Stepside bed, what is the advantage?

[s***@gmail.com]

I recently found myself checking out a used Sierra pickup with a
stepside bed. I've been thinking about getting a pickup, and in
thinking about this particular truck, I'm reminded of something I've
never quite been able to figure out.

What is the purpose of the stepside bed? Don't get mad - I'm really
asking. Almost every manufacturer has produced them at one time or
another, so there has to be an advantage.

It seems like you get a pretty significant reduction in cargo area, and
it seems to break the lines of the truck. I'm not sure about
aerodynamics, but I'd guess they suffer slightly too.

I feel like I'm missing something. Is having the step on the side of
the truck so big an advantage as to outweigh the disadvantages?

I searched the web and found lots of people talking about stepsides,
but I couldn't find the why.

[Joe Smith]

Post by s***@gmail.com
I recently found myself checking out a used Sierra pickup with a
stepside bed. I've been thinking about getting a pickup, and in
thinking about this particular truck, I'm reminded of something I've
never quite been able to figure out.
What is the purpose of the stepside bed? Don't get mad - I'm really
asking. Almost every manufacturer has produced them at one time or
another, so there has to be an advantage.

One advantage is the step on the side allows you to climb up and access
stuff in the bed easier.

[Whitelightning]

Post by Joe Smith

Post by s***@gmail.com
I recently found myself checking out a used Sierra pickup with a
stepside bed. I've been thinking about getting a pickup, and in
thinking about this particular truck, I'm reminded of something I've
never quite been able to figure out.
What is the purpose of the stepside bed? Don't get mad - I'm really
asking. Almost every manufacturer has produced them at one time or
another, so there has to be an advantage.

One advantage is the step on the side allows you to climb up and access
stuff in the bed easier.

They were also cheaper to manufacture, less metal in the bed, single wall
construction instead of two. Back in the day they were utility vehicles
built to work. But the 67-70 model years had to be about the best looking
trucks ever built, in short bed, and the GMC won over the Chevy because of
the quad head lights and nicer grill.
I still kick myself for trading my '69 Chevy.

Whitelightning

Whitelightning.

[Mike]

Post by Whitelightning
They were also cheaper to manufacture, less metal in the bed, single wall
construction instead of two. Back in the day they were utility vehicles
built to work. But the 67-70 model years had to be about the best looking
trucks ever built, in short bed, and the GMC won over the Chevy because of
the quad head lights and nicer grill.
I still kick myself for trading my '69 Chevy.
Whitelightning

I hadn't thought about the difference in expense. If there is less
metal in the bed, it sounds like there would be more load carrying
capacity in certain applications.

Looking at the beds on Chevy/GMC trucks from 1988-on I can't imagne
they're too much cheaper to make though.

And I do see the appeal of the 67-70 trucks. It's a simple, clean,
attractive design.

[tom]

Post by Mike

Post by Whitelightning
They were also cheaper to manufacture, less metal in the bed, single wall
construction instead of two. Back in the day they were utility vehicles
built to work. But the 67-70 model years had to be about the best looking
trucks ever built, in short bed, and the GMC won over the Chevy because of
the quad head lights and nicer grill.
I still kick myself for trading my '69 Chevy.
Whitelightning

I hadn't thought about the difference in expense. If there is less
metal in the bed, it sounds like there would be more load carrying
capacity in certain applications.
Looking at the beds on Chevy/GMC trucks from 1988-on I can't imagne
they're too much cheaper to make though.

u can compare prices from 1984 on! some are only $6.00 difference

http://www.michigan.gov/sos/1,1607,7-127-1631_8849_8864-30109--,00.html

Post by Mike
And I do see the appeal of the 67-70 trucks. It's a simple, clean,
attractive design.

[Mike237]

Step Side bed for sal
https://www.motorsforum.com/img/515
https://www.motorsforum.com/img/517
https://www.motorsforum.com/img/519

[Pete Benfield]

A big advantage to the stepside, when hauling cattle...is when the cattle
move around and crowd to one side, the center of gravity is contained, and
the risk of laying the truck on it's side is minimized. (compared to a
fleetside or wide bed....much safer)
I've hauled 'em and it makes a big difference.
Take care, Pete

Post by s***@gmail.com
I recently found myself checking out a used Sierra pickup with a
stepside bed. I've been thinking about getting a pickup, and in
thinking about this particular truck, I'm reminded of something I've
never quite been able to figure out.
What is the purpose of the stepside bed? Don't get mad - I'm really
asking. Almost every manufacturer has produced them at one time or
another, so there has to be an advantage.
It seems like you get a pretty significant reduction in cargo area, and
it seems to break the lines of the truck. I'm not sure about
aerodynamics, but I'd guess they suffer slightly too.
I feel like I'm missing something. Is having the step on the side of
the truck so big an advantage as to outweigh the disadvantages?
I searched the web and found lots of people talking about stepsides,
but I couldn't find the why.

