What is the answer? Hummer nerf bars have been designed as an aftermarket accessory to fill the gap, so to speak, of the distance from earth to the open door of an H2. Hummer nerf bars are rocker panel steps to provide a convenient entrance and exit into and out of your favorite H2 SUV.

Dee Zee Inc. is a manufacturing facility in Des Moines, Iowa, that specializes in truck accessories. Soon after the H2 hit the market, they quickly saw a niche for a product they were already providing for off-road vehicles and custom trucks. Back in the day, as some now say, cars and trucks were equipped with running boards. Basically a running board was the first part of the vehicle you would step upon to gain entry into the vehicle.

There is an old story that the earliest vehicles required a great deal of pushing to get them started so the driver might find himself running along side the vehicle pushing it to gain a good starting speed. He would then leap upon the ‘running’ board and quickly make his entrance to the driver’s seat. I don’t know how true that tale is, but for many decades that first step has been known as a running board.

The people who like to customize their Hummers don’t want to add a running board, per se, to the vehicle, for in general, running boards attract a great deal of mud, snow, and slop depending on what you are driving through. The customizers wanted a step to assist shorter aficionados of the great H2 to gain entrance to the cab, but they didn’t want to attract attention to the above normal height configuration of the vehicle. So, they settled on calling the pseudo-step, alias running board, a nerf bar.

Those who have followed hot rodding and classic customs for years have known that nerf bars were first found on the front of some really classy hot rods from California. But we aren’t going to muddy the etymological waters with that point of fact right now. If you want ease of entry into your good looking Hummer H2 get a set of Hummer Nerf Bars to add to your vehicle.

Dee Zee’s Nerf Bars are available in either all black powder coat finish or shiny chrome. The units can handle up to 500 pounds of eager riders trying to get into the H2.

They provide the following features:

• Non-skid step area
• Protected hidden sturdy bracing
• Give a sleek, rust-free appearance
• Installation without any drilling
• Custom fitted to your H2
• They are sold in pairs for a balance look from either side.
• They extend the full rocker panel length between front and rear wheels for ample step access for both front and rear doors.

Dee Zee markets their Hummer Nerf Bars either from their website, deezee.com, or through another online truck accessories distributor found at autotrucktoys.com. You can pick up a pair between $210 and $390 depending upon your favorite finish.