stepside shortbed?

[v30crewcab]

are shortbed stepsides sought after? I have a chance to buy a bed for one, and my dad has a 81 shortbed that the floor rotted out of the bed. wondering what is the going rate for a stepside bed that needs a new floor. the rest is solid, just missing the wood. I would prefer a regular shortbed myself, but those seem to be hard to find in good shape.

[AspecialZ]

Around me their fairly plentiful. I have a few myself and I know of a few in ok shape, needing wood for $250-$400. I believe that their slowly disappearing at least on the east coast. Locations south of me I find a lot more of them (Georgia/North Carolina). Either way, but it and set it aside, you never know what you'll find down the road.

[87 STEPPER]

First thing to remember is that there were far fewer stepper beds produced then fleeties so that makes them more rare and if it has a fuel filler door on each fender then it's even more rare the longbed steppers are the rarest of 'em all........I say buy it!

[v30crewcab]

it only has a fuel door on the pass side. is that the normal side for only one? Will probably bring it home and resell it if I don't end up using it. hard to find a shortbed around here at all. most of them are rusted out bad. I can find good longbeds all day long, but not short ones.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by v30crewcab

it only has a fuel door on the pass side. is that the normal side for only one? Will probably bring it home and resell it if I don't end up using it. hard to find a shortbed around here at all. most of them are rusted out bad. I can find good longbeds all day long, but not short ones.

'73 - 80: passenger side only for single tank
'81 - 87: driver's side only for single tank
Both sides for dual tanks

K

[Tx Firefighter]

Originally Posted by v30crewcab

it only has a fuel door on the pass side. is that the normal side for only one? Will probably bring it home and resell it if I don't end up using it. hard to find a shortbed around here at all. most of them are rusted out bad. I can find good longbeds all day long, but not short ones.

Like Keith said, the passenger side filler makes it an early one. But, there's early ones and there's earlier early ones. The oldest ones had marker lights on the fenders and round tail lights like 67-72 trucks used. Then they went to no marker light and the square tail lights.

With all the guys building clones of 73-74 trucks nowadays (like myself), the early stepsides with marker lights and round tails are in quite a demand.

[INSIDIOUS '86]

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

Like Keith said, the passenger side filler makes it an early one. But, there's early ones and there's earlier early ones. The oldest ones had marker lights on the fenders and round tail lights like 67-72 trucks used. Then they went to no marker light and the square tail lights.

With all the guys building clones of 73-74 trucks nowadays (like myself), the early stepsides with marker lights and round tails are in quite a demand.

Mine has a early bed with marker lights and no fuel door. But has square tail lights. Being a 78 its supposed to have round?

[Rich84]

Also if it has the filler neck..I think I remember hearing that you can't get them anymore.

[walkerb]

They are around me! I buy every single on I find. 6' and 8'

[Rich84]

I think they were round up to 75 or 76. Then they went to the "trailor lights".

Where is your filler??

[Tx Firefighter]

Originally Posted by Rich84

I think they were round up to 75 or 76. Then they went to the "trailor lights".

Where is your filler??

That's what I remembered too. 73-75 got marker lights and round tailights. 76 went to the trailer lights with no marker lights (they were built into the sides of the trailer lights).

[Rich84]

I hate those lights..Can't wait to change them.

[Tx Firefighter]

Originally Posted by Rich84

I hate those lights..Can't wait to change them.

Pop over to the 67-72 parts board and pick you up a set of rounds. I bet Randy Zwygart (teeitup) has some he would sell. Paint the brackets, restore the lights, and its a 20 minute swap over. I think the bolt holes in the stake pocket are the same orientation, making them just a remove and replace job.

[walkerb]

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

Pop over to the 67-72 parts board and pick you up a set of rounds. I bet Randy Zwygart (teeitup) has some he would sell. Paint the brackets, restore the lights, and its a 20 minute swap over. I think the bolt holes in the stake pocket are the same orientation, making them just a remove and replace job.

If there like the 80's stake pockets only one hole lines up. Making the 73-76 lights and brackets only able to be mounted using one bolt to a "late" box.

[69heavychevy]

Step sides are an acquired taste...Around here people prefer the fleet sides by far. Although step sides are more rare, that doesn't necessarily make them more valuable than their fleet side counter parts.

[Rich84]

I like the look of the earlier rounds..Lowered closer to the bumper. I thing they are a little smaller, and they will go well with the 1950's script on my tailgate..

[BamaDave]

I am in need of a driver side for a 86. Just sayin!

[ghettoluxury]

I love the stepside bed on the 73-80 but not on the 81-87.

[Palf70Step]

I am still thinking about changing JR, my 83, from a fleet to step side. I too prefer the look of the step sides. Just have to see what will come down the line. I will admit I didn't know the differences between the earlier step sides and the later. I think I have only notices the 80's version orf late.

[dieseldawg142]

stepsides are cool looking trucks, but useless if your going to use it like a truck. my wife has owned a couple of them, a '79 & a '90, & after we load our 2 big dogs, it' full. also paid more for the step bed than the fleet bed on the '90- more money for less capacity, go figure... it's all about the look.
with a short wheelbase, minor lift & some good tires, it is very capable off road though

[76stepside01]

Anyone know many with the spare tire in the fender were made compared to regular stepsides?

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by 76stepside01

Anyone know many with the spare tire in the fender were made compared to regular stepsides?

Almost none.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but: that would be rare.

I cut up my original hanger to make a bracket to mount the spare inside the box on mine:



K

[76stepside01]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

Almost none.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but: that would be rare.

I cut up my original hanger to make a bracket to mount the spare inside the box on mine:



K

Interesting. My stepside originally had the spare tire in the fender. I still have the original fenders too. Although I don't know how desirable they are?

[Palf70Step]

I have never seen a short step in the 73-87 years with the spare mounted on the outside fender like the early models used. I think I saw one long step that had the fender spare, but that is it for these years or me.

[flashed]

My 74 short stepper has the spare mounted on the driverside outer fender .