Flareside vs. Styleside
 

This is probably overly obvious to everyone other than myself but what is the difference between the Flareside and Styleside?

Thanks,
Frank

Basically the Flareside is like Chevy's step site. Narrower bed, but I think looks better. The Syleside is just like a regular bed.

Blake

Please don't compair my beautiful flairside to a chevy or even a dodge.
The flairside has what my husband calls "hips" https://www.f150online.com/f150board/smile.gif The wheel wells are molded over the wheels and you get a step on the side of the truck right after the door.
The styleside is straight, from the door back to the tailgate.

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97F150 XLT SC 4x4 Flairside 4.6 V8 5sp Dk Toreador Red, 3.55LS
ARE tonneau cover, p255/70rx16 tires (came w/235), Superchip
Pioneer CD w/4 Polk Speakers & Clarion APA5240amp, skid plates
bed liner, side window deflectors, reese hitch, K&N air filter
40s-2chamber Flowmaster, Bosch +4 spark plugs, rustproofing

So with the Flairside the bed is actually smaller?

Frank

Yes!!

Thank you for the info.

Frank

The bed is also tapered just in case U didn't know. I comes in two inches on each side at the tail gate. This truck was modeled after the 54,55,56 Ford StepSide.

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TRUCKBLACK 97 F150 XLT FlareSide SC.
4.6 MODS: Lowered 5 inches, SnugLid
Hard Tanneau,K&N plus air mods,
Plat+4/8mm wires,Prolong engin
treatment,Amsoil Syenthetic oil
and Filter,Bug&Rain guards.
SUPERCHIPED,No Step Under door nurf,
Interior Visor Shelf. My truck looks
like Ford used it as a model
for the Lightning but mines LOWER! :)
JACKS ANTENNA HEAD The easiest MOD

The Flareside is smallet than the styleside but it will still accept 4x8 lumber. The tailgate opening is probably 4"2'. And it looks awesome! Can't even compare to the boxy Chevy.

The '97 and newer Flareside is the best ever looking step side truck. At least in my opinion!

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'97 F150 Lariat, Flareside, SC, ORP, 5.4, Mods: 305/70/16 GY ATS, AR Baja wheels, dual exhaust, Smittybilt nerf bars, fog light mod and Big Bird mirror toy.
kkirt1@hotmail.com

I will have to agree with kkirt1 on this one, the '97 and later Ford Flareside is a thing of beauty. The thing that surprises me is how few of them there are, only about 20-30% of the late model Fords are Flaresides. The bed itself is only about two inches narrower than the regular bed. To me I'd very gladly give up those two inches for the added styling not to mention the functionality of the step. But hey Flareside/Styleside, it's a matter of personal taste which is why Ford offers both. Some companies don't even offer a Flareside bed (late model Dodge's, do they?). Oh well I could go off and start a holy war here about styling, but I won't.


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1999 Lariat SuperCab Flareside, Amazon green with Silver trim, 5.4L, 4x2, 4 wheel disc/ABS, 3.55 limited slip, towing package, sliding rear window, captains chairs, keyless entry with alarm, spray-on bed liner, and K&N. http://www.csc.calpoly.edu/~bfriesen/truck.html

When I bought my '97 Lariat, the Flairside box (only available in 6.5' length) was ~$1,000 more than the short Styleside box I finally ordered.

Know that the outer panels of the Flairside box are made of FRP (fiberglass) and the Styleside are made of steel.

Maybe it's just my architectural eye, but the stepside box on the last generation Chevy/GMC is UGLY! And when they put a cap top on it I can't even look! There is this awful flair out to meet the 'B' pillar.

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'99 Black Lightning

[This message has been edited by DHFerguson (edited 07-02-1999).]

