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