I got this off the FOrd web site regarding the '04 F150

Deeper Pickup Box
The clean look of the F-150 Styleside box is available in three box lengths of 8’, 6 ½’ and 5 ½’. The Flareside box is available in 6 ½’ box length and is formed of steel inner panels and molded composite outer panels. All boxes are two inches deeper for increased cargo carrying volume

Now, do you think this means that the step side has plastic outer bed sides or that both the style side and the step side have plastic bed sides. Looking at the Fx4 model, it has the same tie down hooks on the outer bed sides as the explorer sport trac, and that has plastic sides. If Ford has decided to put plastic bed sides on a truck that has a history as a work vehicle, that would be a big mistake!

 

I do concur that the '04 model looks a whole lot more like the SportTrac. Maybe Ford figures that the real work truck buyers will go for the SDs, which will continue to have sides that can stand up to abuse, while the sport-enhanced F150 will be their means of retaining market share in the coming media crack-down on SUVs--as examples of wasteful, conspicuous consumption. The TV ads still don't argue that the hallowed and traditionally-proletarian F-series supports terrorism. In that case, they'd get away with a little more plastic, since that is the consumer image of an SUV. I think, too, of those disastrous-looking GM concoctions, such as the Avalanche, which are clearly attempts at producing a politically-correct SUV by slapping a label on the side like "Z71".

Bo

2003 F-150 SuperCrew Lariat, FX4, 5.4L 16-valve SOHC, Shadow Grey with leather interior. Great for hauling half-cords of firewood and new components for the house. Not so well-liked by the parking garage downstairs, though.

 

>Now, do you think this means that the step side has plastic
>outer bed sides or that both the style side and the step
>side have plastic bed sides. Looking at the Fx4 model, it
>has the same tie down hooks on the outer bed sides as the
>explorer sport trac, and that has plastic sides. If Ford has
>decided to put plastic bed sides on a truck that has a
>history as a work vehicle, that would be a big mistake!

Only the Flareside will have plastic outer panels for the box. The Styleside will continue to have steel inner and outer panels.