Flareside vs. Non-Flareside

[kkjb4x4.0]

One thing I kinda noticed, since I live in alaska, is that there sort of a difference in how much traction in the rear that you have with a flareside vs the straight side beds. I had an 89 that i pretty much never had to use 4wd, but with my new ranger its like i never get traction at a complete stop. But then again, maybe its time to invest in some new tires...

pretty sure the newer flairside boxes are mostly plastic on the exterior which would make it lighter and therefor have less traction,,I myself prefer the regular straghtside boxes found on pre 98's, looks more proportionate

 

[REDRUM]

I can go both ways (on this topic). I love the look of my flaireside ex-cab. It gets lots of compliments. It's lighter cause the sides are fiberglasss, therefore, I also have a traction problem in snow. My first ranger was a 87 longbed with open rears. No problem in snow. The 99 is all over the place (limited slip).
Tonneau question. I also bought an extang for just over $200. I would think they would be a little cheaper since they are smaller. I actually had to buy a replacement from them cause I put a hole in it last year. Replacement cover was $99 plus @$20 shipping.
I don't haul a lot so the smaller bed didn't bother me. It's just a little harder to get a piece of 4x8 in the bed. It doesn't lay flat. I hope to never have to put my Sportster in the back cause getting a 500# bike up a tailgate of that height isn't easy.

 

[arkantor]

I love my regular cab flairside. But I have a Boysenbaerry Blue (Purple) truck so.....

 

[tpking]

i have a 99 ext cab flareside and my brother has the reg bed on the same exact truck and sitting side by side everyone says mine looks better. and as far as traction goes i havent noticed any difference

 

[aridranger03]

i love the look of my 2003 reg. cab flareside.it can't haul a whole lot, but that is solved by pulling a trailer

 

[WNY964x4]

I have a 2000 Extended Cab Flareside , and when it is all polished up , i get alot of compliments for its looks , but i do miss having the extra bed space my styleside had , though there isnt much of a difference to me , my styleside had a tool box in it , so that shortened my space , this one is just narrower , i get by just fine , and i never have traction issues with mine

 

[grey ghost]

If it was me I would get a regular straigt bed not a flare side for the simple fact that you can't get as much stuff in a stepside since the box is only 4ft wide and it still has wheel wells in it, another reason is because of the small size if you want to get a topper or a tonnu cover you are going to pay for it and it won't be cheap.

i agree that's the main reason i didn't buy the "stepside" style box..

 

[Ger42]

I want a Flareside box on my truck. Currently has a styleside that needs body work ($1,000)

 

[kamps989]

I originally didn't like the look of the flareside when I bought mine. But now I think I prefer the look of my flareside to the stylesides. As for the amount of room there is definitely less but occasions I am hauling anything besides hunting and fishing gear are few and far between. As for traction with a flareside I have open gears and haven't gotten stuck once with 120lbs of sand that I NEEDED 4x4 (except for ice fishing) and we have gotten dumped on for snow this year.

 

[GreatWhite]

straight bed

 

[joldtown]

As someone else said, the flareside is the way to go so that no one will ask you to help move their crap.

 

[OilPatch197]

I've always thought that step side trucks look disproportional. The cabs look to big. I do agree with the greater bed space in the style side. It all comes down to buy what you like our opinion doesn't mean squat.

Haunting memories of a high school girl I knew, red '94 Ford Ranger Splash, step side with neon yellow wiper frames.

The most hideous design, I am really suprised nobody has got one of those conversion kits that allows you to run dually's on the back.

 

[rjppunk]

flaresides wont fit a sheet of plywood in the back or sheetrock. Kinda makes the bed a tad pointless if you ask me. Looks cool and is convienant

 

[Chance]

I hate fiberglass... I wish I woulda bought a styleside instead of my flairside.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

flaresides wont fit a sheet of plywood in the back or sheetrock. Kinda makes the bed a tad pointless if you ask me. Looks cool and is convienant

ive owned my flareside for 6 years and have yet to build a single house. i have hauled one or two 4x6 sheets of plywood from time to time...they fit fine if leaned against one bedrail. ive hauled a 3,000lb roll of galvanized sheet metal, a piano, litterally hundres of pallets (i was the only one in high school with a pickup for about a year and a half), landscaping rocks, garbage, engines, axles, people, 1500lbs of batteries, and my girlfriend and i camped in it (under the topper) for 5 days on our way through canada.

flaresides are far from pointless. they have LESS space...but not by much.