Flare side trucks

[conorvansmack]

I don't get flare-side trucks. It's only my opinion, but they're ugly as all get out and I don't understand the reasoning behind it. It can't be for looks and it reduces the size of the truck bed.

I saw a really nice truck (front half only) yesterday, but as I got closer, the rear end ruined it for me. Can anyone explain these abominations to me?

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Used to be style, but now they've made them not so stylish. Another function was that it had a step to use to climb up and grab stuff.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Until the 1950's or so, nearly all pickups were stepside (Ford calls it "flareside", Chevy calls it "sportside"). This was done largely for cost; it's cheaper to make a square bed as opposed to a full-width one with lots of shaping required. In the mid-50's, Ford introduced their "styleside" bed that is now the more common option. Occasionally you'll still hear an older person call a stepside pickup a "thriftside", which is a reference to the fact that the stepside pickups used to be cheaper due to the manufacturing ease (square bed and thin, separate, fenders as opposed to a bed with a complex shape to accommodate wheel movement).

Modern stepsides are essentially purely for style reasons. Some people just think they look better (I think that they clash with the more rounded form of modern pickups, but I do think that most pickups prior to the late 1990's do look quite nice with a stepside bed).

ZV

 

[JulesMaximus]

To look stupid.

 

[spaceman]

they are handy sometimes wen u dont feel like standing on the tire.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: clowntard
they are handy sometimes wen u dont feel like standing on the tire.

They give you less useable space in the bed though. I don't see the point personally. It's like taking a low slung sports car and putting a lift kit on it...or 22" wheels.

 

[Mutilator]

Originally posted by: clowntard
they are handy sometimes wen u dont feel like standing on the tire.

I know when I had my Lightning that step came in handy when I was detailing the roof.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
To look stupid.

You are being too kind, in some cases.

 

[conorvansmack]

I get the stepside part. It reminds me too much of G.I. Joe.

You know, you're driving and your friend the the back is firing the bed-mounted rocket launcher and your two other buddies are using the "steps" to stand on while they shoot at COBRA.

I'm with you on the newer trucks looking lame. It's a horrible decision, like the 22" wheels and a lift on a low slung car, or a mullet.

 

[alkemyst]

while they cut down on total volume, they really don't limit many to what they can carry. the width of the bed is ultimately limited by the wheels anyway regardless of style.

 

[SparkyJJO]

Because it mimicks the duallie, and a duallie is "cool" ?

I think that they look dumb. And I also think that in a duallie truck they should have the bed wider to cover the wheels all the way back. It would look better IMO and then you'd have even more bed space. Granted some objects wouldn't fit any better but for carrying multiple things it would.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: SparkyJJO
Because it mimicks the duallie, and a duallie is "cool" ?

I think that they look dumb. And I also think that in a duallie truck they should have the bed wider to cover the wheels all the way back. It would look better IMO and then you'd have even more bed space. Granted some objects wouldn't fit any better but for carrying multiple things it would.

Making the bed wider to cover a duallie would require making the entire truck wider. Not cost effective. Cheaper to just add a fender flare.

ZV

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: SparkyJJO
Because it mimicks the duallie, and a duallie is "cool" ?

I think that they look dumb. And I also think that in a duallie truck they should have the bed wider to cover the wheels all the way back. It would look better IMO and then you'd have even more bed space. Granted some objects wouldn't fit any better but for carrying multiple things it would.

Making the bed wider to cover a duallie would require making the entire truck wider. Not cost effective. Cheaper to just add a fender flare.

ZV

GM had a concept truck at one point where they used a dually width rear axle and smoothed in a fender flare from a step side making a fully flat 6' wide box. But that was to gauge consumer reactions to the idea. In the end, I think the result was "Not a bad idea, but nobody wants it."

 

[Xyclone]

I read it was so the truck can have a perfectly rectangular bed, but they are ugly as hell and I'm sure you're losing bed space to get the perfect rectangle.

 

[franksta]

I like mine and there's never been an instance where I regretted not getting the slab side version.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: SparkyJJO
Because it mimicks the duallie, and a duallie is "cool" ?

I think that they look dumb. And I also think that in a duallie truck they should have the bed wider to cover the wheels all the way back. It would look better IMO and then you'd have even more bed space. Granted some objects wouldn't fit any better but for carrying multiple things it would.

