ARIES

ARIES has been building truck access and protection accessories since 1997, and today operates as a Lippert brand alongside CURT, LUVERNE, and UWS. That corporate backing matters in a category where fitment is everything: ARIES engineers every product to a specific year, make, model, and cab configuration, which is what makes a no-drill, bolt-on install possible on a lineup spanning Chevrolet, GMC, Ford, RAM, Dodge, Toyota, and Nissan trucks from the late 1990s through current model years.

For the working truck, ARIES covers the three things that actually wear out or get hit. Running boards and steps take the daily abuse of crews climbing in and out with tools and wet boots. Grille guards and bull bars absorb the parking lot bumps, brush, and low-speed contact that would otherwise mean a bumper cover and a headlight assembly. Headache racks keep pipe, lumber, and unsecured cargo out of the back window. ARIES builds all three in matched design families, so a truck can run a coordinated package instead of three brands that don't quite line up.

Construction is consistent across the steel lines: high-strength carbon steel with a dual-layer E-coat under the powder coat, which is the detail that separates a finish that lasts from one that bubbles at the weld after two Michigan winters. The aluminum lines run extruded or powder-coated aluminum for weight savings and true rust immunity, and the stainless lines use 304 stainless, high in nickel and genuinely corrosion-resistant rather than just shiny. Most running board families share the VersaTrac mounting system, so brackets and boards can be mixed, replaced, or moved to a different truck without starting over.

Everything ARIES manufactures carries a limited lifetime warranty on workmanship and materials, with parts and finish coverage that varies by material — more details are in the FAQ below.

ARIES Running Boards & Steps

This is the deepest part of the ARIES catalog, and the lines differ by width, material, and tread — which matters more than it sounds when the crew is stepping up with wet boots five times an hour.

ActionTrac powered running boards are the flagship. They deploy automatically when the door opens and retract when it closes, and the patented step-within-a-step design gives two steps in one — an 8-inch drop on deployment, extending up to 15 inches below the doorsill. That's the difference between a step and an actual climb on a lifted or HD truck. The integrated control module detects obstructions to eliminate pinch hazards and provides illumination in low light, the powder-coated aluminum construction is weatherproof, and single rotary motors keep operation quiet. Install is no-drill and no-splice on most applications using vehicle-specific brackets and existing body holes. Available in 69.6-inch, 83.6-inch, and 87.6-inch lengths, with board-only versions for replacements and universal brackets for custom fabrication.

NovaTrac is the 6-inch OE-style board in polished 304 stainless steel — the widest step in the lineup and the one that reads closest to factory. Extra-wide non-skid step pads, durable TPO plastic end caps, and a finish that resists rust without a coating to fail.

AdvantEDGE runs a distinctive eight-sided extruded aluminum tube profile in 5-1/2-inch width, with stamped aluminum treads that won't crack or fade and die-cast aluminum end caps. It's the line built to coordinate — AdvantEDGE running boards, side bars, bull bars, and headache racks are all designed to match on the same truck.

RidgeStep is the all-steel 6-1/2-inch board with no plastic parts anywhere. Angular design, stamped steel treads that won't wear or crack, welded steel end caps, and a textured black powder coat that hides minor scratches and grime — which is the honest argument for textured finish on a work truck.

AscentStep takes a teardrop profile in carbon steel with an aggressive integrated step: polyethylene tread raised through a stainless steel overlay, so the grip surface and the corrosion resistance are handled separately.

SlimGrip is the 5-inch aluminum board with expanded metal treads. The open tread is the point — it knocks dirt and snow off boots on the way up instead of carrying it into the cab, and it doesn't hold standing water or ice. Angular end caps, powder-coated aluminum, lightweight and rust-free.

Nerf bars and side steps cover the tube-style options: 3-inch round and 4-inch oval, in black steel, black stainless, and polished stainless. The oval bars use 20-degree bends to contour to the body line, with seamless welded end caps and raised non-skid step pads.

VersaTrac brackets are sold separately across the lines, which is how a shop replaces a bent board without replacing the mounting hardware — or moves a set of boards to a new truck.

ARIES Grille Guards & Bull Bars

Pro Series grille guards are the standout. A patented crossbar houses a single-row LED light bar behind an interchangeable cover plate, which protects the light from theft and the elements while letting the look be customized. The light runs Grade-A Cree chips at 14,800 lumens in a combo beam pattern, in a waterproof aluminum housing with an IP68-rated breather and a waterproof wiring harness, on an articulating bracket so the aim can be set. The guard itself is one-piece 1.5-inch heavy-wall steel tubing in textured black powder coat.

Standard grille guards use the same one-piece 1.5-inch heavy-wall tube design in either high-strength carbon steel with dual-layer E-coat and semi-gloss black powder coat, or polished 304 stainless. Both include removable headlight cages, two pre-drilled crossbar holes for mounting LED light bars or work lights, and vertical rubber stripping along the risers so the guard doesn't scuff the truck it's protecting.

Bull bars are the lighter-footprint option at 2.5-inch and 3-inch tube diameters in black steel or polished stainless — center-section protection without the full grille and headlight coverage.

ARIES Headache Racks

Classic is the heavy-duty steel rack: 1-inch x 2-inch steel tube frame, fully louvered center section that protects the cab and blocks direct sunlight to keep the interior cooler, and a dual-layer E-coat plus black powder coat finish. Flat steel brackets bolt to the bed walls, and it's designed to clear most crossover truck tool boxes — worth confirming against your specific box before ordering.

