I was just needing some more info on the trim packages. Was the custom your stripped down model? How did they beef up the bed on the camper special? What series had the tool box door on the side of the bed? I have read on some of these, but I haven't found a clear definition. What also did styleside mean?

 

I am a little confused about the "styleside" also. I know what a regular bed is, as well as a flare side, but not a "styleside". Good questian

 

I wonder if it has to do with the molding? I know the tucks had lower and upper molding and I think in 76 they had the molding in the middle. My 73 f250 just has the molding on the top side and around the back of the cab

 

Not sure if this helps or not. I have a '79 F-250. The guy I bought it from claims that it is an XLT. Mine does have the toolbox in the bed (which I love), it has the bigger, wider trim pieces running length wise with the big rubbers in them the full length of the truck, then that changes to a metal trim piece and goes down and runs the full length of the truck down lower. I think the trim package looks quite nice. Anyway, I am not going to ramble any further, I may be going off subject here...

 

I wish I had the box on the bed. I think the bigger molding and the xlt package was the later years. What I have been reading says the earlier years was the custom,ranger,and the camper special. Then in 78 I think got the xlt then came the lariot. I am restoring my 1973 f250 custom and just trying to figure it all out. I'm going with the factory color (dark blue and light blue two tone) and do it like how the customs came out. I also wonder what trim level came with the nice tailgates? Mine just has ford stamped on it, but I think I'm going to get the nice molding to put on it. I wonder if you could put that center molding that says"ford" over the stamped leters ford?

 

I am not a good person to ask about the trim packages, especially on the older pre-'79 trucks. My '75 F-250 4x4 that I had just had the smaller trim pieces that ran the full length of the truck. I am a '79 fan myself and didnt like the older models much. Just a personal thing I guess. I hated my '75 mostly because of the front end that was under it. I am very happy with my '79 though!!

 

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...se-trucks.html

^^^This is just one of the many discussions on this topic. The search option at the top of the page is your friend.

 

well i know that the trim package that went in the middle of the truck that had curves was the (race) trim or whatever but i have a 74 ranger xlt and it has the large upper and lower trim kinda like it because the lower trim is like chrome rocker panels but stock haha..

 

Trim packages back then weren't like they are today, you could essentially get anything with any trim level. In theory, you could get a custom that was more highly optioned than a lariat, although that wouldn't be cost effective. So to kinda answer your question, yeah, the custom was as base as you could.



As for the camper special...I thought it was more or less suspension and electrical upgrades, than bed upgrades.



The bedside toolbox, I haven't found a rhyme or reason on that. I've seen all trim levels with bedside tool boxes.


Styleside was merely the regular bed...as opposed to the flareside bed.

 

Lot's of questions mixed throughout, but I'll help all I can.

1) Styleside is a Ford term that basicly means, "Regular Bed". Most 1973-1979 pickups are stylesides. First year the styleside term was used was in 1957. Styleside was the "Regular" and Flareside was the "Stepside (chevy term)" bed.

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2) There were four basic trim level groups.

1973-1977:
CUSTOM
RANGER
RANGER XLT

1978-1979:
CUSTOM
RANGER
RANGER XLT
RANGER LARIAT

And a few special add on trim level groups:
EXPLORER
CUSTOM Decor Group
RANGER XLT Luxury Group

More info can be found at this link:
Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums - View Single Post - Trim levels on these trucks


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3) Chrome Trim and tu-tones

A: Race Track Trim was only avaliable 1977-1979, and it was standard on Ranger XLT in 1977, and Ranger Lariat 1978-1979. The race track trim ran the lower bodyline, and is about 1/3 of an inch thick. It was used in conjunction with the Vinyl protection moulding mentioned below.

B: Vinyl Protection Moulding was avaliable 1973-1979 and was standard on Ranger XLT. Optional on Custom and Ranger. This moulding has a vinyl rub strip down the center.

C: Mid dent Chrome Moulding: (has a triangular look to it, without vinyl rub strip) Standard on Ranger, optional on Custom with deluxe or combination tu-tone option.

D: Lower "Rocker Panel" moulding: Black stripes painted into it. Standard on ranger XLT 1973-1976. mandatory used in conjunction with the wheel arch moulding (E:) . Can be used in conjunction with the vinyl protection moulding (B:), or by itself.

E: Wheel Arch Moulding: Standard on Ranger. Optional Custom. used in conjunction with lower "rocker panel" moulding (D:) or used by itself.

F: Tailgate Panels: Full Tailgate panel, with Ford Letters, and Upper Tailgate panel with black bars. Standard on Ranger XLT and Later Lariat, only. Ranger and Later Ranger XLTs had just the tailgate panel with Ford Letters. Customs did not get any tailgate panels at all. All trim levels used the same exact tailgate, just different trim was attached in various ways.

G: The Deluxe tu-tone packages required small tailgate trim, and trim around the taillamp housings. Some of this trim was deleted if moulding used in (F:) were used instead. This trim was also standard on Custom Decor group, Ranger and Ranger XLT, and Ranger Lariat. Optional on Custom with deluxe or combination tu-tone. (Also used trim from C: if Custom or Ranger, or A:, B:, D:, F:, if Ranger XLT or Lariat, depending on year, and options ordered)

H: Standard Tu-tone packages required trim along the drip rails (I:), and bottom back half of the cab (used with standard or combination tu-tone, only).

I: Drip Rail Chrome: Standard on Combination and standard Tu-tone, and Ranger, Ranger XLT, and Ranger Lariat, and Custom Decor group.

J: Combination tu-tone was a "Combination" of standard and deluxe, and used trim from both (G: H: and I:).

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4) Bedside tool Box: Optional on all Trim levels.

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hope this helps

 

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