Fleetside Vs Stepside

[Hardesty454]

So Im building a frame up. I have both a fleetside bed and a stepside in the garage. I like both. Both need body work which isnt a problem. The reason Ive decided to toss up a little vote here is Ive been looking around and I keep reading that you cant go as low with a stepside. Why not? How can this be fixed? Is anyone laid on with a stepside? Issues you ran into? I also feel like I dont see very many stepside builds out there which compels me to want to build one one.


Anyway,
Lets take a vote... Fleet vs. step and why.


Ps. Post some laid out steppers if you have em!

[Syndrome]

Your wheels will hit the fenders with the stepside, you cut the fenders out with the fleet side.

[Fitz]

Originally Posted by Syndrome

Your wheels will hit the fenders with the stepside, you cut the fenders out with the fleet side.

The wheels won't rub if you tub the stepside using narrowed wheelhouses from a fleetside in the bed.

Why follow the lemmings; everybody has one of those fleetsides; stepsides are way cooler, especially small window stepsides!

And they can run Bigger Tires!

[Hardesty454]

Originally Posted by Fitz

The wheels won't rub if you tub the stepside using narrowed wheelhouses from a fleetside in the bed.

Why follow the lemmings; everybody has one of those fleetsides; stepsides are way cooler, especially small window stepsides!

And they can run Bigger Tires!

Can someone explain WHERE it hits? I'm not understanding. :/
Posted via Mobile Device

[Fitz]

Originally Posted by Hardesty454

Can someone explain WHERE it hits? I'm not understanding. :/
Posted via Mobile Device

Not understanding???

Get a tape measure, jack up the truck, remove a rear wheel and go figure it out! it's not that hard.

[Hardesty454]

Originally Posted by Fitz

Not understanding???

Get a tape measure, jack up the truck, remove a rear wheel and go figure it out! it's not that hard.

Well that is a little hard to do.... When I have a frame on jack stands good sir. May be a little difficult. I was not understanding if it hit the top of the outer fender or what. If so is there a mod to help?
Posted via Mobile Device

[gale]

Originally Posted by Fitz

Why follow the lemmings; everybody has one of those fleetsides; stepsides are way cooler, especially small window stepsides!

Is that a gas tank at the rear? If so where does it fill?

[Fitz]

Originally Posted by Syndrome

Your wheels will hit the fenders with the stepside, you cut the fenders out with the fleet side.

Wheel clearance in a stepside and a fleetside are the same. If you run really large meats in a stepside, just tub it using fleetside wheelhouses! Besides, stepsides are just cool.

[BugzC10]

Originally Posted by Fitz

Wheel clearance in a stepside and a fleetside are the same. If you run really large meats in a stepside, just tub it using fleetside wheelhouses! Besides, stepsides are just cool.

Nice job on the tubs Fitz.....

[gale]

Originally Posted by Hardesty454

Lets take a vote... Fleet vs. step and why.

I just like the look of a Stepside probably because it looks more like a truck. The Fleetside was not offered until '55 or '56 yet trucks had been around for at least two decades.

My trucks will always be used as trucks so a radical lowering job isn't part of the equation. And I might add I've owned a LOT of trucks. Bought the first Stepside new in '64 and bought a new one annually for years. In 1970 I restored a '54 frame up so they haven't all been new. In used trucks I've had 2 Fleetsides and I scrapped the bed when I found a Stepside.

The step is there for a good reason; makes it really easy to put something heavy in the bed or just to step into the bed. In years past these were marketed as farm vehicles and a farmer could reach in the bed for a 100 lb. sack of feed while on the step.

But it's YOUR truck. Will you let votes on an internet forum from people you don't know influence your decision?

[69SCSS]

yea that's a tough one for me too, I like them both. more I look at the steps the more I like them. I don't have either bed at the moment, so the jury's still out for me... but I gotta agree with gale, it looks more like an old school "truck" with the step.

But I think most of the late model steps i see now look terrible to me, doesn't really fit, IMO.

[Hardesty454]

Originally Posted by 69SCSS

yea that's a tough one for me too, I like them both. more I look at the steps the more I like them. I don't have either bed at the moment, so the jury's still out for me... but I gotta agree with gale, it looks more like an old school "truck" with the step.

But I think most of the late model steps i see now look terrible to me, doesn't really fit, IMO.

Al,
This is true. I like them both as well, I guess you can buy whichever I dont use!


I've always wanted a stepside and now that I have one its almost like the old saying, "you want what you dont have until you have it".

I do agree the most all the "new" stepside look like junk but the old school steps are "fitting". Just really looking at pros and cons of both I imagine.