Switchback is the aluminum alternative, and it solves problems the Classic doesn't. The full-width slotted top edge accepts LED lights anywhere along its length (three 10-inch bars is the recommended setup), the patented stake pocket mounting system installs without drilling the bed rails, and the stamped aluminum octagonal center section is removable for rear window access. It ships as a three-piece knockdown that bolts together with Grade-8 hardware, which cuts shipping cost and makes it manageable for a one-person install.

AdvantEDGE headache racks match the AdvantEDGE running board and bull bar profile for trucks running the full package.

ARIES LED Lighting

Single-row LED light bars in 10-inch, 20-inch, and 30-inch lengths plus a 50-inch double-row, each with a matching cover for protection and a cleaner look when the lights are off. Also 2-inch flush-mount and square cube LEDs for tight mounting locations, replacement extension harnesses, and mounting brackets for headache racks, hoods, and base-mount light bar installs.

ARIES Seat Defender

Thermoplastic rubber seat covers in bucket and bench sizes, which is the practical answer to a crew getting into a truck in work clothes. Dual-sided non-skid, woven 600-denier terylene that blocks spills and dirt, fully waterproof and machine washable. Designed to allow side airbag deployment and maintain seat belt access, and fast enough to install, remove, and store that it actually gets used.

ARIES FAQ SECTION

Where are ARIES products made?

ARIES operates as a Lippert brand, with warranty service administered by Lippert Components, Inc. out of Elkhart, Indiana. ARIES does not publish a blanket country-of-origin claim across its catalog, and manufacturing location varies by product line. If country of manufacture is a requirement for your fleet or purchasing specs, contact us before ordering and we'll verify on the specific part number.

What does the ARIES limited lifetime warranty actually cover?

Workmanship and materials are covered for the lifetime of the product across the ARIES line. Parts and finish coverage are shorter and depend on what the product is made of. Powder coat over carbon steel carries 3 years on finish and 1 year on parts. Aluminum products and powder coat over stainless carry 5 years on finish, 1 year on parts. Polished stainless carries a lifetime finish warranty with 1 year on parts. ActionTrac powered running boards get 5 years on finish and 3 years on parts, reflecting the electronics. LED lights carry 3 years on finish, 1 year on parts, and accessories like the Seat Defender carry 1 year on both.

Coverage applies to the original retail purchaser and the original installation, and it is not transferable.

Do ARIES products require drilling to install?

Most don't. ARIES engineers its running boards, grille guards, bull bars, and nerf bars as no-drill, vehicle-specific applications that mount to existing holes in the frame or body using model-specific brackets. ActionTrac powered boards are also no-splice on most applications, using a wiring harness that plugs in rather than cutting into vehicle wiring.

The main exception is the Classic headache rack, which uses flat steel brackets that bolt onto the bed walls and may require drilling. The Switchback headache rack avoids this with a patented stake pocket mounting system. Check the fitment notes on the individual product listing before you order.

What's the difference between the ARIES running board lines?

Width, material, and tread surface. ActionTrac is powered and retractable with a two-step design, best for lifted or HD trucks where the step height is a real problem. NovaTrac is the widest at 6 inches in polished stainless, closest to an OE look. RidgeStep is 6-1/2 inches of all-steel with no plastic anywhere. AdvantEDGE is 5-1/2-inch aluminum with an eight-sided profile and a matching family of bull bars and racks. AscentStep uses a teardrop steel profile with poly tread through a stainless overlay. SlimGrip is 5-inch aluminum with expanded metal tread that knocks mud and snow off boots. Nerf bars are the round and oval tube options at 3 and 4 inches.

If the truck is lifted, start with ActionTrac. If the crew works in mud and snow, SlimGrip. If you want the widest, most comfortable step, NovaTrac or RidgeStep. If you're building a matched package across boards, bull bar, and headache rack, AdvantEDGE.

Should I choose steel, aluminum, or stainless?

Steel is the most common and the most cost-effective, and ARIES protects it with a dual-layer E-coat under the powder coat for corrosion resistance. It's the most dent-resistant of the three and the practical default for a work truck. Aluminum is lighter and inherently rust-free, which matters on trucks already at the payload margin or running in heavy road salt. Polished 304 stainless is the premium finish option — genuinely corrosion-resistant with a mirror finish, and it carries a lifetime finish warranty, though it shows water spots and road film more readily than textured black.

Can I move ARIES running boards to a different truck?

Often yes, and this is where the VersaTrac mounting system helps. The boards and the brackets are separate parts, so if the board length matches the new truck's cab configuration, you may only need a new bracket kit rather than a complete set. We stock brackets separately and can confirm whether your boards will carry over — send us the board part number and the new truck's year, make, model, and cab.

What's the difference between a grille guard, a bull bar, and a brush guard?

A grille guard covers the full front end — grille, headlights, and the area between — usually with removable headlight cages and a crossbar. A bull bar is a smaller center-section bar that protects the grille and lower fascia without covering the headlights, and it's lighter and less visually aggressive. ARIES offers grille guards in standard and Pro Series configurations, and bull bars at 2.5-inch and 3-inch tube diameters. If you're mounting auxiliary lighting, the Pro Series grille guard is purpose-built for it with an integrated, protected LED light bar housing.

Upfit Supply is an authorized ARIES dealer — browse by product category below or jump directly to what you need.