Next Level Performance
September 26, 2026 • 10 min read
Our Verdict
The AMP Research PowerStep XL is the best electric running board for the 2019–2024 Ram 1500 in winter, dropping 4 inches lower than a standard step so you can climb into a snow-covered cab without a slip.
All four boards here auto-deploy when you open the door and retract flush when you close it, keeping the step clear of ice, salt and slush. Choose the PowerStep XL for lifted Rams, the Go Rhino E-Board E1 for its 6-inch dual-motor board, or the RealTruck VoltStep to go electric on a budget.
Shop Our Top Pick →Electric running boards for the 2019–2024 Ram 1500 solve a problem every winter owner knows: a fixed side step becomes an ice-and-salt ledge that you either scrape your shins on or avoid entirely. Powered steps deploy only when you open the door, then tuck back up out of the weather — so the stepping surface stays cleaner and the truck keeps its running clearance for deep snow and off-road use. At NLP Performance in Tampa, FL, these are the four powered boards our customers cross-shop most for the DT-generation Ram 1500 (and its Rebel, Laramie, Limited and TRX trims), spanning roughly the $1,500–$2,300 range.
Why Do Electric Running Boards Matter in Winter?
Electric running boards matter in winter because they retract out of the salt spray and snow pack when you are not using them, then present a clean, drop-down step exactly when you climb in. A static nerf bar or fixed board sits in the slush all day, collecting a glaze of refrozen melt and road brine that turns the step into a hazard. A powered board is stowed against the rocker while you drive, so it accumulates far less ice, and it deploys in about a second once the door opens.
There is also a clearance argument. A lifted or off-road Ram 1500 — think Rebel or TRX on 33s and 35s — loses approach and break-over angle to a low fixed step. Because a powered board folds up flush, it never hangs down into a snowbank, a rutted trailhead or a curb of plowed ice. You get the easy entry of a low step and the ground clearance of no step at all. For families loading kids, gear and ski bags in a Tampa cold snap or a Colorado ski trip, that combination is the whole point.
How We Compared These Ram 1500 Power Boards
We ranked these four boards on the five factors that decide a winter purchase: per-side load rating (can it hold a boot-heavy adult with a fully loaded arm), step geometry (how low and how wide the board drops), motor and weather sealing (does it survive salt and cold), installation (plug-and-play versus wiring), and warranty. Price is the tiebreaker. Every board below is a genuine electric, auto-deploying unit — not a fixed board — and every one fits the 2019–2024 Ram 1500, with cab-specific kits for Crew Cab and Quad Cab configurations.
Three of the four carry a 600-pound per-side load rating, which is the number to look for; the value pick trades some of that capacity for a lower price. Two are AMP Research (the category’s original PowerStep), and two come from Go Rhino’s electric line (the premium E-Board E1 and the wallet-friendly RealTruck VoltStep). Here is how each one stacks up.
AMP Research PowerStep XL: Best Overall for Lifted Rams
The AMP Research PowerStep XL is our top pick because it drops up to 4 inches lower than a standard PowerStep, which is exactly what a lifted 2019–2024 Ram 1500 needs to stay easy to enter in winter boots. It is built entirely from die-cast aluminum, carries a 600-pound per-side load rating, and includes OEM-style LED ground illumination so you can see an icy step in the dark. The OBDII plug-and-play module reads door status straight from the diagnostic bus, so there is no cutting into factory wiring.
Key Specifications
What We Like
- + Drops 4 inches lower than a standard board — ideal for lifted Rebel and TRX builds
- + 600 lb per-side capacity in die-cast aluminum
- + OBDII plug-and-play; no factory wiring is cut
- + OEM-style LED lights the step on dark winter mornings
Things to Consider
- – Highest price of the group
- – This Crew Cab kit fits 2019–2022; confirm your cab and year at checkout
The PowerStep XL deploys on door-open and drops 4 inches lower than a standard step.
