So I've been bitten by the dodge truck bug recently but I'm realizing I don't know a lot about them.
I have a chance to buy a 73 d100 short bed from a buddy. It's cheap. I've always wanted a step side so I guess I'm mainly asking about bed interchangeability. Are the stepside beds scarce? Expensive? I've looked around locally and haven't seen much stepside stuff for sale. Any other parts hard to find?
Also was wondering what else I should look for. Any known/common issues with these trucks? It's a 318/auto and the body is dry, so the mechanics and bodywork won't be an issue. Thanks in advance for any info and sorry to be such a truck newbie!

stepside beds were the same from around 53? I think until they stopped making them around 85. They aren't overly common but you can still find them, they make reproduction fenders and tailgates for them.

Other then rust, the common issues are they will go forever. I have a 69 and 71 parked out in the weeds that will both start and run if I take a battery out to them. They are really simple and basic, but dependable.

Oh wow! Had no idea the beds were the same for that long! Thanks Rednuck! Good info!

I heard on this site, that the bed floors were made of all steel instead of wood slabs after 83 or so.

Like he said - they are basic and dependable. Nothing fancy or cushy - just blunt force tools. I have had around 10 old dodge trucks ranging form 1972 - 1987. 2x4 and 4x4. All very reliable and I beat them like stepchildren!

My current beast is a 1975 1 ton dump truck. full time 4x4. I just picked it up last week - and i am going through it to get it the way i want. will be a handy tool to have around.

Thanks for all the info guys! I think I'm going to pursue this d100!

If you compare the older Dodge trucks to newer trucks, the older ones are not as comfortable or powerful. They are simple, durable trucks that are affordable. These trucks are very useful.

A 318 powered truck is probably the most common. A 73 may have 4 wheel drum brakes. A fairly high percentage of these trucks have 727 automatic transmissions. Manual transmissions with three and four speeds were also available. I would expect a 73 to have an 8 3/4 rear end.

Just a note, though the step side beds were unchanged (other then the floor and other minor running changes) between the 53 and the 80 something end of production, there is a difference between a step side bed length and a non- step side bed length. A step side bed was usually 7 1/2' long, but a 9' long step side bed was available off and on through production, the 9' beds are pretty rare.

The short box, non-step side bed is 6' long and the long bed is 8' long. The short bed standard bed, and the 'short" step side bed are different lengths. The frames are different, the bed to frame mounting points are different, and the position of the wheel wells in relation to the bed sides between the two styles are different.

If the truck you are looking at is a non-step side short bed, a step side bed will not interchange without some major modifications. Gene

Thanks for the info, Gene. I was wondering about this. I guess I need to brush up on how difficult it would be to make the switch to a stepside bed. The truck I'm looking at is a short box.

If this is true how was I able to bolt a sweptside bed off of a 1977 dodge truck onto the frame of a 1977 step side?

Though this may be true for much earlier trucks I'm pretty sure it is not accurate for 1973 - 1980.

I even believe there were additional step side bed offerings in the earlier years.

Red

Red! You're giving me hope!
I may hit you up for advice if I get this truck!

Hose head

I'll scan some parts manuals tomorrow.

Red

Thanks Red!

Hosehead

Here you go, this is for 78-81 things to note.

Box lengths both listed as 6.5" SW or SS

115" WB has 2 frames, D1 and W1 78-80, 81 is listed as separate part #s, this may be when the box mounting changed.

Note my 72-73 Manual shows a picture of the boxes but includes no panel part #, says order by description.

I have a 74-77 P Manual as well if you need more info.

Red

Additional swepty detail

Also after reviewing 74-77 they list 6.5' and 8' Utiline Boxes 74-77 and a 9' Utiline Box for 74.

72-73 Manual shows frames for D100 with multiple wheel bases in 73, 115"('72-73), 131"('73), 133"('73) and 149"('73)

Red

Thanks Red!!