Making the bed wider to cover a duallie would require making the entire truck wider. Not cost effective. Cheaper to just add a fender flare.

ZV

GM had a concept truck at one point where they used a dually width rear axle and smoothed in a fender flare from a step side making a fully flat 6' wide box. But that was to gauge consumer reactions to the idea. In the end, I think the result was "Not a bad idea, but nobody wants it."

How do you get a wider bed from that? The inside wheels in a dually are usually just as close together as a normal pickup's wheels. Unless they omitted the inside wheels?

ZV

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
GM had a concept truck at one point where they used a dually width rear axle and smoothed in a fender flare from a step side making a fully flat 6' wide box. But that was to gauge consumer reactions to the idea. In the end, I think the result was "Not a bad idea, but nobody wants it."

How do you get a wider bed from that? The inside wheels in a dually are usually just as close together as a normal pickup's wheels. Unless they omitted the inside wheels?

ZV

No inside wheels.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
GM had a concept truck at one point where they used a dually width rear axle and smoothed in a fender flare from a step side making a fully flat 6' wide box. But that was to gauge consumer reactions to the idea. In the end, I think the result was "Not a bad idea, but nobody wants it."

How do you get a wider bed from that? The inside wheels in a dually are usually just as close together as a normal pickup's wheels. Unless they omitted the inside wheels?

ZV

No inside wheels.

Ahh. That makes sense then. I can see why no-one would want it though. The only reason people tolerate the extra width on a dually is because they need the weight capacity. I can definitely see why people wouldn't want to put up with an entire truck that was that wide.

ZV

 

[mooseracing]

Originally posted by: alkemyst
while they cut down on total volume, they really don't limit many to what they can carry. the width of the bed is ultimately limited by the wheels anyway regardless of style.

Yep you can still carry a 4x8 sheet of plywood in a stepside.

they are teh same width inside when you are trying to carry something flat, the only time you notice the difference is when carry a loose material. I enjoyed stepside beds in the rocks more as it was like having a dovetail slightly.

 

[herm0016]

i believe the first smooth side pickup was the 55 cameo. they are beautiful trucks. i would love to own a 57'. http://www.hotrodscustomstuff.com/Espinoza-01.html

 

[imported_Baloo]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: SparkyJJO
Because it mimicks the duallie, and a duallie is "cool" ?

I think that they look dumb. And I also think that in a duallie truck they should have the bed wider to cover the wheels all the way back. It would look better IMO and then you'd have even more bed space. Granted some objects wouldn't fit any better but for carrying multiple things it would.

Making the bed wider to cover a duallie would require making the entire truck wider. Not cost effective. Cheaper to just add a fender flare.

ZV

No, it would not neceessitate making the entire vehicle wider. As evidenced by the many trucks out there now, such as flat beds and box trucks, where the beds and the boxes are wider than the rest of the vehicle.

 

[railer]

Originally posted by: mooseracing

Originally posted by: alkemyst
while they cut down on total volume, they really don't limit many to what they can carry. the width of the bed is ultimately limited by the wheels anyway regardless of style.

Yep you can still carry a 4x8 sheet of plywood in a stepside.

they are teh same width inside when you are trying to carry something flat, the only time you notice the difference is when carry a loose material. I enjoyed stepside beds in the rocks more as it was like having a dovetail slightly.

they're not the same width. You lose about 6" or so of width at the tailgate with a stepside. I couldn't fit my riding mower into my last stepside f150, no problems with the flatside f150 that I now have. Stepsides do look nice on the f150's at least, IMO.

 

[d33pt]

the last model tundra is the ugliest stepside i've ever seen. looking at the tail-lights makes me want to barf.

 

[franksta]

Originally posted by: railer



they're not the same width. You lose about 6" or so of width at the tailgate with a stepside. I couldn't fit my riding mower into my last stepside f150, no problems with the flatside f150 that I now have. Stepsides do look nice on the f150's at least, IMO.

My lawn mower fits but just barely, if I didn't have the smallest model it probably wouldn't fit.

 

[Throckmorton]

Originally posted by: franksta

Originally posted by: railer



they're not the same width. You lose about 6" or so of width at the tailgate with a stepside. I couldn't fit my riding mower into my last stepside f150, no problems with the flatside f150 that I now have. Stepsides do look nice on the f150's at least, IMO.

My lawn mower fits but just barely, if I didn't have the smallest model it probably wouldn't fit.

Looks like you need new springs