Go Rhino E-Board E1: Widest Board and Dual Motors
The Go Rhino E-Board E1 is the pick if you want the widest, most planted step, thanks to a 6-inch-wide anti-slip aluminum board driven by dual motors on each side for reliable cold-climate operation. It also carries a 600-pound per-side rating, adds integrated LED lighting, and installs no-drill on the 2019–2024 Ram 1500 Quad Cab. The textured bedliner-style coating shrugs off salt and grit better than a smooth paint finish, and it is currently discounted from a $2,924.99 list price.
What We Like
- + Wide 6-inch anti-slip board for a secure winter foothold
- + Dual motors per side rated for extreme-climate cycling
- + 600 lb per-side load rating; no-drill install
- + Textured bedliner coating resists salt and abrasion
Things to Consider
- – Quad Cab-specific fit — verify your cab style
- – Heaviest kit in the group at roughly 55 lb per board
AMP Research PowerStep (Plug N Play): Best Value in a Proven Design
The standard AMP Research PowerStep is the best value in a time-tested design, delivering the same 600-pound capacity and under-one-second deployment as the XL without the extra 4-inch drop — the right call for a stock-height Ram 1500. It uses anodized, Teflon-coated die-cast aluminum linkage arms and zero-maintenance stainless-steel pivot pins, and its controller uses pressure-sensitive obstruction detection that instantly reverses the motor if a boot or snowbank blocks the step. This All-Cabs plug-and-play kit fits 2019–2022 Ram 1500 and includes OEM-style illumination.
What We Like
- + Same 600 lb capacity and sub-1-second deploy as the XL
- + Pressure-sensitive obstruction sensing reverses on contact
- + Anodized, Teflon-coated linkage and stainless pivot pins fight corrosion
- + About $450 less than the XL
Things to Consider
- – No extra 4-inch drop — less ideal for tall lifted trucks
- – Motorized system costs more than a fixed board
AMP’s die-cast linkage and sealed motor are engineered for salt and cold.
RealTruck VoltStep: The Budget Way Into Electric Steps
The RealTruck VoltStep is the budget way to get a genuine electric step on a 2019–2024 Ram 1500, undercutting the premium boards by hundreds of dollars while keeping the features that matter in winter. It has a 6-inch anti-slip aluminum board, a dual-motor system for cold-weather reliability, integrated LEDs and an automatic safety stop. Its clever trick is magnetically activated door switches, which leave your OBDII port free for other accessories. The trade-off is a lower 300-pound per-side stepping rating, and it is on sale from $1,949.99.
What We Like
- + Lowest price for a true auto-deploy electric board
- + 6-inch anti-slip board with integrated LEDs
- + Magnetic door switches leave the OBDII port open
- + Dual motors plus an automatic safety stop
Things to Consider
- – 300 lb per-side rating — half the premium boards’ capacity
- – Crew Cab-specific fit; confirm before ordering
The VoltStep retracts flush against the rocker, shedding snow and salt between stops.
Ram 1500 Electric Running Board Comparison
Here is the head-to-head on the four factors that decide a winter buy — per-side load rating, the standout feature, warranty and price. Every product name and price links to its page, where prices and any active promotions update live.
| Kit | Load / Side | Standout Feature | Warranty | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMP Research PowerStep XLTop Pick | 600 lb | Drops 4 in lower (lifted trucks) | 5 yr / 60k mi | $2,299.99 |
| Go Rhino E-Board E1 | 600 lb | 6 in board, dual motors | Limited lifetime | $2,249.99 |
| AMP Research PowerStep (Plug N Play) | 600 lb | Sub-1s deploy, obstruction sensing | 5 yr / 60k mi | $1,849.99 |
| RealTruck VoltStep | 300 lb | OBD-free magnetic switches | Ltd lifetime + 5 yr finish | $1,499.99 |
The Go Rhino E-Board E1’s 6-inch board gives the widest winter foothold of the group.
Which Ram 1500 Electric Running Board Should You Buy?
