Abstract: A tailgate tie down system includes a first plate assembly and a second plate assembly. A strap is connected between each of the first plate assembly and the second plate assembly. In an exemplary method, the strap can be routed through at least one accessory tool before securing the first plate assembly and the second plate assembly within tailgate latch openings. Once the plate assemblies are locked within the latch openings, the accessory tool is also locked relative to the tailgate.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a bed and a tailgate. The bed has first and second side panels. The tailgate is rotatably secured to the bed along a horizontal axis and has a plurality of extruded sections that are arranged in a longitudinally extending chain. Each section extends laterally between the first and second side panels. Adjacent sections are secured to each other via hinges that rotate about axes that are substantially parallel to the horizontal axis.

Abstract: An article rack includes a base mountable to a top rail of a truck box, a carrier, and a linkage pivotally connected to the base and the carrier. A drive mechanism of the rack has a first wheel fixed to the base, a second wheel fixed to the carrier, and an endless loop trained around the wheels such that pivoting of the linkage about the base pivots the carrier about the linkage.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a truck bed, tailgate, and cover. The tailgate is rotatably secured to the bed. The tailgate has internal and external panels secured to each other via a sidewall extending therebetween. The external panel defines an outer periphery. The sidewall and internal panel collectively form a first radius extending adjacent and internal to a corner of the periphery. The cover is secured to the tailgate and over the first radius.

Abstract: A pickup truck box assembly including a header, a truck bed, an upper header rail, and a toolbox is provided. The truck bed has a forward end supporting the header, a rear end having a tailgate pivotally mounted thereto, and a pair of wheel wells disposed on opposing sides of the truck bed. The upper header rail may be secured at an upper portion of the header. The toolbox may include an extruded body defining a channel extending laterally a width of the truck bed. A lower surface of the body may be spaced from the truck bed a distance greater than a height of the wheel wells. First and second body side panels may be mounted to the truck bed and arranged with the toolbox to define sidewalls of the toolbox. The upper header rail and the toolbox may be formed by extrusion as a single component.

Abstract: A truck box assembly including a sidewall, a pair of doors, and a support assembly is provided. The sidewall may define an opening to provide clearance for a wheel house. Each of the pair of doors extends from one side of the opening. The support assembly may be mounted to a truck box and support the sidewall as the sidewall moves between retracted and expanded positions. Each of the doors may be moveable between an open position and a closed position filling the opening in the expanded position. The support assembly may include a mount post secured to the truck box at a standard interface plate (SIP) bracket and a horizontal member extending from the mount post and secured to the truck box at a stake pocket hole.

Abstract: A vehicle tailgate includes an internal panel, an upper panel, a lower panel, a pair of side panels, and a tie-down bracket. The internal panel extends from the upper panel to the lower panel and between the pair of side panels. The pair of side panels are rotatably secured to a cargo bed. The tie-down bracket is secured to an exterior of one of the side panels. The tie-down bracket defines a C-channel that extends along the exterior of one of the side panels from the upper panel toward the lower panel.

Abstract: A winch is disclosed for a pick-up bed having a floor, and a front wall. The winch includes a winch motor and spool assembled to the truck body below the floor. An upper pulley is assembled to the front wall with a cable wound around the spool that is extendable and retractable from the spool. The cable is routed over the upper pulley through an opening defined by the front wall. The opening is spaced from the floor to facilitate loading articles into and unloading articles from the truck bed.

Abstract: A vehicle tailgate includes an internal panel, a pair of side panels, and a tie-down bracket. The internal panel extends between the pair of side panels. The pair of side panels are rotatably secured to a cargo bed. The tie-down bracket is secured to an exterior of the internal panel. The tie-down bracket defines first and second C-channels that extend in a direction from a first to a second of the side panels.

Abstract: A pick-up truck bed includes a plurality of plates longer in a longitudinal direction than in a transverse direction that are assembled together along longitudinally extending edges to a laterally adjacent one of the plates. The plates each include a plurality of supporting structures longitudinally extending along a length of the plates that support the plates on transversely extending cross-members. A left-side plate defines a left wheel housing cutout, a longitudinally extending central plate includes first and second complementary interlocking features on opposite longitudinally extending sides, and a longitudinally extending right-side plate defines a right wheel housing cutout. The left-side plate includes a first interlocking feature and the right-side plate includes a second interlocking feature that each receive one of the complementary interlocking features of the central plate.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a truck bed and an extruded tailgate that is rotatably secured to the bed. The extruded tailgate forms laterally extending internal, external, upper, and lower panels. The exterior surfaces of each of the internal, upper, and lower panels define T-slots that are configured to receive accessory components.

