Stepside vs Fleetside

[irishmil]

More of a curious question, why do you like your stepside or fleetside as to the other.

[Woogeroo]

I can step into the bed.

That is really the only reason I have it as opposed to a fleetside.

When I was a kid I thought that was the neatest thing.

-W

[kenmel]

I don't have a preference. I have a fleet but wish I could find a stepbed to put in my shop and when I get bored with one look I could switch out in just a few hours, and make it look completely different.

[darkhorse970]

Fleetside looks sleeker to me in the 60-66s thats one reason I chose my '63, but the steppers look cool too. I'd like to find a nice original paint BBW stepside to make a shop truck.

[flashed]

I like them both but Fleetside is what I had before this one and I know it hauls wider loads than the stepper. If I could I would have one of each.

[T Smith]

I think fleets look more sleek and smooth, especially with the side trim, but there's just something funky about an old stepper that just looks killer to me. Now with a LWB, it's gotta be a fleet.

Big back windows are a plus too....

[jbgroby]

I cheated I can step in my fleetside too.

[1963c-10]

I think that both models look great....but have always been partial to the short steppers....guess due to getting my 1st 63 at the age of 15.

[Indian113]

We bought a stepper because the price was right,but I'm like Jesus I love them ALL

[srziemkowski]

The fleets to me seem more complete and full looking ,not totally against a step but something seems missing or not right on the back of the cabs.but thats whats best about opinions,they are like a$$holes,everybody has one

[bigdlb12]

overall I like the look of a stepside better than a fleet, to me it makes the truck look mean, lol

[61_FL_Apache]

I have had both and like them for different reasons but do like them equally.

[NCD1966]

Originally Posted by Woogeroo

I can step into the bed.

That is really the only reason I have it as opposed to a fleetside.

When I was a kid I thought that was the neatest thing.

-W

Same here when I was a kid I thought is was pretty cool.
The stepside bed has the old truck look to it.

But I do like both beds.

[irishmil]

My dad had a stepside when I was young and I think that is why I gravitate to them. I am still trying to buy another stepside, but I have seen a couple fleetsides that look great too

[austin60c10]

Noone has pointed out that it's easier to shovel grain out of a stepside because you dont have to maneuver around the wheel wells :} thats what I've always liked about them.

[jimmydean]

I need to haul crap, not enough space in a step, or often a short bed for that matter.

[markeb01]

As a teenager growing up with a hot rodders outlook when these trucks were new, I’ve always favored stepsides because they were pretty much the only trucks that got “fixed up”. All it took was a couple of reversed rims or slot mags, floor shift conversion, custom steering wheel and a black naugahyde seat cover to have an instantly cool truck. Fleetsides were what old people owned, either for business chores or carrying a camper shell.

As an old person today, it’s obvious the entire styling concept and all engineering efforts were invested on the fleetside package. The left over 1959 stepside beds were too narrow to fit the new cab, and no resources were spent to correct the awkward appearance.

Regardless, I’m still a stepside guy. I’ve admired many beautiful fleetsides, but I'm just not passionate about the wide bed. I would have very little interest in ever owning one unless it was going to be used for hauling stuff and would benefit from the larger capacity of the wider bed. It's no different than why some guys love pickups while others love Suburbans.

[Johnny Too Bad]

The funny thing is my '78 square is a fleet and I've always loved the way it looks. It just looks 'right' to me. I don't particularly care for '73-'87 stepsides, but when I think of the '60-'66's, I always picture them as stepsides.

I picked up my '64 stepper because my dad had a '64 GMC stepside and the pictures I saw of it always looked like a hot rod to me. It just looked tough. He loved that truck, but he hit a deer with it and totaled it out. I plan to finish mine up and give it to him when he retires.

[oem4me]

A truck by definition is utilitarian. I could never see the sense in limiting the fundamental usefulness of a truck by getting one with a smallish bed. A short stepper for example, just seems silly.
Now, if you don't use your truck as a truck, and only care how it looks, then it's totally personal preference. I say take the bed off and put a five gallon bucket on the back, if that's what you like.
I still trip over the usefulness thing though. Call me weird, but I'll take a long fleet.

[N2TRUX]

Because a fleeter is sweeter. To me its about symmetry, and the lines of the body are disrupted by a stepside bed. I "like" steppers, but I "love" fleets.

[bigdlb12]

Originally Posted by Johnny Too Bad

The funny thing is my '78 square is a fleet and I've always loved the way it looks. It just looks 'right' to me. I don't particularly care for '73-'87 stepsides, but when I think of the '60-'66's, I always picture them as stepsides.

I picked up my '64 stepper because my dad had a '64 GMC stepside and the pictures I saw of it always looked like a hot rod to me. It just looked tough. He loved that truck, but he hit a deer with it and totaled it out. I plan to finish mine up and give it to him when he retires.

yeah I am with you on that, 73-87 stepside look funny to me

One reason I do like fleet is because it makes it easier to two tone the paint job, any ideas how do two tone a step side?

[k1rodeoboater]

Up to 66 I think that stepside trucks look better. After that though I prefer fleet side trucks.
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[forestb]

I was thinking of switching my step side over to a fleet because I think that the bed looks kind of scrawny compared to the cab but I like the step side because it makes the truck look older. Somebody pointed out to me that which ever one I had I would just want the other.

[406 Q-ship]

Ok I am a 67 and 74 owner. It depends on which year, my 67 will be getting a fleet. The 1974 is a stepper and it has a unique look to me, just marching to a different beat there I guess. When I was a kid, we used to have a 62 SWB fleet that was to be mine at the age of 16. I would kill to have a nice kneeknocker short fleet, darn jack*** driver in Texas who took out my truck!

In the 67 truck if it were a small back window I would leave it a stepper, but the big back window trucks look cleaner in fleet. I think the 60-66 trucks look great in stepper but awesome in fleet.

[cb1965]

60-63 both fleet or step
64-66 fleet only. reason is on the 60-63, the wrap around windshield goes alot better with the rear fenders. jmo