Buy the AMP Research PowerStep XL if your 2019–2024 Ram 1500 is lifted or you simply want the lowest, easiest step for winter entry — the extra 4-inch drop is the single biggest quality-of-life upgrade for tall trucks. Choose the Go Rhino E-Board E1 if you want the widest 6-inch platform and a salt-resistant bedliner coating, and you like that it is discounted well below its $2,924.99 list. Pick the standard AMP Research PowerStep to save around $450 over the XL on a stock-height Ram while keeping the same 600-pound capacity. And go with the RealTruck VoltStep if you want a real electric step for the least money and can live with the 300-pound per-side rating.
If you are also winter-prepping the rest of the truck, pair a powered board with a solid battery maintainer and the right winter tires — browse the full running boards collection and our other cold-weather upgrades at NLP Performance to build the truck out in one order.
Winter Install and Care Tips for Powered Boards
All four boards are designed for a driveway install in two to three hours with hand tools, and the two plug-and-play AMP kits and the magnetic-switch VoltStep need no wire splicing. In winter, the main maintenance is simple: after a salty drive, rinse the linkage and step with fresh water when temperatures allow, and avoid parking with a thick ice pack directly under a deployed board. Because AMP and Go Rhino both use sealed, weatherproof motors, the mechanism itself is built for freeze-thaw cycling, and AMP’s obstruction sensing means the step will reverse rather than force through a chunk of ice. If a board ever stops deploying in deep cold, clear any packed snow from the linkage before assuming a fault.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are electric running boards good for winter?
Yes. Electric running boards are well suited to winter because they retract flush against the truck when not in use, so the stepping surface collects far less snow, ice and road salt than a fixed board. They deploy automatically in about a second when you open the door, giving you a clean, low step for entry, then fold back up to preserve ground clearance in deep snow.
How much do AMP PowerStep and Go Rhino boards weigh the Ram 1500 down?
Each powered board weighs roughly 40 to 55 pounds per side depending on the kit, so a full set adds around 80 to 110 pounds to a 2019-2024 Ram 1500. That is comparable to a set of quality fixed boards, and it is negligible against the truck’s payload. The Go Rhino E-Board E1 is the heaviest at about 55 pounds per board.
What is the difference between the AMP PowerStep and PowerStep XL?
The AMP Research PowerStep XL drops up to 4 inches lower than the standard PowerStep, which makes entry easier on lifted trucks, while both share the same 600-pound per-side load rating, die-cast aluminum construction, LED lighting and under-one-second deployment. On a stock-height Ram 1500 the standard PowerStep is the better value; on a lifted Rebel or TRX the XL’s extra drop is worth the price.
Do electric running boards work in extreme cold and salt?
Yes. The AMP Research and Go Rhino electric boards here use sealed, weatherproof motors and are engineered for freeze-thaw and salt exposure. AMP’s system also uses pressure-sensitive obstruction detection that reverses the motor if ice or an object blocks the step. The main precaution is to clear packed snow from the linkage after severe storms and rinse road salt off when temperatures allow.
Will these running boards fit a Ram 1500 Rebel or TRX?
These boards fit the 2019-2024 DT-generation Ram 1500, including Big Horn, Lone Star, Laramie, Limited, Rebel and TRX trims, with cab-specific kits for Crew Cab and Quad Cab. Always confirm your exact year and cab configuration at checkout, since the mounting brackets differ between cab styles.
How much do electric running boards for the Ram 1500 cost?
Electric running boards for the 2019-2024 Ram 1500 run from about $1,500 to $2,300. The RealTruck VoltStep is the value entry point around $1,499.99, the standard AMP PowerStep is about $1,849.99, and the premium Go Rhino E-Board E1 and AMP PowerStep XL sit near $2,249.99 and $2,299.99. Prices and any active discounts update live on each product page.
Winter-Ready Entry for Your Ram 1500
Shop AMP Research, Go Rhino and RealTruck electric running boards — plus thousands more truck upgrades — at NLP Performance.
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