor adds torque but does not make the linkage immune to packed ice or salt, so cleaning stays part of owning a set.

“It was a relatively painless process that even I could do. The 2 motors on each side is the way to go! Tucks under the body perfectly.”

AMP Research PowerStep Xtreme Running Boards owner · 5 out of 5 stars

One reviewer found that the linkages and motors come as matched pairs, which the instructions do not say. A 2-star reviewer opened the box to find the wrong driver's-side linkages and motors.

Skip it if your truck rarely sees ice, snow or mud; the standard PowerStep does the same job for less. On every truck line where both fit, the VoltStep also drives each board with two motors, which Go Rhino specifies for snow and slush, and costs less.

Best for lifted trucks: PowerStep XL

AMP builds the XL to deploy up to 3 inches lower than the standard PowerStep, and its Jeep parts are named for a smaller 1.5-inch drop, so check the listing for your truck. The spec table adds a single-motor drive, integrated LED step lighting and an override switch sold separately.

At factory ride height the extra drop can put the step lower than you need. Several listings also note that factory rock rails must come off first.

“Also it needs 3 brackets not just two, it wobbles when you step on it. Not a lot but it should be more sturdy.”

AMP Research PowerStep XL Running Boards owner · 3 out of 5 stars

That reviewer fitted it to a Ram 2500 and found no directions for that model. A 2-star reviewer says the sensors can let a board close on a hand or foot.

Skip it if your truck sits at factory height. The standard PowerStep is the better match.

Best with phone control: PowerStep Smart Series

The Smart Series works like any PowerStep, but the AMP Research app on iOS or Android can also send the boards out or bring them in. That lets you hold them out while you load cargo or wash the truck.

It is listed under 8 truck lines, the fewest of the six. Its 24 ratings average 4.8 and none is below four stars, but that is a small pool next to the PowerStep's 872.

“As other reviews have stated, they look great. The install was fairly straight forward.”

AMP Research PowerStep Smart Series Running Boards owner · 4 out of 5 stars

The same reviewer's boards retracted when a door opened and extended when it closed until the motor wires were flipped. XL and Vision reviews describe the same wrong-way motion, so test every door when the install is done.

Skip it if automatic door operation is enough. The app is the one thing this model adds.

Best lighting: PowerStep Vision

The Vision's spec table lists a full-length LED Glow Light plus LED courtesy lights, control through the Smart Series app and a single-motor drive. Our product page says the strip lights the step fully when a board deploys and dims to an accent glow when it retracts. With the standard PowerStep, it is one of two AMP models we carry for the Ranger.

Owners give it 4.6 across 18 ratings, the lowest average and the smallest pool of the six.

“App is working for all functions and color options are all working great.”

AMP Research PowerStep Vision Running Boards owner · 5 out of 5 stars

A 3-star owner disagrees: the app proved unreliable, with intermittent connectivity.

Skip it if step lights are enough: every board here has them. The Smart Series gives you the app for less, and the standard PowerStep gives you the board for less again.

Are electric running boards worth it?

Yes if the climb into the cab is the problem. Across the 1,214 ratings for the six boards, 1,002 are five stars and 35 are one or two stars. One XL reviewer says their wife and kids had difficulty getting in and out before the boards and none after. The catch is cost and a half day or more of install.

These are keyword counts, not failure rates. A motor mention can be praise, a wiring tip or a complaint.

Care and lifespan

Winter is where upkeep matters. Salt, slush and ice can pack the pivots and slow a board, and cleaning them is owner upkeep, not a warranty claim. If a board stalls, our AMP PowerStep troubleshooting guide covers the reset and the fixes in order.

How electric running boards install

Plan for a half day or more. Our product pages cite 2 to 5 hours from AMP's installation guides (3 to 5 for the XL), and the PowerStep spec table recommends a professional install. Owners report a wide spread: 3 to 4 hours on one Xtreme, about a day and a half on a Jeep and about 10 hours for a Vision on a 2025 Ranger.

The work is electrical even on plug-and-play kits. Our pages note that the guides join the harness with crimp or Posi-style connectors and, on some trucks, tap a factory wire or run a lead to the battery. Many applications call for drilling in the pinch weld or floor. The VoltStep adds door-sensor wiring behind the trim.

“The worst part is running the wires for the door sensors under the flooring. If you are thinking of doing sound damping mats, or replacing the flooring, you might want to do this then, it would be much easier with the floor out.”

Go Rhino VoltStep Electric Running Boards owner · 5 out of 5 stars

Test every door before you close up the trim. One PowerStep owner also needed an inch-pound torque wrench as well as a foot-pound one.

Electric boards vs fixed boards, nerf bars and rock sliders

Powered boards retract, which keeps the side of the truck clean, but they cost far more than fixed steps. In our range, fixed running boards and steps start under $200 and top out under $700. Nerf step bars start under $500 and top out under $800. The one rock slider series stays under $700. If rocker protection matters more than a retracting step, our guide to running boards vs nerf bars vs rock sliders shows which fixed option fits how you use your truck.

Frequently asked questions

Who makes the best electric running boards?

By the data in our range, AMP Research. It makes five of the six boards we carry, and its PowerStep has 872 ratings averaging 4.7, far more than any other board here. Go Rhino makes the sixth, the VoltStep, which averages 4.8 across 81 ratings and costs less than the PowerStep on every truck line they share.

Are electric running boards worth it?

Yes for a tall or lifted truck, or when passengers struggle to climb in; less so if nobody needs the help. All six boards average 4.6 or higher, and 1,002 of 1,214 ratings are five stars. If nobody needs a step that retracts, a fixed board costs far less.

Which brand of running board is the most durable?

Our data cannot rank durability, but it gives two clues. Both brands list a five-year limited warranty: AMP on all five PowerStep models and Go Rhino on the VoltStep. A keyword check of the 542 reviews on file for rust and paint finds 2, one on an XL hinge bushing and one on VoltStep paint.

Do electric running boards work in snow and road salt?

Yes, if you keep salt and slush out of the linkages. The Xtreme adds a second motor for extra push, though it does not make the linkage immune to build-up. The VoltStep also drives each board with two motors, which Go Rhino specifies for snow and slush.

Can I install electric running boards myself?

You can, but it is experienced-level electrical work, often with drilling. The PowerStep spec table recommends a professional install. Owners report 3 to 10 hours or more.

Do electric running boards fit every truck?

No. Each kit is built for one vehicle, cab and sometimes engine, so confirm the year, cab and engine before you buy, especially if you are shopping for someone else's truck this season. Use Check fit on the product card for your exact truck.

How much do electric running boards cost?

On the truck lines we list they run from about $1,400 to $2,300 a set. The VoltStep is the lowest entry at $1,399.99 on its 10 truck lines, the PowerStep starts at $1,599.99 on an F-150 and the XL is the highest at $2,299.99. Installation is extra, and AMP's warranty does not cover labor to remove or refit a part.

Related guides

• AMP Research PowerStep Problems: Causes, Fixes and How to Reset
• Running Boards vs Nerf Bars vs Rock Sliders: Which Step Fits How You Use Your Truck