Abstract: A pickup is adapted to facilitate installation of a gooseneck hitch by installation of a hitch frame between the frame rails under the pickup bed box and provision of a hole in the pickup bed floor over the hitch frame. The bead pattern is designed to add rigidity in the vicinity of the hole. The beads on the left and the right of the hole are not interrupted in the vicinity of the hole. Instead, they are narrowed such that the separation between the beads is greater than the hole diameter in the vicinity of the hole while it is less than the diameter of the hole in other locations.

Abstract: A closeout member is provided which may be disposed within an opening partially defined by a corner member and a rail edge of a side panel adjacent to a tailgate and tail lamp of a pickup truck box. The closeout member may include an outboard side secured to the corner member and shaped to substantially match a curvature of the corner member and a forward side secured at the rail edge such that the closeout member reinforces the curvature of the corner member. The closeout member may also include an inboard edge and an extension member extending at a substantially ninety degree angle downwardly from the inboard edge and may be at least partially secured to the corner member. The side panel and closeout member may be five or six thousand series aluminum.

Abstract: A tailgate hinge is part of a tailgate assembly and is attached to the rear sill of a pick-up truck bed. The tailgate hinge includes a stationary hinge bracket and a pivotal hinge bracket that are connected by a hinge pin. The pivotal hinge bracket includes a detachment slot. The hinge pin has a pair of flats that permit the hinge pin to pass through the detachment slot when the tailgate is at a predetermined angular orientation.

Abstract: A tailgate hinge is part of a tailgate assembly and is attached to the rear sill of a pick-up truck bed. The tailgate hinge includes a stationary hinge bracket and a pivotal hinge bracket that are connected by a hinge pin. The pivotal hinge bracket includes a detachment slot. The hinge pin has a pair of flats that permit the hinge pin to pass through the detachment slot when the tailgate is at a predetermined angular orientation.

Abstract: A D-pillar structure for a rear vehicle body structure. The D-pillar structure is a one-piece hydroformed tube configured for supporting and positioning a rear vehicle body structure within a predetermined tolerance. The rear vehicle body structure is a cargo box inner, a tailgate, and/or a pair of fenders.

Abstract: A cargo box inner (12) for a vehicle (10) is provided. The cargo box inner (12) is comprised of a series of interconnected composite panels (22, 24a, 24b, 26) that form a cargo bed (14). One or more pairs of these panels (22, 24a, 24b, 26) are each joined together for forming a storage bin (40a, 40b, 42) adjacent to the cargo bed (14). Each storage bin (40a, 40b, 42) is selectively covered by a lid (50, 64), which is movable between an open position and a closed position.