[Mike]

Post by Pete Benfield
A big advantage to the stepside, when hauling cattle...is when the cattle
move around and crowd to one side, the center of gravity is contained, and
the risk of laying the truck on it's side is minimized. (compared to a
fleetside or wide bed....much safer)
I've hauled 'em and it makes a big difference.
Take care, Pete

Cattle? Crowd?

I'd expect that you might fit a single animal. How many head of cattle
are you fitting in your pickup (glovebox excluded)?

[brianorion]

X-No archive:yes

Post by Mike

Post by Pete Benfield
A big advantage to the stepside, when hauling cattle...is when the cattle
move around and crowd to one side, the center of gravity is contained, and
the risk of laying the truck on it's side is minimized. (compared to a
fleetside or wide bed....much safer)
I've hauled 'em and it makes a big difference.
Take care, Pete

Cattle? Crowd?
I'd expect that you might fit a single animal. How many head of cattle
are you fitting in your pickup (glovebox excluded)?

LOL!
Actually nowadays people get the short bed step-side because they
think it is "cool" to drive around with 1/2 of a truck and if they need
to, they can fit their girl friend's golf clubs in the back.Anything
bigger and they have to lean it against the cab or have it stick out
over the tailgate and tie it down. Of course one of the mandatory
"improvements" is to get it lowered so that it scapes the pavement and
can't haul a bag of bear cans. But hey! It looks cool!

[William R. Walsh]

Hi!

Post by brianorion
can't haul a bag of bear cans. But hey! It looks cool!

What are bear cans? :-D

Otherwise that's pretty much the case as far as I'm concerned.

William

[Pete Benfield]

That depends on the size of the cattle....and you can put a bunch of mice in
the glovebox....ha ha...I can tell you ain't hauled any cattle...........
Pete

Post by Mike

Post by Pete Benfield
A big advantage to the stepside, when hauling cattle...is when the cattle
move around and crowd to one side, the center of gravity is contained, and
the risk of laying the truck on it's side is minimized. (compared to a
fleetside or wide bed....much safer)
I've hauled 'em and it makes a big difference.
Take care, Pete

Cattle? Crowd?
I'd expect that you might fit a single animal. How many head of cattle
are you fitting in your pickup (glovebox excluded)?

[Mike]

Post by Pete Benfield
That depends on the size of the cattle....and you can put a bunch of mice in
the glovebox....ha ha...I can tell you ain't hauled any cattle...........
Pete

:)

No, never hauled cattle. I didn't think it showed.

[Tom Levigne]

LOL!

Post by Mike

Post by Pete Benfield
A big advantage to the stepside, when hauling cattle...is when the cattle
move around and crowd to one side, the center of gravity is contained, and
the risk of laying the truck on it's side is minimized. (compared to a
fleetside or wide bed....much safer)
I've hauled 'em and it makes a big difference.
Take care, Pete

Cattle? Crowd?
I'd expect that you might fit a single animal. How many head of cattle
are you fitting in your pickup (glovebox excluded)?

[Battleax]

Post by Pete Benfield
A big advantage to the stepside, when hauling cattle...is when the cattle
move around and crowd to one side, the center of gravity is contained, and
the risk of laying the truck on it's side is minimized. (compared to a
fleetside or wide bed....much safer)
I've hauled 'em and it makes a big difference.
Take care, Pete

This is true, especially if you substitute "cattle" with "piano"

[Craig M]

I had a 82 Chevy stepside and I liked the looks of the bed, something about
it, just made it a better looking truck then the fleetside, I still get
misty eyed when I see one on the road once in a while, they were a clasic
truck, hope the smithsonionan puts one in some time soon :)

Post by s***@gmail.com
I recently found myself checking out a used Sierra pickup with a
stepside bed. I've been thinking about getting a pickup, and in
thinking about this particular truck, I'm reminded of something I've
never quite been able to figure out.
What is the purpose of the stepside bed? Don't get mad - I'm really
asking. Almost every manufacturer has produced them at one time or
another, so there has to be an advantage.
It seems like you get a pretty significant reduction in cargo area, and
it seems to break the lines of the truck. I'm not sure about
aerodynamics, but I'd guess they suffer slightly too.
I feel like I'm missing something. Is having the step on the side of
the truck so big an advantage as to outweigh the disadvantages?
I searched the web and found lots of people talking about stepsides,
but I couldn't find the why.

[unknown]

Check out this word.. "Evolution". Think about it, how long have there been
pickups? Were there 'fleetside' beds back then?

I have heard moving animals in the step side bed prevented them from
stumbling over the wheel wells.

No, I have never moved cattle, but how did they do it 60 years ago?

