The Flareside and the Styleside pick-up trucks are two popular styles that come with distinct features and enhanced functionalities to match the needs of specific users. Visit henryford150.com for more information on Ford trucks.

1. Visit henryford150.com for more information on Ford trucks.
Styleside vs. Flareside: Which Truck Bed Should You Get?
Ford truck beds enjoy high-strength military-grade aluminum that secures weight and
adds strength, allowing you to enjoy confident rides. The two most popular beds of
pick-up trucks offered by Ford are Flareside and Styleside.
Choosing between these two Ford truck beds can be a daunting experience due to their
robust designs and unbeatable functionalities. The prominent distinct features they offer
are: Flareside comes with raised rear fenders that have an outward extension on the
vehicle, making a narrow bed structure. In contrast, the Styleside trucks have a sleeker
appearance, flat exterior with wheels well-positioned inside, and a wider cargo space.
Let’s compare the two truck bed styles side-by-side so you can tell their detailed
differences, as well as the pros and cons. You’ll know what either truck you should go for
at the end of this article, the complete guide on Styleside vs. Flareside.
Styleside, Flareside, Stepside, Fleetside: What are they?
The Chevy pick-ups are called Stepside and Fleetside trucks, while Ford calls its pick-ups
Flareside and Styleside. But their distinction doesn’t stop here. Here’s a sneak peek into
the style and layout of these celebrated pick-up trucks for a better understanding of the
matter.
● Styleside
Ford’s Styleside trucks are sleeker in design and refer to the flat-sided lockup trucks. The
design is popularly incorporated in Ford’s F-250 and F-350 models and comes in F-150.
Their inside fenders get them their name, Styleside.

2. It offers considerable cargo space as it has an arched area on both sides of the truck. The
arched design creates a wider bed width to load items. This modern pick-up is all about
flexibility and added comfort.
● Flareside
Ford uses the term Flareside to highlight their version of step-side trucks. The recent
F-150 and Super Duty models do not follow this structure. The earlier pick-up trucks
used to have Flareside, which received multiple updates to satisfy the customers’
demand. Their fenders are located on the Flareside exterior, with ribbed steps between
the cab and the rear axle distinguishing them from other models.
● Stepside
The Stepsides were first launched by Chevy a long time ago. Ford calls them ‘Flareside,’
GMC’ fender side,’ Dodge’ utiline’ and Jeep ’thrift side or sport side.’ Their wheel well is
located outside the bed, creating a perfectly rectangular box to hold the cargo inside.
● Fleetside
Similar to Styleside in design, the main difference is their manufacturer. Where the term
Styleside is used by Ford, Chevy calls their same designed trucks ‘fleetside’, ‘townside’
for Jeep, ‘swept line’ for Dodge and ‘wide side’ for GMC. Their bedsides are flat, and the
tires are accommodated inside the bed. This design increases the stuff that can be
carried and even simplifies the manufacturing process.
Styleside vs. Flareside: What are the key differences
Let’s look at the detailed comparison with recommendations and suggestions for your
comfort and assistance.

3. 1. Comparison chart
Styleside Flareside
Terminologies Style side is the term used by Ford
for their standard truck beds
Ford uses the term Flareside for
their stepside trucks
Fenders Position Their fenders are present inside
the bed
The fenders are situated on the bed
exterior
Bed Width Has a better wider bed width area Has a relatively lesser bed width
and narrow style
Exterior Structure These come with a flat exterior
with wheels secured inside
The raised exterior is extended
outwards with fenders from the
trucks
Bed Style Flat-sided bed flushed to the sides Box-shaped narrows the truck bed
style
Truck Availability Some up to 09-year model trucks
and most modern trucks
04 to 08-year model trucks mostly
have the Flareside style truck bed
Best For Best for its interior wide space Best for its exterior look and
perfect body

4. 2. Detailed Comparison
2.1 Price
The price is a vital factor of difference between the two truck bed styles. The overall
design of Flareside is relatively fabulous and therefore costs more than the standard
Styleside design.
The price range of both the popular trucks lies under the affordable range of the Ford
truck series. People choose Styleside over Flareside for the wider bed and lesser price.
But those who prefer fascinating styles go for Flareside pick-ups despite their slightly
raised price than their counterparts.
2.2 Fenders Position
The fenders on the Styleside are inside the bed itself, which creates an arch shape on
both sides of the truck bed. The inside fenders narrow down the body and prevent
loading long items, but the overall area of the bed is relatively wider.
In contrast, the Flareside fenders are outside the truck bed with ribbed steps at the side
of the bed. The steps are between the cab and rear axle.
2.3 Exterior Design
The Flareside models have a camel hump-like wheel fender on the outside. This gives
the truck a unique, robust structure outside, but this affects the space inside the truck
bed. In comparison, the Styleside trucks are attractive due to their sleek, smooth look.
On the downside, its cargo space is a bit packed.
2.4 Truck Bed Space
The bed Flareside has straight walls that let you keep long items across the entire width
of the bed. The inside fenders of the F150 Styleside create an arched area on the inside

