Stepside Trucks--Cool but why?

[bigpete]

Since we have all figured out the half-ton market and decided that the truck we each own is the best truck that we could own (168 posts later /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif), I thought I'd stir up another little discussion on truck beds.

My guess is that the origins of the stepside design go back to the earliest production of pick-up trucks in the Twenties and Thirties. I'm sure it was easier to build a box, set it on the rear axle, drop two fenders over the rear wheels, and bolt it all together somehow.

As with most anything related to style, what once was functional now becomes fashionable. Is that all there is to it? Other than the subjective opinion of some that stepside pick-ups look good, I can't see any advantage at all. In fact, I think the size limitation of the box and bed makes the utility limited at best, and useless for most things practical.

Pure style? Any thoughts? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[MossRoad]

<font color="blue"> Pure style? Any thoughts? </font>

Yep, they look cool.

 

[RobS]

Pete, I bet people were asking the same question back in the '50s when the "fleetside" beds were introduced. Some, no doubt thought it was pure style. Why would you want that rounded off bed when a "real" truck has nice square corners to sweep out?

Of course, fleetsides quickly became the norm as they have more capacity per length. Today's crop of stepsides hardly resemble their predecesors. Yes, pure style, but so is the fleetside.

If you want function over form get a flatbed /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Dozernut]

I like Toyotas, but the ugliest new truck I have seen this year was a stepside Tundra. It was beat with an ugly stick! There will be people out there who will love the styling, but not me!

 

[fivestring]

I still say the F150 is ugly. Must be the same designer.

 

[bigpete]

Coincidently, I just read a thread on a Tundra board with posts discussing the similarity between the cosmetics of the new F150 and the Tundra. Of course there was conjecture that one copied the other, and such, and such, and so on. You know the drill /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I actually like the looks of the Chevy stepside/flaresides form the late Fifties/Early Sixties. Only as a classic, though.

You know what...there are quite a few new styles that I dislike, now that I think about it. I am even ambivalent about the looks of my Tundra fleetside and think I like the 2002 front end better. I guess that will always be the case when new body styles are introduced. I think the only long-line vehicle model that I seem to like at every evolutionary turn is the Corvette. As far as fairly modern pick-up styles, I'd have to say I like the looks of the Silverado the best. Too bad it didn't handle like the Tundra /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[BigEddy]

Actually - I see value in being able to step on the side of the box to load stuff in. I load from the side all the time, and I end up stepping on the wheel to reach in and out. Maybe I'm just too lazy to walk to the back and drop the tailgate, but I'm certainly too short to reach the middle of the box from the side without stepping on something.

That said, I have a fleetside.

 

[GaryM]

Used to work with a fellow that had a F-250 with a slide in camper. He liked the stepside because the area in front of the wheel wells was useable with the stepside and lost with the fleetside. That's where he strapped on watercans and the like.

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

It's all looks and styling. First, shortbed trucks have a neater look than longbeds regardless of bed style.

The stepside beds have a sharp look and are less common and so, by definition, more distinctive. They're definitely sporty and won't ever be mistaken for a work truck. They look neat in the short box version behind a regular cab.

That bed isn't nearly so cool on the extended cab trucks, though. Somehow the proportions are off on those. The ultimate in an ugly stepside has to be the 8' bed version for probably the same reason. For that bed length the fleetside is definitely superior in appearance.

 

[fivestring]

<font color="red">"The ultimate in an ugly stepside has to be the 8' bed version for probably the same reason. For that bed length the fleetside is definitely superior in appearance."
</font>

The ultimate in ugly fleetside is that Ford crew cab with that 4 or 5 foot bed... What a waste. Now that is a poser yuppie truck for sure!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[AMP762]

Well you may not believe this,but there was a time when trucks were built to work. The step-side was handy for standing on to load stuff.loading hay was one place it was almost required,I would not try this with the new fiberglass beds /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif of course new pick-ups are not meant for work anyway.
My .02

 

[RobertN]

They kinda look cool sometimes. The step could be used for getting at load items.

For a handy bed, it is hard to beat a flatbed. Not as stylish, but MUCH more useful.

Still trying to figure those designers out. They build these trucks, put a bed on, but don't give useful tie points. What's up with those silly little hooks in each corner of the bed, half way down where you can't reach them when the bed is full? And then, there's only four... Try to secure a sizeable load securely, especially in a long bed.

No wonder there's so much junk on the sides of the roads and highways!

 

[rdam]

I think the older "real" stepsides were neat. I'm not sure when they stopped making them. I remember in 1981 I looked at a new GMC stepside, shortbed, 3 speed on the column. This was an actual, real, bolt on fender stepside.....I wish I had bought it and still had it. (Even though it's a GMC)

 

[heehaw]

i haven't read all the post on this thread..but thought i would add what the dealer told me when i bought my new truck last july..i questioned why the stepside style truck had such a high price tag....resale....according to the dealer its the hardest to find and easest to sell of any of the gm trucks..it looks good, and i would guess, a lot of folks buy trucks, and never haul anything...
heehaw

 

[RobS]

<font color="blue"> The ultimate in ugly fleetside is that Ford crew cab with that 4 or 5 foot bed... What a waste. Now that is a poser yuppie truck for sure!!! </font>

Uh oh, am I going to have to post some pictures of my yuppie-mobile tonight? Yes, it is a short bed crew cab F250HD 4X4 and yes, I could be considered a yuppie by many respects. Gotta say though, of all the trucks I've ever owned this is the best configuration by far. Room for the kids (extended crew cab would be just that much better), room for stuff in back, muscle for hauling/towing but still fits in the garage. I sized my garage for a long bed crew cab but really can't see the need at this point. Even pulling our fifth wheel the short bed is just fine /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[bigpete]

Sounds like a great towing vehicle and family car. FWIW, towing and family hauling a are shared by socio-economic classes outside of yuppie-dom. I kinda' like that combo you have....especially because it's in the 3/4 ton class.

 

[MossRoad]

Rob, I've seen your truck... it's not a yuppie mobile. It looks capable and you actually use it like a truck, not a car. Hope that makes you feel better. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[RobS]

Thanks Pete, yeah I'm pretty happy with my truck. Just wish it were a diesel.

Upon re-reading Gary's note about the shortbed crew cab I'm wondering if he was referring to the SuperCrew F150 and the Explorer Sport Trak. If so, I'll have to agree completely. Those trucks are pure style with very little trucking capability. The ultimate was the Lincoln Blackwood based on the SuperCrew. It came with a hard tonneau cover and a mohagany lined bed. Vaguely reminiscent of the original step sides but the whole intent was to be able to carry golf clubs not hay bales. Ford realized that mistake and pulled the Blackwood after only selling a few hundred of them. Collectors cue though... those few vehicles could be very valuable many years from now???

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[RobS]

Thanks Dave. If you recall the side of the bed, sometimes I use my truck a little too much /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif I'll still post a shot tonight but maybe under the Safety Forum /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[fivestring]

The model I'm talking about looks like an F150 w/ crew cab and the tiny bed (it's like 4 or 5 feet with a swing-out thingy that fits on the tailgate to make the tailgate an extension of the tiny bed). My sister has one. I guess it's a step up from the mini van.