I did the same...swapped a Sweptside bed off a '77 to a Stepside bed off a '78, bolted right on.

Thanks everyone!!

Pretty sure the beds themselves are different on the older trucks, but the fenders are all the same from the 50s. The older beds were like 6', 70s up were 6.5

My 65' Series I Utiline (4-headlight model) has a 6.5' bed.

- EM

A four headlight truck is basically a holdover 1964. So dimensions would be same as earlier. Does your truck have a nut on the end of the axle shaft?

R.

OP: '72 was the first of the new body style and had one-year-only front end suspension parts, so the fact it's a '73 makes it more desirable. As far as bed style, the short wide bed is in demand, too. I wouldn't stop the deal over a bed style issue. The truck is 44 years old, they don't come around in decent shape that often.
I looked at an '84 from desert SW and was disappointed to have floor rustout. I was told here that that's common as drains get plugged and water gets inside. It's not a deal killer, but is something to check for.

Thanks dogdays! I'm not totally against the wide bed but it's the one part of the truck that is damaged and I always wanted a stepside. Although, after some searching, it seems that finding a nice stepside bed may be a bit difficult, so who knows.
Some real good info here though! I'll post pics here if I'm able to get the truck from my buddy. Thanks everybody for the help! You guys rule!

Step side beds do seem to be scarce when your looking for one.

I had one shipped in from Iowa years ago. Rust free some dents and a few extra holes in it.

When I sold off my lil red and warlock parts and put the bed on Craigslist for $500 I received zero calls over several months. When I was moving I broke done and called a fellow dodge truck enthusiast who took it off my hands for $300.

Kind of frustrating as I was able to get $750 for a nos box side but no interest in the complete bed.

Red

About 45% of the SWB runs were step-bed during the 70s
Metal floors started in 81, The company that pressed the sides for dodge was the same one that pressed the Chevy step bed sides, only difference is the ridges that Dodge requested, they were located in Kansans went out of business when GM went to the flare style plastic beds.
Bed sides are the same from 55-85, bed got wider sometime in the late 50's.

Aaaaaaaaannnd, it's all mine!

I notice an exhaust pipe poking out in front of the rear tire.
Where is the gas tank? Behind the seat?
Or is it one of those Heart Throb under the frame deals?
I am wanting to put duels on my 78 and am not sure just how to go about it.
Probably going to move my tank into the bed.
I have a behind the seat tank,
However, I'm not sure I wanna ride around with 20 some gallons of gas in the cab, behind the seat.

Starting 1973, all V8 cars and light trucks came with front disc brakes.

Not 4wd trucks. 1975 was the 1st year for discs on them. The 74 Ramcharger may have had discs though. I'd have to look it up.

Soopernaut is correct on the trucks, I believe. My '73 W200 has 4 wheel drum brakes. Can't remember if the light trucks might have had the front disc option, though.

My little d100 has factory discs in front.

From memory the discs were required starting in 77

In case you wanted to lower yours heres a really good looking truck. The "Tin grille Dodge Truck" group on facebook is pretty active and always has stuffer sale on it.

Sharp truck

Disk were standard on 4x2s starting in 72 (drums were an option)
4x4s disk were standard on ALL models under 400 series the heavier series had drum in till the SEG (special equipment group) closed shop
After 35 years and parting out/scraping over 250 of these trucks I have only every come across 2 post 71's 4x4s with disk one was 72 W200 and the other was a 73W300

Rail stampings were identical between 4x2 and 4x4 only the X-members were different.

No Dodge 4x4's came with disc brakes until 1975, except the 1974 Ramcharger.

short beds are 6.5 feet long-----when you drop the tailgate that 4x8 sheet of plywood sits right there on the bed and tailgate---nothing hanging over the edge.....

I bolted a 1961 dodge stepside bed onto my 74, and swapped beds between a 1975 Sweptside and a 1980 Stepside. 100% identical fit.

That’s sweet! What mirrors are those? and the air dam looks nice too, did you make it?