NOW VOTE ON THE DARN POLL!!!

[69SCSS]

Originally Posted by Hardesty454

Al,
This is true. I like them both as well, I guess you can buy whichever I dont use!

LOL that's funny I almost said exactly that!!!!

[Hardesty454]

Originally Posted by 69SCSS

LOL that's funny I almost said exactly that!!!!

When I decide which Im going with Ill give you prices on with or without bodywork!

[gale]

Originally Posted by 69SCSS

But I think most of the late model steps i see now look terrible to me, doesn't really fit, IMO.

Probably because the moderns were no longer a step since they were about hip high. GM ceased to offer the stepside in 2005. I had an '04 and still thought it looked good but a bit phony.

[Hardesty454]

Will you let votes on an internet forum from people you don't know influence your decision?




Not sway my decision no. Just seeing what others like and why. Ive have a few of these trucks and this is the first I picked up with a stepside. Ive never been into lowering trucks either (hence my question on lowering with a stepside) but want something new that I can just cruise in.

[BrianG]

One vote for fleet side. I just like the smooth flush lines of the fleetside. And the rather unique arched body line on the fleetside box that our trucks have.

[Hardesty454]

Originally Posted by BrianG

One vote for fleet side. I just like the smooth flush lines of the fleetside. And the rather unique arched body line on the fleetside box that our trucks have.

INDEED i do concur with this statement. The bed almost "carries" the body flow of these trucks.

[DouglasRaymond]

I have used both. 55 step and 65 fleet. I thought the fleet bed was more useful, canopy or camper, the step was really classy looking. Recently thinking about a modern resto project C20 camper special maybe.

[Operatorfailure]

When I was looking for a 67-72 I wouldn't even go look at stepsides. After what seemed like forever my wife found a 68 stepper local for a steal and I ended up buying it. Now I love the stepsides. I figure you can't go wrong either way. IMO the stepsides with patina look amazing. I would trade my painted 68 step for one with a nice patina any day.

[special-K]

Only liking Fleetsides is thinking right inside the box,if you ask me. Popular opinion these days with all the new 67-72 fans is most definitely Fleetside,because it's more car-like,which is exactly how the design came about in the first place. I like them both. I think the Stepside shows fat tires off the best. After all,the fenders are parts of the body extending out from the main body just to wrap around the tires. I love the traditional aspect of the Stepside. It's just what a pickup was,up until '58. Half of what I love about the things I'm into are based on the American heritage aspect...live in an 1857 log cabin I heat with wood,drive old GM trucks,ride old Harleys,wear button fly Levis,wear Redwing Boots,make a living as a carpenter,and on and on. None of these are the most convenient or fast,but maybe that's part of what's wrong with things these days. A Stepside says to me,"Slow down and take a look back to a better time". As far as Stepsides not going as low as Fleetsides goes,any lower than a Stepside can go is too low IMO.

[TBONE1964]

Originally Posted by special-K

Only liking Fleetsides is thinking right inside the box,if you ask me. Popular opinion these days with all the new 67-72 fans is most definitely Fleetside,because it's more car-like,which is exactly how the design came about in the first place. I like them both. I think the Stepside shows fat tires off the best. After all,the fenders are parts of the body extending out from the main body just to wrap around the tires. I love the traditional aspect of the Stepside. It's just what a pickup was,up until '58. Half of what I love about the things I'm into are based on the American heritage aspect...live in an 1857 log cabin I heat with wood,drive old GM trucks,ride old Harleys,wear button fly Levis,wear Redwing Boots,make a living as a carpenter,and on and on. None of these are the most convenient or fast,but maybe that's part of what's wrong with things these days. A Stepside says to me,"Slow down and take a look back to a better time". As far as Stepsides not going as low as Fleetsides goes,any lower than a Stepside can go is too low IMO.

"None of these are the most convenient or fast,but maybe that's part of what's wrong with things these days."

I could not agree more.

[TBONE1964]

I have mixed feelings on the fleet vs step debate. For me, it depends on the rest of the truck. I can not see my 72 Cheyenne with a step side bed on it. On the other hand, if I had a truck with no trim option like a small window 67, then a step side would be really cool.

You could keep both and switch them when the mood strikes

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by TBONE1964

You could keep both and switch them when the mood strikes

LOL! Came here to say this ^...

K

[alsriv2]

Originally Posted by TBONE1964

"None of these are the most convenient or fast,but maybe that's part of what's wrong with things these days."

I could not agree more.

This^^^^

My dream is a '67 GMC small rear window step side...Now if I could just find one.....

I vote step...