Would you recommend this?

Evil SS · July 6, 2002

Since I can't find a stepside for a reasonable price, I was wondering if any of you had any experience with swapping beds. There's a few places that sell them, and I figured just buy a SB and trade em out. How much does that cost? Also, do you think that I would get a little bit more rattles and squeaks than I would want? Thanks guys!

racer0175 · July 7, 2002

patience is a virtue....or you could be like me...lol

you probably could switch the bed or do just about anything if you have the cash and ability.

what kind of truck are you looking at buying? what year?

i believe that the wiring harness would line up, along with the gas tank fill hole, but you have to figure that the paint isn't gonna match factory, or a least you will have to pay for the paint job and the labor to install it. and i'm sure you will have to sell your bed for a loss

i suggest to be patient and just buy what you want, i think it would cost alot to do a conversion like that so i don't think you would be saving anything...just my 2 cents

MarkD · July 7, 2002

I agree. Plus if you ever sell it, the VIN would show a fleetside and you may have some troubles. Wait and get what you want.

chevy4x4trucks · July 7, 2002

I doubt there would be any problems w/ rattles and squeeks, all there are or 6 bolts that hold it down, just make sure the shop that does it used loc-tite and torquest to mfg. specs.

Evil SS · July 7, 2002

I'm looking for a 99-00, or even newer stepside sierra with either the 4.8, or the 5.3....preferably blue, black, or silver. Anyways, I was looking through the auto trader and saw an ad for stricker parts, which are body parts for trucks... I think they take the good panels from wrecked trucks and sell them, which is why they have the factory beds already painted, which will probably match, and if not, be very close to it. Problems are, 1 I don't have a truck to begin with, and 2 don't know exactly how much something like that would be. About the VIN, I'm not sure that anyone would know....a few weeks ago I asked about a vin decoder to see if any of the digits specified fleetsides, and it didn't specify....either way I'd tell them if I was going to sell it....which would probably be a long time from now, because I LOVE the looks of those trucks....anyone else?

Victory Red · July 7, 2002

You are correct. The VIN number tells you nothing about what style bed is on the truck. So I wouldn't worry about resale problems. As far as noises and such, I would think unless the swap was done EXACTLY as the factory installed it, that eventually you might hear some noises. That's not a big issue though. Just crawl under the truck and tighten it up when it squeeks.

Still, it sounds like an awful lot of work to get the truck you want. I would be patient and wait. Something is bound to come up sooner or later. I can't blame you for wanting a stepside though. They are sweet looking aren't they? :inlove:

Stepside Z · July 8, 2002

You will probibly be better off waiting to find the truck you want. Sounds like you can run into alot of expence doing the swap.

MarkD · July 8, 2002

You are correct. The VIN number tells you nothing about what style bed is on the truck. So I wouldn't worry about resale problems.

Sorry, I should have been less vague. A dealer can look up your VIN and tell you whatever you want to know about a truck. The RPO sticker in the glove box will do the same thing. A lot of the dealers around here are very savy about checking the VIN. I think someone put LT or SLT badges on a base model or something.

CityTruck · July 8, 2002

You are correct. The VIN number tells you nothing about what style bed is on the truck. So I wouldn't worry about resale problems.

Sorry, I should have been less vague. A dealer can look up your VIN and tell you whatever you want to know about a truck. The RPO sticker in the glove box will do the same thing. A lot of the dealers around here are very savy about checking the VIN. I think someone put LT or SLT badges on a base model or something.

Yeah, the sticker in the glove box will indicate fleet or stepside. They do check that when you trade it in or sell it. (at least they did on my 95)

(E62 = Sport side)