Step side beds

[Inventive1]

Were the step sides beds made of steel or some other material?

[fiddy9apache]

the bed is metal and from body line down is a fiberglass or a compsite

[ChevLoRay]

Yeah, it a composite and it's not light, either! I believe that everything from the body reveal line about 2 inches below the top edge of the bed is the composite, while everything above that reveal is steel. There is some steel bracing inside the edges so don't be fooled because someone has 86ed their bed and the outer fenders look like they're bent. The pinstripe is located immediately beneath the reveal.

[Inventive1]

Can these step side beds be disassembled or is the composite portion permanently molded to the steel?

Would it be safe to assume that the stepside bed is more rust resistant than a fleetside bed?

[ChevLoRay]

1. It can be disassembled. Look at an LMC breakdown illustration.

2. More/less rust resistant? The composite portion won't rust. The rest of the bed (floor, sidewalls, front piece and the tailgate) are all steel so rust can happen.

[bwood]

If you look in ChevLoRay's pic, just below the rail (about 2") there is a seam near the pinstripe (like he said). From this seam down is all 1 piece but it can be removed from the bed. The one I helped put on was fiberglass and so was the old one. The new one was from GM, $900, but the fit was perfect.

About 10 yrs ago, I helped my cousin replace the driver's side on his 90 after a driveway powerslide (horseplayin') went bad and he smacked a tree (in his driveway ). It wasn't that bad to do, it only took a couple of highschool kids about 3 hours and Grandpa's toolbox to swap it out and put some lowering shackles on at the same time. If I remember right (and there is a possibility I don't), there are the struts/braces at the bottom near the wheel opening and bolts on the inside of the bed at the rail that hold it all on, and of course the filler neck if you are working on the driver's side.

[edco joe]

i replaced the bed on my 72 with a 91 stepside. i bought a conversion kit from poncho in california and removed the rear step. it looks great!!!thanks edco joe

[derek6787]

the only rust problem i've seen with the step sides is someone who uses it as a mud truck and doesn't spray inside the fender wells up to the top of the bed rail that is steel it holds mud there if mudding. if you crawl under it and look up between the bed box and the bedsides (outer step portion) you will see what i'm talking about.

[ChevLoRay]

I have to use a detail brush to get the mildew/mold/green crap out of the space between the two dissimilar components.

Edco Joe.... to the board! Tell me about the stepside eliminator pieces. I've seen one post about them and didn't understand at that time that there was something on the market to do what you did. So.....

[Inventive1]

Thanks for all the info!! A step side bed would be a good addition. A couple more questions:

Will the step side bed bolt onto an original fleet side truck?

Will a step side bed be comparable in price to a fleet side bed?

[QKENUF4U]

both bolt up the same..... i traded my setside bed for my shaved fleetside..... and the stepside bed is atleast a 100lbs heavier... just keep your eye open and youll find one cheap enough...