DH -

That $1000 difference was partly what kept me from going with the flairside as well. I wonder why such a difference (more expensive to produce, or another $$$$ maker for Ford...). Just my opinion, but I also think the flairside looks great on a 4x4, but looks a little odd on a 4x2 (the other reason I went styleside). Although I have to admit that I drool every time I see a Lightning... https://www.f150online.com/f150board/smile.gif

As for the last gen GM stepsides, I traded one on the F150. I had that cap with the big flair. A.R.E. called it "The Hammerhead." Funny, when I bought the thing in '90, I thought it looked cool. Today, I realize that it looks ridiculous!



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99 F-150 4x2 S/C, 5.4L, Lariat, Black / Gold, 3.55 l/s, Tonneau...more to come!!

My opinion,I think the flareside is a waste. It cost 3,000$ extra, and it shortens your bed. Kinda dumb I think. But it does look cool though.

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1999 Ford F150 XLT 4x2, Cloth Seats, Amazon green, 16" All season tires, Soft Tonneau Cover, CD Player, 4.6 liter Triton V8, 3:55 ls, towing package, 4 speed auto, K&N Airfilter, soon Superchip and K&N GEN II.

Fast46Triton

The Terminator!

I've gotta have the flairside. I don't even mind waxing all that body. I didn't even ask, look or wonder what the styleside cost. Didn't care!! The only reason I don't have a 250 SD diesel is because it doesn't come in flairside.

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97F150 XLT SC 4x4 Flairside 4.6 V8 5sp Dk Toreador Red, 3.55LS
ARE tonneau cover, p255/70rx16 tires (came w/235), Superchip
Pioneer CD w/4 Polk Speakers & Clarion APA5240amp, skid plates
bed liner, side window deflectors, reese hitch, K&N air filter
40s-2chamber Flowmaster, Bosch +4 spark plugs, rustproofing

I bought my truck to use, rather than look at. In my opinion the styleside is the better piece of equipment, and more bang for the buck.

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Ben Mc.----'99 XLT 5.4 SC SB ORP Dk. Red/Dk. Grey----Fact. Cab Steps/Tonneau,Slider----Straight Duals, Superchip, Airaid/KN (non-sag), Ungo Autostart/Keyless Remote, Prime Designs Air Deflector----PPI 4240 Amp,McIntosh 6x9's w/crossovers front, Polk DB 5.25's rear---Tuessssdayyyy Affffternoooooon----gotta love it!

Dirlton: you know I think you may be right about the working abilities of the two body styles BUT from first hand experiences, me w/my flairside and my contractor w/his styleside (4x4 97SC 4.6 XLT) whenever we both had to pick up supplies (4x8 osb, kitchen cab, wood plank flooring etc.) for building my house, my truck held just as much as his!!! https://www.f150online.com/f150board/smile.gif And looked prettier doing it https://www.f150online.com/f150board/wink.gif

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97F150 XLT SC 4x4 Flairside 4.6 V8 5sp Dk Toreador Red, 3.55LS
ARE tonneau cover, p255/70rx16 tires (came w/235), Superchip
Pioneer CD w/4 Polk Speakers & Clarion APA5240amp, skid plates
bed liner, side window deflectors, reese hitch, K&N air filter
40s-2chamber Flowmaster, Bosch +4 spark plugs, rustproofing

I like my smooth side box. On these new trucks, they seem to look great. With only 6 and a half feet of length to work with, I need the width to haul more bikes and other stuff, I feel.

But just wait 'till year 2000, folks. Then we can have the great F-150 CREW CAB bed debate! Wonder what one of those would look like with a 5-and-a-half-foot "step-side" bed? Talk about pushing the envelope, about a light year from those beautiful old '56s!

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1998 XL SC short-box 4.2 5-speed 3.55LS, Pacific Green, A/C, factory box liner, factory dark tinted rear glass (like the XLT), cassette, carpet, Canadian XLS package (split bench, chrome wheels, side mouldings, box light, tailgate lock), sill guards, Windstar (driver's) wiper blade (the one with the air scoop). Oh ya: snazzy Tweetie Bird floor mats.

