"Stepside" vs. "Flareside"

[FORDification]

One of the more-common misconceptions among the newcomers to the Ford camps is the useage of the term "stepside" to denote a Ford truck with external rear wheelwells. Since this comes up fairly often, I decided to whip up this little graphic showing the proper useage of the bodystyle terms from each manufacturer. Please share at will.


(click to enlarge)

[fireguywtc]

I like the graphic. Are you going to add the writen discription to the "did you know" ticker on the top of the forums page?

[jzjames]

When did the company brands come up with the terms Stepside/Flareside?
It was the term "Stepside" that seemed to stick in the minds of consumers of those types of truck because of the word "step". More descriptive of the truck type. What does the term "flare" conjure up in your mind?

But it is what it is: Stepside is a more generic term for the trucks with the outboard rear fenders.

[69timemachine]

I am guilty of that too. No matter what the make, I always call them stepside. Only the '93-up Fords were always flare sides to me because that's what was on the fender emblem. We learn something every day!

[1982 flareside]

I am guilty of that too. No matter what the make, I always call them stepside. Only the '93-up Fords were always flare sides to me because that's what was on the fender emblem. We learn something every day!

im not

[abe]

When did the company brands come up with the terms Stepside/Flareside?
It was the term "Stepside" that seemed to stick in the minds of consumers of those types of truck because of the word "step". More descriptive of the truck type. What does the term "flare" conjure up in your mind?

But it is what it is: Stepside is a more generic term for the trucks with the outboard rear fenders.

I "think" Ford came up with the term Flareside in 1957 the first year they made 2 boxes, the traditional style box (fenders on the outside) and the new kind with the fenders on the inside of the bed. This style which some call the Fridge Fords due to there resemblance of refrigerators of the day was called Styleside as noted above. The older style box was called Flareside because the top of the bedsides flare out at an angle to make more strength and a bit more load height.

[jzjames]

called Flareside because the top of the bedsides flare out at an angle to make more strength and a bit more load height.

Great! That explanation never occurred to me. I was thinking somehow the fenders were the "flares".

[68 Ford Stepside]

I didn't realize until I saw this post that there was a difference. Now I know, but I don't plan on canceling my account just so I can change my user name. I don't get defensive when I hear bumpside or dentside or dizzy so please don't be offended by my user name. Have A Great Ford Day! W.Ott

[68 Ford Stepside]

I buy most of my parts from LMC for my flareside. While at a car/truck show not long ago I picked up a catalog put out by Dennis Carpenter covering old Ford truck parts. All through thier catalog they call the flareside a stepside. I guess no one has explained the difference to them yet.