Stepside Trucks--Cool but why?

[RobS]

That's what I thought, thanks for confirming Gary. My sister and BIL have one too. Great for family hauling but much else /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[bigpete]

I think you might be thinking of the Explorer Sport Trac. The bed appears to hold less than the trunk of a Crown Victoria.

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

<font color="blue"> why the stepside style truck (has) such a high price tag....resale....according to the dealer its the hardest to find and easest to sell of any of the gm trucks..it looks good, and i would guess, a lot of folks buy trucks, and never haul anything... </font>

Your dealer gave you the straight scoop there. I never have to sit on a stepside very long. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[fivestring]

That's the one.
My little S-10 bed holds more than the Sport Trac does.
She can haul more kids, tho!! LOL.

 

[Bird]

Gary, higher price tag and better resale might be the trend now, but I've only had one "styleside" and that was when I bought a new 1969 shortly after the 1970 models hit the dealers and I bought the styleside only because it was the cheapest new pickup I could buy at the time ($1948 if I remember right. It had a heater and a rear bumper; no other "options"). /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Egon]

Bird:

Do you remember the days when pickups only came in the stepside mode. We must aben real cool back then.

Egon

 

[Will_C]

Bird; Your post made me smile and remember my father (who has been gone 11 years now) telling me about his 1965 Chevy. It was his first new truck. He paid $2195 for it, a 1/2 ton 2wd that was considered the ultimate in fancy; it had a AM radio, heater, and a chrome front bumper!!
Will

 

[Bird]

Yep, Egon, I remember when they were all stepside, and when they changed, a lot of folks didn't like the new wide bed with those fenders in the way inside the bed. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif When I had the 1969, the only objection I had to it was the fact that it was harder to hand wash and wax the exterior.

 

[Bird]

Yep, Will, there was a time when a new pickup cost considerably less than a new car, and then the used ones held their value better than a car.

 

[RobS]

OK, as promised here is a photo of my ultimate yuppie-mobile short bed crew cab. Details of the bed wrinkle will be in the safety forum shortly /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[bigpete]

Glad you took the nerf side pipes off and ditched those alloy wheels. We won't have any of that shiny stuff 'round here /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

<font color="blue"> higher price tag and better resale might be the trend now </font>

It has been for the entire 27 years I've been in the business and it continued through today when I sold a 1988 GMC short bed stepside I've not owned a week yet and never even advertised. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I'd love to buy a twin to it tomorrow. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[bgott]

Did Dodge build a '94 or newer stepside? The reason I'm asking is I saw one the other day. I think they might have used a Chevy bed but they had Dodge tailights and plastic tailgate trim. I saw it in passing but from what I could see if it wasn't factory ( I don't really think it was) someone had done a proffessional job on the conversion. Do you think you could get a premium for something like that?

 

[fivestring]

Rob, that looks like a work truck. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Where did you hide the 22 inch riumps, 9 power amps, speakers mounted in the bed, hydraulics, etc.? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Are they in the tractor shed??? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

<font color="blue"> Do you think you could get a premium for something like that? </font>

Well, it's still a Dodge, but, as compared with the regular short bed Dodge, all other things being equal, yes. How was that for 'qualifying an answer? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Some conversion companies in the middle nineties either took short bed GM stepside beds or custom made beds and put them on Dodge short wheel base chassis cabs with very good results. Of course, even with black or white, they have to repaint the entire bed inside and out to match the cab. That's sure not cheap.

The finished trucks looked great as the body lines were very compatible and the combination had a very nice appearance. I'd certainly pay more for one done like that over what I'd pay for the standard bed for the short wheelbase with the Dodge cab. I wouldn't, however, pay enough more to even cover the cost of painting the bed to match.

 

[RayBee]

Hey, what's wrong with looking COOL /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif when you arrive at the jobsite, or just hauling your rig on the highway? I love my yuppie truck even if I'm not a yuppie, just wipe your muddy boots if your going to ride with me /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif. My 99' F150 flairside does a great job of hauling this 10K trailer and Kubota B2710/ BH or taking the wife to a fine restaurant /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif ..Raybee

 

[RayBee]

OOP'S .....I almost forgot to include this pix (the other side of the flairside's personality) it sure likes to "ruff it" in style. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif Don't you all agree it looks at home with the trees and the roundish camper /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif? Sure get a lot of thumbs up. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif ...Raybee
The hardtop tonneau works great also for locking up tools or camp gear. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Bird]

Nice looking rig, whether with camper or tractor/trailer. I didn't know any of those Casitas had gotten that far north. I guess you know they're made on I-45 just a little ways south of Dallas.

 

[RayBee]

Hi Bird; ....Yes, we visited Texas 3 yrs. ago and took a tour of the Casita plant and lots of your beautiful scenic state. Were planning to go thru again this January going to Padre Island, Big bend and warmer regions. We belong to a Casita club and toured the Rocky Mtn. Nat'l park last year with 40 other owners and had a blast. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif ..Regards, Raybee

 

[Lefty_Kubota]

another Casita owner here..