Shifter: If Ford would just put the flairside on the crew-cab I'd be standing in line to buy it https://www.f150online.com/f150board/smile.gif

Frank B, a picture is worth a thousand words:

styleside https://members.tripod.com/deptstorespook/style.jpg
flareside https://members.tripod.com/deptstorespook/flare.jpg

https://members.tripod.com/deptstorespook/logo2.jpg https://members.tripod.com/deptstorespook/logo.jpg

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'99 F150 XLT,SC,4.6 auto, no mods...and I am happy with it that way.

Shifter: How about a F150 Super Crew, XLT Flairside with 6 speed Diesel??? Your choice of color https://www.f150online.com/f150board/wink.gif

Tina: I'd still want my F-150 Crew Cab with the 5 speed. Or a 6 speed, with a true OD to lower revs at highway cruise speed and improve gas mileage. Or a 3.08 LSD (which can't be had now).

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1998 XL SC short-box 4.2 5-speed 3.55LS, Pacific Green, A/C, factory box liner, factory dark tinted rear glass (like the XLT), cassette, carpet, Canadian XLS package (split bench, chrome wheels, side mouldings, box light, tailgate lock), sill guards, Windstar (driver's) wiper blade (the one with the air scoop). Oh ya: snazzy Tweetie Bird floor mats.

i love my 97 with the stepside it makes it easier to get things in the middle of the tool box. and it sets mine apart from the pack :beers:

12 year old thread revival LOL.

Yep, 12 years old maybe ...
... but Flaresides still have that certain "pop" that get's noticed! :thumbsup:

They'll be back! :)

styleside all the way

Flareside baby!

I like my flareside for appearance reasons, but hate the fact that the sides are fiberglass...Wish they were made out of metal. I have had to replace my driverside already once.

I've always liked the look of the styleside.

I like flaresides for two reasons.. One is because the bedsides will not rust over the wheels. Or anywhere on the bedside for that matter. and yes it's shot two inches in width however there are no wheel wells on the inside. If you take a peek inside one you'll see its almost flush with the walls of the bed side.

bumper confusion
 

I replaced my styleside with a flareside a wile back and now I am in need to replace the bumper. Now looking at the ones available it will either say flareside/ styleside crew cab...or just flareside. My truck is originally 2000 4x4 four door supercab ? (rear are suicide style). They have differing part numbers. I did have to use the smaller bumper when i did the swap. Now what one is it?

This thread is from 1999....

Supercrew and flareside share rear bumpers

Styleside standard 6.5' and 8' have a different bumper



If you are looking on CL or Junkyard digging, the Screw/Flare bumper has a thick plastic bumper pad

I like the look of flareside better.

AAAAhhhhh 1999 what a year it was for sure. And the year my standard cab step side 4x4 was made.

LOVE my 2000 lifted flareside. Bought it new in 2000 and have no intention of getting rid of her.

Is this flareside?
 

This is a Flairside bed. Or step side bed

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.f15...7b84fdb5a3.jpg

No. Flaresides have a much narrower bed with steps on the side and bulging fenders. 2009 was the last year of the Flareside and the first year of the body style your pic is. Here is a pic of a 2009 Flareside.


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.f15...e052a325f6.jpg

Your pic is of a truck newer than 2009 - not sure what exact year but it's definitely not a 2009.

Bed Caps for Flareside?
 

Hi, I'm looking for BED CAPS for my 1992 Flareside.

So far I've only been able to find one website that even lets me choose the Flareside bed as an option (aztrucks.com) but they only offer stainless bed caps for the Flareside bed, I am looking for black plastic like you see on most trucks. I don't know if all these truck accessory websites just don't list Flareside because it's relatively uncommon or because they actually have different bed cap styles and they don't manufacture/carry them...?

Does anyone know if FLARESIDE vs STYLESIDE are the same in terms of measurements for fitting bed caps?

Thanks!