5. of the truck. This results in a narrow space to stack long items, but the width of the bed
is wider. With Flareside, you can carry long objects easily due to its perfect rectangular
space, but with Styleside, you have a wider area to load items.
The modern trucks incorporate these arches in their designs to provide a multilevel
loading area. These designs have molded channels that extend a piece of either plywood
or sheet metal. This creates a flat deck across the entire width.
The 12th generation F150 and Super Duty do not have this Flareside bed, but the
Styleside comes with a unique clamping system.
Ford Flareside and Styleside: The Pros and Cons
Looking to buy a suitable truck but can’t decide which style to go for? Most modern
trucks are designed on a Styleside structure, but if you go for a classic truck, your choices
might be varied. Below are the pros and cons of both two truck bed styles.
1. Pros and Cons of Flareside Beds
Their classical and robust style, with a narrow and perfect rectangular bed, provides a
sophisticated exterior. It has iconic style and built-in steps. However, its rigidity
unquestionably outweighs the benefits of the greater space.
Pros
● Its stunning fender flares are sure to attract everyone’s attention.
● Ideal for long items.
● It gives interior protection to prevent the objects from getting damaged.
Cons
● The overall width of the bed is less than Styleside.

6. The bed on the outside gives off a luxurious aspect that works well with sports but isn’t
suited for many types of needs. It takes up space and makes the inner space where the
loads are supposed to be carried smaller. It’s merely a conventional bed with
convenience if the bed doesn’t have any flexibility.
2. Pros and Cons of Styleside Beds
Although the Styleside does not have a distinct design or built-in step, you can easily add
the trailer step to access the bed. They have better storage space, and people looking for
more performance-geared builds go for Styleside trucks.
If you want to lower or race your truck, Styleside is for you.
Pros
● Have overall extra space.
● Can carry more load than Flareside
The fenders create a half-circular region on each side of the bed to offer extra space.
This leads to a narrower room while maintaining the convenience of a larger total bed
area. The arched section in the Styleside bed is purposefully designed to contain more
loads.
Cons
● Simpler outer look
● Not suitable for sports or outgoing personality
Even though it excels for having the most inside room, the pop-up wheels in the interior
may cause some issues. Not all lengthy objects will fit horizontally in the bed after being
altered and equipped with the flexibility to deal with the tires.

7. Final Verdict: Ford Styleside vs. Flareside – Which should you go for?
Both the pick-ups are strong rivals with invincible expertise to offer. While Flareside
enjoys extra points for its looks and style, Styleside is best for its interior wider space.
Therefore if you wish to stand out in the crowd and have long items to carry on your
journeys, then Flareside is the best option to go for.
But if you have more loads to carry around and don’t care much about outgoing style,
you should go for Styleside.
As discussed above, Styleside and Flareside truck beds offer contrasting features and
styles. Therefore, the one you pick for your daily commute should be closely related to
your pick-up needs. Do consider the space requirement of your cargo and the style they
offer because it is an investment that should be enough to compliment your unique style
and character beautifully.
FAQs
1. When did Ford stop making F-150 Flareside, and why?
Ford continued to make their Flareside trucks until 2009, but the manufacturers started
to discontinue them due to the evolution of the truck styles. The bulky-looking truck
beds are no longer needed to enjoy better functionality. Now the step is incorporated on
the rear bumper to access the truck bed.
2. Do Flareside and Styleside both have the same bed sizes?
No, the bed sizes differ in size as the Flareside has a narrow style and lesser bed width.
The Styleside has a better wider bed width to carry more load. Both top-notch pick-up
trucks have quality bed space that can significantly assist daily tasks.

8. 3. Do they have the same measurements for fitting bed caps?
No. All the caps are specifically designed to fit the specific size and shape of the Ford
truck bed. Besides, there are no particular configurations between the makes and
models.
But if you are looking for a tailgate protector that fits your Flareside’s bulkhead cap and
can’t find the Flareside cap option, you’ll have to order the Styleside cap and cut it
accordingly. The perfect fit you will get is enough to beat the factory job. Plus, use
stainless steel only.