Step side - Long or short bed? Opinions. What do you prefer and why?

[68shortstep]

Originally Posted by eurospec1

Why did they even make long bed step sides, if you need the bed space of a longbed, why would you buy a stepside that cuts down the bed capacity so much?

My guess: It's a farm thing. Straight bed sidewalls.

Think about trying to stack bales of hay into a fleetside around the fenderwells (I've done it, & it ain't so easy), or having to deal with a broken-leg cow after she fell down in a truck bed while you were hauling her, because of the darn fenderwells there in a fleet bed.

Same "livestock hauling deal" with steel bed floors Vs. wood floors, I'd think.

That steel's gonna be slick when it's covered with what the animals leave in there ..........

These trucks were built for WORK. Remember when we (some of us) were young & out in the country, you never ever saw a pickup that didn't have a Knapheide brand wood slat "rack" about 5 ft high sides installed on the bed. That's what those stake holes are there in the bedsides for.

Now we enjoy these trucks for their classic & nostalgic beauty, but that's not why they were built.

[eurospec1]

Originally Posted by 68shortstep

My guess: It's a farm thing. Straight bed sidewalls.

Think about trying to stack bales of hay into a fleetside around the fenderwells (I've done it, & it ain't so easy), or having to deal with a broken-leg cow after she fell down in a truck bed while you were hauling her, because of the darn fenderwells there in a fleet bed.

Same "livestock hauling deal" with steel bed floors Vs. wood floors, I'd think.

That steel's gonna be slick when it's covered with what the animals leave in there ..........

These trucks were built for WORK. Remember when we (some of us) were young & out in the country, you never ever saw a pickup that didn't have a Knapheide brand wood slat "rack" about 5 ft high sides installed on the bed. That's what those stake holes are there in the bedsides for.

Now we enjoy these trucks for their classic & nostalgic beauty, but that's not why they were built.

I dont get any of that, the only reason you don't have to lift anything over the wheel wells in a step side is because you LOST the space in front off, and behind the wheel wells, so there's no benefit there.

You can still slide the same object between the wheel wells of a fleet side just like you can a step side, you just have extra space in front of, and behind, and above them, that you loose on a step side. I've used trucks for my profession for years, and i always just figured people liked the looks of a step side, cause for work there a hindrance.

[GRX]

OK, time for me to chime in .........

Originally Posted by eurospec1

I dont get any of that, the only reason you don't have to lift anything over the wheel wells in a step side is because you LOST the space in front off, and behind the wheel wells, so there's no benefit there.

You can still slide the same object between the wheel wells of a fleet side just like you can a step side, you just have extra space in front of, and behind, and above them, that you loose on a step side. I've used trucks for my profession for years, and i always just figured people liked the looks of a step side, cause for work there a hindrance.

Don't forget, step sides have steps in the side. Makes things much easier at lets say, a swap meet. How do you access the sides of the bed on a fleetside? Reach way up and over, or use the tires as a step.

And what you said about the space in front of the wheel well on a fleetside is exactly what creates the problem. In a step side you have a big rectangular bed with STRAIGHT sides. No wheel wells to hold up sliding your load out the back. As an example, I have a large property to maintain with a lot of trees. So I am always taking yard waste & branches to the landfill. All I have to do is drop the tailgate & push the load out the back all in one swipe. I'm in and out of there in a couple minutes. Other guys at the landfill with fleetsides & similar loads are envious of that.

Having owned both fleetsides and steps, gotta say steppers are much better for what I use my truck for. As always, it is a matter of personal preference, and the owner's intentions for the truck. Personally, I like them all.

[GRX]

Originally Posted by 68shortstep

My guess: It's a farm thing. Straight bed sidewalls.

Think about trying to stack bales of hay into a fleetside around the fenderwells (I've done it, & it ain't so easy), or having to deal with a broken-leg cow after she fell down in a truck bed while you were hauling her, because of the darn fenderwells there in a fleet bed.

Same "livestock hauling deal" with steel bed floors Vs. wood floors, I'd think.

That steel's gonna be slick when it's covered with what the animals leave in there ..........

These trucks were built for WORK. Remember when we (some of us) were young & out in the country, you never ever saw a pickup that didn't have a Knapheide brand wood slat "rack" about 5 ft high sides installed on the bed. That's what those stake holes are there in the bedsides for.

Now we enjoy these trucks for their classic & nostalgic beauty, but that's not why they were built.

Very well stated 68shortstep. Fully agree with everything, especially the emboldened portion.

[Iron Hauler]

Originally Posted by 68shortstep

My guess: It's a farm thing. Straight bed sidewalls.

Think about trying to stack bales of hay into a fleetside around the fenderwells (I've done it, & it ain't so easy), or having to deal with a broken-leg cow after she fell down in a truck bed while you were hauling her, because of the darn fenderwells there in a fleet bed.

Same "livestock hauling deal" with steel bed floors Vs. wood floors, I'd think.

That steel's gonna be slick when it's covered with what the animals leave in there ..........

These trucks were built for WORK. Remember when we (some of us) were young & out in the country, you never ever saw a pickup that didn't have a Knapheide brand wood slat "rack" about 5 ft high sides installed on the bed. That's what those stake holes are there in the bedsides for.

Now we enjoy these trucks for their classic & nostalgic beauty, but that's not why they were built.

68shortstep hit the nail on the head! The long bed stepsides were made for the farmers and ranchers. The first slide in cattle racks were made for long steps, and the wood floors were just right for hauling livestock. I've used mine here locally for hauling an 2,200 pound Brahman several times,works great. They also are much easier to shovel grain out of over a fleet. I love my 8 foot Stepside so much I drove it to Arizona over flying to a rodeo gig just to haul back a pair of new take off rear Stepside fenders and then found out the drivers had the cutout for the spare but I brought them back anyway and eventually found another set. So these just hang in the barn as a testament to what ended up being a trip in my old truck I'll never forget.

[Boog]

Shortbed. To many the proportions are just more pleasing to the eye.

[BlacklandCamper]

Originally Posted by 68shortstep

My guess: It's a farm thing. Straight bed sidewalls.

Think about trying to stack bales of hay into a fleetside around the fenderwells (I've done it, & it ain't so easy), or having to deal with a broken-leg cow after she fell down in a truck bed while you were hauling her, because of the darn fenderwells there in a fleet bed.

Same "livestock hauling deal" with steel bed floors Vs. wood floors, I'd think.

That steel's gonna be slick when it's covered with what the animals leave in there ..........

These trucks were built for WORK. Remember when we (some of us) were young & out in the country, you never ever saw a pickup that didn't have a Knapheide brand wood slat "rack" about 5 ft high sides installed on the bed. That's what those stake holes are there in the bedsides for.

Now we enjoy these trucks for their classic & nostalgic beauty, but that's not why they were built.

You nailed it. That is the reason I took the plunge on my LWB C20. If it had been a SWB C10, I probably could have walked away from it, but something in me has always wanted a 3/4 ton or larger. Living in the country, there is always a need to haul feed, hay bales, fencing, animals, etc, and a long bed lets you haul more of it. Then there is materials, wood will not rust, or deform like metal, has higher pressure allowances, and simply looks better.