Future of Stepside

[RedSpeed]

I was wondering if anyone has heard if chevy is going release somekind of a stepside version of the new silverado. I asked a dealer near me and he said he hadn't heard anything.

[921500Z71]

I would say no stepside on the 900's. They just became more and more pointless as the new bodies came out. Once the 88-98's came out the stepside basically lost all of its functinality (sp?)

[JimsZR2]

I think eventually stepsides will be done and gone... I mean, Who wants a full sdize truck with a narrow bed on it? Not me...

[67ChevyRedneck]

GM discontinued them because of increasingly lower sales and it costs alot of money (millions) to develop and produce a bed that will be sold in low volumes.

[Buggle_96]

Im curious what was the purpose behide a step side. Obviously it was easier to step onto, but did it have a certain function on a farm or something?

[tflessner]

Im curious what was the purpose behide a step side. Obviously it was easier to step onto, but did it have a certain function on a farm or something?

 

 

Not on our farm......the more space in the box, the better!

[Chaddprice]

From what I know, the stepside was useful when hauling grain or something that was needed to be shoveled/dumped out of the box. With the box being narrower, the inside of the fender is not sticking into the box, making a smooth surface for easy cleaning etc. Obviously that isn't really the case nowadays so I guess there's less demand for it otherwise.

[Buggle_96]

From what I know, the stepside was useful when hauling grain or something that was needed to be shoveled/dumped out of the box. With the box being narrower, the inside of the fender is not sticking into the box, making a smooth surface for easy cleaning etc. Obviously that isn't really the case nowadays so I guess there's less demand for it otherwise.

 

That makes sense, thanks!

[asilverblazer]

I tow more than a haul, I liked the looks personally.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Im curious what was the purpose behide a step side. Obviously it was easier to step onto, but did it have a certain function on a farm or something?

 

 

For many years the only bed available on a pick-up was a stepside. GM introduced the very first fleetside bed of any manufacturer in 1955. It was called the Cameo Carrier and it was a stepside bed with fiberglass bedsides bolted to it that matched the bodylines of the cab. It was actaully a really beautiful truck. In 1958 GM released a fleetside bed as we know them today. It was a double walled steel bed that was wider than the stepside and matched the body lines of the cab. Up until about 1970 GM sold more stepsides than fleetsides. I don't know what caused the shift in sales, but in 1971 GM sold more fleetsides than stepsides and has sold more ever since.

 

I like history

[Deep Blue]

I tow more than a haul, I liked the looks personally.

 

Yeah especially lowered with wide wheels and tires in the back. Sort of a mini-dually look.

[ahabofthepequod]

The closest GM has come to a stepside in recent years was a step that was inserted into the Colorado/Canyon pickup bed just in front of the rear tires. This option was dropped shortly after the trucks were put into production.

[mschuyler]

I was wondering if anyone has heard if chevy is going release somekind of a stepside version of the new silverado. I asked a dealer near me and he said he hadn't heard anything.

 

It does narrow the bed a little on both sides, so you have this hump if you want to put a 4 x 8 flat. That's the biggest drawback and it is a constant issue when you haul. I deal with it all the time on my stepside. They do look cool. The other functional part of a stepside is the ability to climb up at the cab end of the bed and help deal with the load, like pulling something in rather than pushing it in from the tailgate. Wheel to wheel nerf bars (Westin has them) would accomplish the same goal. On trucks with tall beds today that would be extremely handy. I measured my son-in-law's Duramax yesterday (It's lifted slightly; he calls it a 'Mexican Lift'--don't know what he means.) My belt buckle hits half way up the side--not good for paint when you're leaning over the bed. His nerf bars only cover the doors of the CC. The Fords are worse. You need a ladder to get up the side on one of the F250's. (Not that you'd want to, I know!)

[drewtori]

i was woundering how come fords step side is wider the chevy ill be honest i never really liked such a narrow bed but ford doesnt seem to be that narrow is it the shape chevy square ford round? also the 2008 ford 250 350 and 450 have a ladder deal built into the tail gate its preety kool the new engine is preety neat to and the truck is huge later

[OUMike]

Very cool history lesson on the stepsides.

 

I love my stepside, and I'm kinda glad they quit making them. I hope its one of those things where my kids (I'm 22 so its gonna be another 10 years) will ask me about cause they'd never seen it before.

 

I really don't have a preference on the newer trucks. But I think on the ol' 88-98 (GMT-600?) I def like the stepside better on regular cabs. I liked the stepsides alot too on the models up to 2002, but when they went to the Av front end I thought they looked a little wierd. Smooth bed with the sharp angles of the front end.

 

New F*rd stepsides are fugly.