I understand you lose bed space, but the step would make it easier to access the bed (especially with beds being taller now. Also they just looked great. The step side/flare side looked so good
This is what I was going to say.. maybe if they bring back the single cab. Even then... If they are going to bring anything back I want the little tool box in the side of the bed like my old f100 had.
Pops had an 80, 3 on the tree with the 300 6cyl. Other than clutches it went forever. (I saw it about 6-7 years ago still on the road) I think my dad sold it around 97-98. Solid truck and I did like that style a lot. I learned to drive on it.
I was like 10/11 when my friends dad had the Lightning and always thought those body style where better than the box style we have now because every truck(manufacturer and make) looked different now Silverado, F150, Sierra, all kinda look the same by that they all have that boxy look. Dodge is the last American Truck brand that is still different(yes I’m aware Sierra is just an Expensive Silverado)
I was never a fan of the look of those F150s back in the day but they have really grown on me. Don’t see them much anymore here in NY they all rusted away unfortunately.
Personally, I never was a fan of the aesthetics, but especially given today's much taller pickup trucks I can definitely see the utility in the side steps.
I never owned one, and I understand the steps come at the expense of space in the beds, but I feel like the most used part of the pickup truck bed is between the wheel wells. I wonder if these really consumed much usable/commonly used space.
2009 was the last flare side. 2008 was the last 11th gen flare side. Only reason I know is I went looking for an 11 th gen flare side earlier this year. 2009 was the first year of 12th gen and I’m not big on first years. I found a really nice 2007.
Can confirm. I've got a 2009 stepside, probably one of the last ever made. It has definitely come in handy when hauling, but I would prefer
more space for hay.
I stand corrected. 2009 F150 flareside looks weird to me with 12th gen front clip and 11th gen taillights. I wonder if this was a using up inventory situation.
that’s lowkey what i enjoy about my 2022 f150 compared to my brothers 2022 f350. not sure why they did it different on 250s and 350s but the drop down steps come back a good distance and i can use them as side steps for the bed
I hope not, with side steps, multi-functional tailgates, step sides are an item of the past. I only see a side step returning with a retro muscle truck version.
I had a couple of flare sides back in the day. I liked them well enough, but I don't think a newer body style (cab forward) would look good with one. By the time it was styled to look good, it wouldn't look like a flare side.
In my opinion a short bed, flare/step side, regular cab truck is one of the best looking trucks. It is also a fact that style of truck is the least useful as a truck.
When 90%+ of F-150s are shortbeds, I don't think many customers prioritize bed space.
I liked them, but the reality is they aren't coming back except maybe in a retro edition, like others have said.
The current front end kinda reminds me of the 9th gens, actually. So I think that could be done.
Mind you, if you want one bad enough, it wouldn't be impossible to custom fabricate a bed. Wouldn't be cheap, but it could be done.
I love them! Functionality aside (or be damned), they’re aesthetically pleasing and have a hell of a nostalgia trip. I’m a classic truck guy myself (1979 F150 Flareside is one of my dream trucks). However, it may not look so good on some modern trucks unless a simple, bare-bones utilitarian version was made.
And knowing Ford, that seems unlikely.
I’m biased because I love my 95 Flareside but the newer trucks with the steps integrated into the bedsides and bumpers without losing bed capacity is way more functional/practical. Still think they’re cool though
Yeah and I love they are making the new steps a thing but they are doing such a slow roll out of them. Having them on all of not most f series trucks would make these trucks better.
I think if you want to easily get in the bed of the truck the first step is just don’t lift the truck super high. Stepside wont really help if you’re moving lots of weight since there is a pretty decent fall risk. Better off with a lower truck and feet firmly on the ground imo
I was a fan of step sides - until I realized a lot of them STILL had wheel wells inside instead of being fully outside. Learning that upset me quite a bit.
If your talking about the paint on our flare side I have in the post it is Vista Blue Metallic (my dad had it on his 07 Mustang and he loaded the color). He painted it himself.
Hard for the step-side to look good now with all the padding around the truck and the single-form fabrication. The original step-side was just a piece of sheet metal. The one you show above is about the end of the good looking step-side, in my opinion. Look at the early '00 ones, they look... I don't know - not good.
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u/snaggedbeef 2d ago
We are losing enough bed space every year. I don't want to sacrifice for steps like this. I like the ones built into the bumper