I like the smaller look and feel of flare side rangers =)

[Gary DuBois]

I looked at two 01 rangers both had 4.0 v6 sohc 4wd supercab automatics flare side bed - one was silver - one was deep wedgewood blue metalic / before i bought my 02 ranger fx4 off road for $10,500 =)

 

[swampyankee]

I had a step-side and liked the style. Mine was a '98 2 door with 3.0 and alot of miles so I replaced it with an '01 4 door straight bed. I was doing alot of house remodeling and the step side bed is a bit narrower which made carrying sheets of ply and drywall a bit less convenient.
But I''ve been looking for a replacement for my now rusty '01 and a stepside is on my list. I like the fact that the bed sides are fiberglass.

 

[Gary DuBois]

I had a step-side and liked the style. Mine was a '98 2 door with 3.0 and alot of miles so I replaced it with an '01 4 door straight bed. I was doing alot of house remodeling and the step side bed is a bit narrower which made carrying sheets of ply and drywall a bit less convenient.
But I''ve been looking for a replacement for my now rusty '01 and a stepside is on my list. I like the fact that the bed sides are fiberglass.

What did you like about your step sides style. Did your 98 have 4wd. What did you think of your 3.0 v6 engine. How do you like your '01 ranger does that ranger have the 4.0 v6 sohc and 4wd. Do you know how much narrower in inches your 98 flare side bed was to your 01 style side bed. What year do you want your replacement ranger to be that has a flare side bed have you looked on craigslist and carsforsale.com. Thats cool that the flare side bed sides are fiberglass =)

 

[bobbywalter]

yup.....i like em too



i have a low rider 4x4 flareside stepside diesel.......

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

yup.....i like em too



i have a low rider 4x4 flareside stepside diesel.......

Just because it has a Chevy power train and mirrors doesn't mean it is a stepside...

 

[bobbywalter]

Just because it has a Chevy power train and mirrors doesn't mean it is a stepside...

its a square body.....



and has steps on the side.




if it were a duck...it would look like a mallard and quack alot.....but sound like a walrus if a walrus could quack. at least on tuesdays....

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

its a square body.....



and has steps on the side.




if it were a duck...it would look like a mallard and quack alot.....but sound like a walrus if a walrus could quack. at least on tuesdays....

Be serious, your truck is more of a platypus than a duck...

 

[bobbywalter]

hey.......great point....



its a Tasmanian ranger... brilliant.

 

[Lefty]

A reg cab ranger, flareside or otherwise, is very light in weight, almost 500 lbs less than a Mustang, about that much less than an extended cab. It offers better handling, parking, mileage, and even better acceleration

.
I like that little Ranger for all of those reasons.

It will hold a sheet or two of plywood, just not flat on the bed floor: not so bad unless you are a full time carpenter.

It is a great courier and sporty too. the last of the breed. My buddy Dave still drives his. It's got a sweet little flathead V8.

The fiberglass fenders don't rust and continue looking good even in older years. The bed is still metal, but it weighs about 40 lbs less than its steel brothers: no big woof, but I'm of the opinion that lighter has its advantages, not for everyone, of course.

 

[swampyankee]

What did you like about your step sides style. Did your 98 have 4wd. What did you think of your 3.0 v6 engine. How do you like your '01 ranger does that ranger have the 4.0 v6 sohc and 4wd. Do you know how much narrower in inches your 98 flare side bed was to your 01 style side bed. What year do you want your replacement ranger to be that has a flare side bed have you looked on craigslist and carsforsale.com. Thats cool that the flare side bed sides are fiberglass =)

I've had 2 Rangers and 2 Mazdas, all 4WD. The stepside 98 Ranger and one of the Mazda trucks had 3.0 v6. I could tell the difference from the 4.0. Less torque and it dowshifted alot more going up hills.
The step side bed is about 4" narrower than the style side between the wheel wells. Not much but it matters when you need to carry 48" wide sheets of plywood or drywall.
I look on all sites for my area and have looked at 3 or 4 trucks so far. I really liked this red 01 step side. Low miles for the year and claimed to be rust free but when i inspected it it had a broken rear spring hanger and a rust hole in the frame and bed. Too bad.

 

[bobbywalter]

i am cheating on bed size..... but i have mo wider axles. i like the cab size for tight quarter driving off road...


my primary need for a pickup is bed utility....i love the stepside look but loathe the stepside space.



you can put these stepsides on fleetsides with fullwidth axles and wider prerunner front fenders.... or make it a dually so you retain the bed space.



the regular setup is just too small for me.

 

[Lefty]

i am cheating on bed size..... but i have mo wider axles. i like the cab size for tight quarter driving off road...


my primary need for a pickup is bed utility....i love the stepside look but loathe the stepside space.



you can put these stepsides on fleetsides with fullwidth axles and wider prerunner front fenders.... or make it a dually so you retain the bed space.



the regular setup is just too small for me.

I haven't used a fleetside in years but aren't they also narrower than a sheet of plywood?

 

[19Walt93]

I bought a new Supercab Ranger Flareside in 2004- partly because I liked the looks better, mostly because I was going to put a fiberglass cap on it. When you look in the mirrors with a Flareside, you see what's behind you, with a Styleside, you see the side of your box and cap. Since Flareside boxes were discontinued by then, my 2011 was a Styleside. The Styleside was easier to wash and squeegee off. I had no trouble hauling plywood in the Flareside- I just left the rear window open, laid the plywood across the tailgate and bungeed the window down.

 

[Lefty]

I bought a new Supercab Ranger Flareside in 2004- partly because I liked the looks better, mostly because I was going to put a fiberglass cap on it. When you look in the mirrors with a Flareside, you see what's behind you, with a Styleside, you see the side of your box and cap. Since Flareside boxes were discontinued by then, my 2011 was a Styleside. The Styleside was easier to wash and squeegee off. I had no trouble hauling plywood in the Flareside- I just left the rear window open, laid the plywood across the tailgate and bungeed the window down.

Some guys have actually made a kind of rack to do just that.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I always thought these were cool.