Better Route?

[BigDan3131]

So here's the deal, I found a 1972 Chevy 1 ton with dual rear tires that was a dump box/highway truck. Would it be easier to put a step side bed on it and widen the fenders or do a fleetside bed with fender extensions.

[SS Tim]

A couple of problems to start with.

A C30 has a longer wheelbase than a typical C10 or 20 so the readily available 8' boxes come up short due to a longer cab to axle dimension. So you need to find a Longhorn or 9'stepside box to start with if you are trying to do this as stock as possible.

With a stock dual wheel axle, the outer tires are a little wider than a fleetside box. So a flare or creative tire/wheel sizing is needed to tuck them. The inner tire will clear the frame of course but the wells need to be extended inboard a lot.

On a stepside the outer fenders are slightly narrower than a fleetside making the tuck a little more dificult. A widened fender or fender to bed spacer is probably the best way to handle that and adding narrowed fleetside wheelhousing should give you the inner clearance needed.

Either way you end up really narrow between the wheelhousings like a mini truck and nothing fits.

There are other options of course like the typical scabbed on stepside fenders that usually IMHO look too wide and flat against a fleetside bed. You can also use a later wide track dually axle and just push everything outboard from the stock srw location and fender or flair to suit.

[special-K]

The easiest thing to do is leave it as a dump truck and have something cool and useful

[waco]

Checkout project "Meet Homer" 3/16/2016. That might give you a new to look at the project you have in mind.
Andy

[BigDan3131]

Its a mini dump bed of about 4 feet with a big ugly utility box in front of that. Thanks for the answers I can fab up anything since custom painting means custom body work in some cases. I did a 56 International 4X4 dually with widened stepside fenders for a customer.

[cooperhw]

Originally Posted by BigDan3131

So here's the deal, I found a 1972 Chevy 1 ton with dual rear tires that was a dump box/highway truck. Would it be easier to put a step side bed on it and widen the fenders or do a fleetside bed with fender extensions.

I was faced with this exact same dilemma last year (see "Meet Homer" in projects and builds). I simply widened the bed header panels and tailgate. Tailgate was the worse part. Kinda cool finished product (at least Me and a few others thought so).

[palallin]

Some years back, there was a pic of a tow truck on here that had this kind of axle set up, and there were step-fender extensions--some 4" to 6" wide--bolted between the fenders and the bedsides. Looked factory. The steps angled out to meet the wider fenders. At one time, I had that pic saved, but I think I have lost it over the years.

[SS Tim]

Here it is ~4", really not an original idea. At one time Dodge used fender spacers on their stepside/utilines with a drw option.

[Boog]

Build yourself a neat flatbed.

[swamp rat]

Originally Posted by boog

build yourself a neat flatbed.

^^x2^^

[BigDan3131]

That's the other option, but knowing myself it would have everything but the kitchen sink welded on to it.

[67 chevelle]

Originally Posted by cooperhw

I was faced with this exact same dilemma last year (see "Meet Homer" in projects and builds). I simply widened the bed header panels and tailgate. Tailgate was the worse part. Kinda cool finished product (at least Me and a few others thought so).

Looks awesome

[palallin]

Thanks for posting those pics, Tim!

[72kool]

i never get tired of looking at homer. love that truck. i would go the route that cooper did.looks more correct imho