The older step side were much better looking than anything out there today.

my 2cents.
--

Post by s***@gmail.com
I recently found myself checking out a used Sierra pickup with a
stepside bed. I've been thinking about getting a pickup, and in
thinking about this particular truck, I'm reminded of something I've
never quite been able to figure out.
What is the purpose of the stepside bed? Don't get mad - I'm really
asking. Almost every manufacturer has produced them at one time or
another, so there has to be an advantage.
It seems like you get a pretty significant reduction in cargo area, and
it seems to break the lines of the truck. I'm not sure about
aerodynamics, but I'd guess they suffer slightly too.
I feel like I'm missing something. Is having the step on the side of
the truck so big an advantage as to outweigh the disadvantages?
I searched the web and found lots of people talking about stepsides,
but I couldn't find the why.

[none2u]

I think stepsides look very cool, But as far as practical, except for
animals . Its not. I define Practical as being able to haul basic building
materials. Such as a stack of 4by 8s laying flat. I do hate climbing over
the side , though when I have a huge load to move.

Post by unknown
Check out this word.. "Evolution". Think about it, how long have there
been pickups? Were there 'fleetside' beds back then?
I have heard moving animals in the step side bed prevented them from
stumbling over the wheel wells.
No, I have never moved cattle, but how did they do it 60 years ago?
The older step side were much better looking than anything out there today.
my 2cents.
--

Post by s***@gmail.com
I recently found myself checking out a used Sierra pickup with a
stepside bed. I've been thinking about getting a pickup, and in
thinking about this particular truck, I'm reminded of something I've
never quite been able to figure out.
What is the purpose of the stepside bed? Don't get mad - I'm really
asking. Almost every manufacturer has produced them at one time or
another, so there has to be an advantage.
It seems like you get a pretty significant reduction in cargo area, and
it seems to break the lines of the truck. I'm not sure about
aerodynamics, but I'd guess they suffer slightly too.
I feel like I'm missing something. Is having the step on the side of
the truck so big an advantage as to outweigh the disadvantages?
I searched the web and found lots of people talking about stepsides,
but I couldn't find the why.

[Joe Smith]

Post by none2u
I think stepsides look very cool, But as far as practical, except for
animals . Its not. I define Practical as being able to haul basic
building materials. Such as a stack of 4by 8s laying flat. I do hate
climbing over the side , though when I have a huge load to move.

IIRC, there is 4 feet between the sides, so the plywood would fit.

[none2u]

Is there 4 feet between the wheel wells. ? And can I close the tailgate.

Post by Joe Smith

Post by none2u
I think stepsides look very cool, But as far as practical, except for
animals . Its not. I define Practical as being able to haul basic
building materials. Such as a stack of 4by 8s laying flat. I do hate
climbing over the side , though when I have a huge load to move.

IIRC, there is 4 feet between the sides, so the plywood would fit.

[Mike]

Post by none2u
Is there 4 feet between the wheel wells. ? And can I close the tailgate.

I'd imagine you could if you had an 8' stepside bed.

[Tom Levigne]

Stepsides were the only kind of pickup trucks originally. The rear wheels
stuck out just like the front wheels did and needed fenders over them.
Then in the 1950's the cabs were built without wheels sticking out with
separate fenders but the rear ends remained the same.
Then in the 1960's or so they started making both kinds of boxes and they
both sold. Work trucks still had stepsides. People who wanted modern
styling bought "fleetsides" or "sweptline" or whatever. By the 1970's the
stepside was losing out. The stepside is not practical today and there is
no advantage at all except the styling is a remnant of the past that a few
people still prefer for whatever reason.

TL

Post by none2u
Is there 4 feet between the wheel wells. ? And can I close the tailgate.

Post by Joe Smith

Post by none2u
I think stepsides look very cool, But as far as practical, except for
animals . Its not. I define Practical as being able to haul basic
building materials. Such as a stack of 4by 8s laying flat. I do hate
climbing over the side , though when I have a huge load to move.

IIRC, there is 4 feet between the sides, so the plywood would fit.

[Michael McNeil]

4 feet 1 inch to be exact. :)

Post by Joe Smith

Post by none2u
I think stepsides look very cool, But as far as practical, except for
animals . Its not. I define Practical as being able to haul basic
building materials. Such as a stack of 4by 8s laying flat. I do hate
climbing over the side , though when I have a huge load to move.

IIRC, there is 4 feet between the sides, so the plywood would fit.

[Michael McNeil]

I drive a stepside truck. 1993 chevrolet Silverado

I've had it for a couple years now and I wouldn't trade it for anything else. I use this truck for
hauling and moving furniture on a daily basis. With the straight sides on the inside of the bed, it
allows for better storage of furniture items without having to deal with the wheel wells on a fleet
side. It is 4'1" wide which allows a sheet of plywood to sit flat but with the bed only being 6'1"
long I have to leave the tailgate down.

My stepside: http://users.eastlink.ca/~mikemcneil/vehicle.htm