Step side trucks - what's the point?

[john2443]

I spotted a chevy step side similar to this today, and can't help wondering what the point is, apart from being cool, surely if the sides were in line with the cab the load volume would be higher - the wheel arches would encroach a bit, but the useable volume would still be more?

[Desiato]

Is it enough of a step to allow you to step up far enough to throw a leg over and climb into the back?

[filski666]

Back in the day when pickups were used for transporting stuff, rather than just being a way around company car tax, the step would have made it easier to reach things in the back.

[Hugo a Gogo]

cos it gives you a straight bed to load stuff in an out of more easily, obviously

[LS6wetdream]

filski666 said:

Back in the day when pickups were used for transporting stuff, rather than just being a way around company car tax, the step would have made it easier to reach things in the back.

rofl

[braddo]

I wonder if they might have been cheaper to make/update too - just a box with wheelarches stuck on so there's no need to have it all styled and aligned to match the cab.

Or people were used to having a step there when trucks had running boards, so wanted the same even with the new 50s styling of the cab.

[vdubbin]

braddo said:

I wonder if they might have been cheaper to make/update too - just a box with wheelarches stuck on so there's no need to have it all styled and aligned to match the cab.

Or people were used to having a step there when trucks had running boards, so wanted the same even with the new 50s styling of the cab.

I reckon it's this, stepsides were easier/cheaper to build and repair. In some cases they were still available after fleetside beds were introduced (and not just the cosmetic pseudo-flaresides you see today)

Edited by vdubbin on Tuesday 19th October 10:23

[john2443]

vdubbin said:

braddo said:

I wonder if they might have been cheaper to make/update too - just a box with wheelarches stuck on so there's no need to have it all styled and aligned to match the cab.

Or people were used to having a step there when trucks had running boards, so wanted the same even with the new 50s styling of the cab.

I reckon it's this, stepsides were easier/cheaper to build and repair. In some cases they were still available after fleetside beds were introduced (and not just the cosmetic pseudo-flaresides you see today)

Edited by vdubbin on Tuesday 19th October 10:23

Yes, that sounds reasonable.

[Incorrigible]

Old Studebakers, even had the same wings on each side and each bed half was symetrical/identical to make them simpler