Joining the stepside club this weekend

[school boy]

Changing out my fleet side for a stepside on sunday. Me and a local feller are swapping beds and I just wanted to know any hints/tricks to make the swap easier. We already know about the filler necks and wiring, anything else?

[Titomars]

rear bumpers and brackets for them. If you are concerned about them. They are different step to fleet.

[walkerb]

Long box or short box? Rear wiring and ground it all really good. What year are the trucks and beds?

[school boy]

Originally Posted by Titomars

rear bumpers and brackets for them. If you are concerned about them. They are different step to fleet.

Neither truck has rear bumpers so not a concern. I'll end up with a roll pan more than likely.
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[school boy]

Originally Posted by walkerb

Long box or short box? Rear wiring and ground it all really good. What year are the trucks and beds?

Surprising both are 86's. Short boxes.
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[Chaplain]

I have a set of bumper brackets if you need them.

[school boy]

Thanks I'll keep that in mind!
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[J Knight]

The bed attachment bolts, the fuel filler hose, rear bumper/brackets, and tail light wire harness are all stepside or fleetside specific. As long as both trucks have all the parts and both are same year the swap will be a breeze.

[school boy]

What's the difference on the bed bolts?
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[J Knight]

The bolts for a stepside have an off center washers so when you tighten them they sink into the wood bed floor so they wont spin.

[school boy]

Thanks for the info!
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[Tom]

This is the only year range I like stepsides. Good choice!

[school boy]

The bad thing about it is the owner before me painted the truck, even though its cheaply painted.

[school boy]

heres mine now:

and the bed im getting:

[school boy]

[Guilty-by-Design]

looks good to me

[greg64]

I like it. But then, I like all square body stepsides.

[Titomars]

Ain't nothing sexier than a square with a stepside.

By the way who's hitch is that? I love the way it tucks in.

[school boy]

Thanks guys! been looking for a nice stepside bed for about two years and this guy ending up wanted to swap beds and help me install it!

Originally Posted by Titomars

Ain't nothing sexier than a square with a stepside.

By the way who's hitch is that? I love the way it tucks in.

Its a class IV or Class V off a 1995 chevy 2500 from Hidden Hitch that we flipped upside down, cut the mounts off of it and welded 3/8 thick 3x3 angle iron for the mounts. We also welding on extra bracing since I wasn't sure how affected the hitch would be since its upside down. I wanted something that wounldnt be close to the ground since the truck is so low. Ill post up some pics later.

[Titomars]

I used a Cherokee Hidden Hitch, modified of course. But it was the tightest to the body I could find without completely cutting something up. It still drops lower than I like for my taste.

[school boy]

BTW 8 bolts were used that were Grade 8 and the size was 1/2-13

[school boy]

and the truck on the ground

[Titomars]

Your hitch turned out great. I may have to rethink mine at some point. But for now it works. I just wish mine was tighter to the body. Thanks for the photos of yours.

[school boy]

Originally Posted by Titomars

Your hitch turned out great. I may have to rethink mine at some point. But for now it works. I just wish mine was tighter to the body. Thanks for the photos of yours.

Thanks man. Just got lucky and was parting out that 95 chevy and decided to keep the hitch. At the location were the receiver goes in the hitch is still only 12 1/2 inches from the ground Kinda glad I decided I did the hitch that way after it was said and done. Plus I think with the step side, I fills the gap and I don't believe im going to need to run a roll pan.

[Chaplain]

You got me rethinking the whole hitch/roll pan thing. Thanks...