Step VS Styleside bed?

[hutch1973]

This is something I've been debating on back and forth for a couple weeks, and I'm curious on someone else's input.

I bought my stepside as a restoration project that I could make runs to Home Depot for a few sheets of drywall once in awhile. Then end goal was near show type quality, and something I would only put a couple ka on a year, tops.

Since then, life has changed. We (the woman and myself) have had enough of the city life, and want to get out into the country in the next year or so. Once we made the decision to do it, I started to rethink what to do with my truck, specifically leaning towards selling/trading it for the same era F250 Highboy, and just having a rough and tumble work type truck.

I've settled on keeping what I have, because it's a known commodity, and going somewhere in between. It's going to have a lot of "extra" put into it for just being a work-type truck, but that's mainly because I already bought and mostly installed the components. What I'm wondering is how much of a difference is their, space wise, between a style and stepside box?

I don't mind a short box. I can put the tailgate down and carry a 4x8 sheet flat in the stepside, but once I get into MDF (around 49.5" wide) they don't fit. Is the width between the wells that much different?

The other end of it is I want a box to use like a work truck. At this point it's fairly light duty, but we are going to take on an abandoned type farmette and do substantial work. I want to throw stuff in the back, not set it down gently to preserve the wood floor. My initial thought was to get a styleside bed, but the more I think about it I'm leaning towards making the stepside work. The thought is if something in the box gets seriously dented up/slides into the side and messes something up, it's easier to patch and repair a step side box (flat metal/bolt on fenders) then working with a styleside. I'm thinking of a steel floor in the step or possibly a floor of A: Oak with a sheet of 3/4" plywood when I'm hauling, or B: Replacing the wood floor with composite type decking material.

Any thoughts?

[fordman]

composite decking is junk. i like the style sides so i am tilted on my opinon

[hutch1973]

I lean towards steps, but overall I like short box's better no matter what. I also imagine the taillights being in the way (they already have been picking up drywall) and having to do something about that. The other end of it, as I'm sure Keith can attest, you can't go to the corner store and pick up a solid styleside bed.

[72hiboy4x4]

heres another thought for ya.
get a 16' utility trailer.
I bought mine in 2000 for $850.00 new and have used the heck out of it ever since.
I too have a truck I don't like to throw stuff into the box, but I just hook up the trailer and can haul everything and anything I want to with it. Cars Trucks, furniture, building supplies, just anything!
You end up with the best of both worlds, a nice truck (thats likely to stay that way) and the ability to haul more than you ever could with just a pickup.

[72hiboy4x4]

Oh and its just my opinion, but a short box truck isn't worth the time to load cause there isn't enough room in it for a good load of building supplies. But then I use a 1 ton LWB dually to pull the trailer, so I'm a little spoiled. I just don't like to have to go back to HD 2 or 3 times to get all the materials for my project.
and where are you going to put the long lumber you'll need for you newest project? (BTW I'm jealous)

[hutch1973]

A trailer Why didn't I think of that in the first place?

I haven't had issues with the shortbox with my current remod projects, because I can get a 4x8 into the back of it, and I really haven't done anything crazy in my house outside of build walls/plumbing etc. The one time I needed to move a 16' garage door I used my boss's truck/trailer combo.

Well that was easy

As far as the farm project, I have an eye on a house/barn/outbuildings about 15 out of town. It's sitting on a 4 acre plot, but you could probably pick up more around it if you were interested. It needs WORK. I'm hoping to have the truck on the road for good by August, then I can focus on my current house 1st. I need to reside it and wrap up some odds and ends before it's really ready to market. Hopefully I can have it listed by spring, but we'll see. Once I get a barn, the old lady may never see me again

[jzjames]

My opinion? Flaresides look better. You can always figure out how to fit stuff into them, although a nice pipe rack would be the ticket. Put tiedowns on it.
People who dont own trucks are always checking out the stepsides - which should tell you something. Bottom line - go with what really like, and you will be able to max it out any way you want.

[akcowboy]

Ideally, you'd get a long bed for farm work and clean up the stepside for a nice truck. We have a 7ft bed on our truck (ext cab) and while we can get everything in, it'd be nice to have "that little bit more".

[hutch1973]

At some point down the road, I'll probably get a longbox, but I'm thinking of the next 3-5 years first. The properties I'm looking at are something I would pick up with a 2nd Mortg. on my home, and will really need a solid amount of work (possibly a year) to be livable. The immediate purchase would be the house/buildings on the 3-5 acre plot it immediately sits upon. My thought is to get a shop built into one of the outbuildings that I can secure well, then go to town on the house. Whenever the house is ready, move into it and get our current place on the market.

Between now and then, juggling vehicles around in town is a pain in the rump, and a shortbox fits well into the garage (built in the 40s). I may end up purchasing the company i work for too, which would further complicate things with a company vehicle parking, but I'm hoping that can hold off for a few more years. (boss's are retiring)

A trailer I think is the ticket. Once we are living on the farmette I'll go for surrounding acreage, and at that point, a long box will probably be more of a requirement. At some point I'd like to fully restore my truck to what my original plan was, but realistically by the time we get moved/settled, get the full property to our liking, kids will be on the menu, and I'll be a pauper..

[bluef250]

I believe that the style side is just a little over 48" between the wheel wells. Anything larger has to be placed at an angle or over the wells. Don't get the truck to top heavy.

For occassionally use a frame (cross member) between/over the sides to support and carry materials.

Second, a trailer is always a useful addition/tool. You can load it and leave the load until needed. You can also rent them and some hardware stores used to give good details on their use.

The hardware stores will also deliver materials. Therefore you don't have to haul it.

I have thought about the composite lumber for flooring on a step side truck. The only issue against is that the plastic lumber gets hot and can lose strenght (it would sag.) Because it is plastic use respirator when making cuts.

[hutch1973]

I wondered if the composite would hold up with so little support beneath it, but that was something I was going to research futher before attempting it.

I'm probably going to put oak in for now. I have some rubber mats I bought to put into the back to use on oak, which would work for drywall/sheeting, etc.

I haven't used this truck for much on my current house, because I really haven't had it for any remods in the house. Prior to this I had a Ranger, and it worked good enough. My main complaint was I couldn't carry drywall flat, and it made for more work putting it up with the creases. The Ranger worked good enough to gut and remodel a [censored] and master suite, so this truck should easily finish the house. I'm more concerned with the next place, but the trailer should be good enough. I can't back a trailer to save my life, but I'll learn.

[72hiboy4x4]

Just remember that, contrary to popular belief, a longer trailer is easier to back than a short one.
then the trick to remember is to hold the bottom of the steering wheel and move it in the direction that you want the trailer to go. start it around then follow the trailer with the truck.
its easy after that!