72 C30 9 ft stepside

[special-K]

Back before we were concerned about a truck lasting forever, the first thing we did was lay plywood over the steel floor. I used to cut pieces to fit around the wheel house to make it a complete floor.

The first beds were Stepside style because all cars and trucks were stepside/fendersides. The steps were running boards, the body was wide as the frame, and fenders were out covering the tires. Wood was used for structure, body mounting, and floorboards. Then bodies got wide with fenders incorporated in the first post-war design cars, but trucks were still somewhere in between. About 10 years later, just prior to the new incorporated body '60s, the first Fleetsides came out as an option and the floors continued to be made the same. It wasn't till '67 that a steel floor went in, along with double wall bedsides and tailgate latch mechanisms. Stepsides continued to be made as they always were till they were discontinued after '87. The woodfloor Fleetside became the option through '72, but due to low orders was discontinued in '73. I'm sure small livestock farmers were disappointed, along with many other trades. It's much like a trailer...steel deck vs wood. That steel is tough and great, but it sure is nice to run a screw into that wood to secure a load and a replaceable floor is nice further down the road after years of hard use.

[In The Ten Ring]

I did the onsite search function for "C30 Stepsides" and found this old thread. As for the video, I hit youtube for the same topic.

My dad replaced my rotted out wood floor with a steel bed he cut himself. The bedsides are seamlessly welded on and the thing is held onto the frame with 4 bolts. I can see why a wooden bed would be nice for livestock.

I do like a longer wheel base and if my truck ever is lost, that is what will replace it.

"Hard to steer at slow speeds?" Where I come from we have a cure for that. It's called "bigger muscles."

[tschev]

Hehe, bigger muscles... That's a good one!

[no1udknow]

Originally Posted by tschev

Hehe, bigger muscles... That's a good one!

When I was a teenager, my dad got me a job in the summer working for his friends asphalt paving company. I did patchwork and a few other road repairs. The boss gave me a 64 1 ton long bed 3 on the tree to drive. The first time I got in it I had never driven a car without power steering. I asked him if there was something wrong with the power steering.... I got laughed at by all the older guys, the boss told me "there's nothing wrong with it... you are the power steering, if you've got power, you can steer it". I definitely grew some tricep muscles that summer. Elbows up!!

[special-K]

Originally Posted by no1udknow

When I was a teenager, my dad got me a job in the summer working for his friends asphalt paving company. I did patchwork and a few other road repairs. The boss gave me a 64 1 ton long bed 3 on the tree to drive. The first time I got in it I had never driven a car without power steering. I asked him if there was something wrong with the power steering.... I got laughed at by all the older guys, the boss told me "there's nothing wrong with it... you are the power steering, if you've got power, you can steer it". I definitely grew some tricep muscles that summer. Elbows up!!

We always called that Armstrong steering. I drove a Power Wagon with manual steering and 37/14.50 tires for years. I live in the country but did have to parallel park it more than once

[wreckedchevy]

I think I might be suffering from truck length envy

[Turbo1dr]

Here's one for sale. Not mine.

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/4679194270.html

[Sicklajoie]

Originally Posted by Turbo1dr

Here's one for sale. Not mine.

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/4679194270.html

Wow, that's sharp!