Abstract: A tailgate accessory mounting system includes a first track, a first anchoring bolt slidably received within a slot of the first track, and a mounting plate secured to the first track by the first anchoring bolt. The tailgate accessory mounting system may be secured to a tailgate of a vehicle, such as a pickup truck, for example.

Abstract: An entertainment support system is attached to a pickup truck having a plurality of receptacles in sidewalls of a truck box spaced above a truck bed. The entertainment support system includes a first mount having a first horizontal arm extending between opposing sidewalls of the truck box, and a vertical arm extending orthogonal to the first horizontal arm. The entertainment support system further includes a second mount including a second horizontal arm extending between the opposing sidewalls parallel to and spaced from the first horizontal arm.

Abstract: A truck bed foldable shelf includes a platform and a support hingedly attached to the platform with a first hinge at one end and hingedly attached to a truck bed rim at an opposing end with a second hinge, spaced apart from the first hinge, such that the shelf is configured to freely hang under the lip in a stowed position and lie in a horizontal orientation in a raised position.

Abstract: A pickup truck box assembly may include a header, an extruded upper rail, and a toolbox. The header may include a first flange extending at an angle away from a tailgate. The extruded rail may include a second flange for securing to the first flange. The toolbox is integrated with the rail and includes an extruded body having a rear wall, a forward wall, and a lower wall. The walls are arranged with one another to define a cell therebetween. A lid may be mounted to the forward wall for pivotal movement between at least a closed and an open position. Each of a pair of lateral channels may extend laterally beneath the cell and may be formed by an extrusion process with the walls. Each of a first and second truck bed side panel may be arranged with the forward and lower walls to form sidewalls of the toolbox.

Abstract: An entertainment support system is attached to a pickup truck having a plurality of receptacles in sidewalls of a truck box spaced above a truck bed. The entertainment support system includes a first mount having a first horizontal arm extending between opposing sidewalls of the truck box, and a vertical arm extending orthogonal to the first horizontal arm. The entertainment support system further includes a second mount including a second horizontal arm extending between the opposing sidewalls parallel to and spaced from the first horizontal arm.

Abstract: A winch is mounted in a pick-up truck bed having a floor, sidewalls, and a front wall. The sidewalls each include at least one receptacle that are each adapted to receive a connector. A frame includes a beam that is held spaced from the floor and extends in a transverse direction across the truck bed. The beam may be arcuate or straight and is connected to right and left connectors on right and left ends of the beam. The connectors may be connected directly to the receptacles or may be connected through right and left rails to the receptacles. The winch is attached to a winch mounting plate provided on the beam and is used to facilitate loading and unloading objects.

Abstract: A vehicle tailgate includes an internal panel, upper panel, lower panel, pair of side panels, and pair of tie-down brackets. The internal panel extends from the upper panel to the lower panel and between the pair of side panels. The side panels are rotatably secured to a cargo bed proximate to the lower panel. The pair of tie-down brackets is secured to an exterior of the internal panel between the upper and lower panels. The tie-down brackets define C-channels that extend in a direction that is substantially parallel with the side panels.

Abstract: A bicycle rack is attached to a pickup truck having a plurality of receptacles in sidewalls of a truck box spaced above a truck bed. The bicycle rack comprises a bicycle receiver attached to a set of arms. A pair of connectors are attached to the arms to detachably assemble the arms to the receptacles with the arms and the receiver being held in a position spaced from the bed. A method is disclosed for transporting a bicycle with a pickup truck by providing connectors attached to the arms that are detachably assembled to the receptacles by sliding the connectors downwardly relative to the receptacles. The bicycle and bicycle rack do not require support from the truck bed and do not obstruct the truck bed.

Abstract: A pick-up truck bed includes a plurality of plates longer in a longitudinal direction than in a transverse direction that are assembled together along longitudinally extending edges to a laterally adjacent one of the plates. The plates each include a plurality of supporting structures longitudinally extending along a length of the plates that support the plates on transversely extending cross-members. A left-side plate defines a left wheel housing cutout, a longitudinally extending central plate includes first and second complementary interlocking features on opposite longitudinally extending sides, and a longitudinally extending right-side plate defines a right wheel housing cutout. The left-side plate includes a first interlocking feature and the right-side plate includes a second interlocking feature that each receive one of the complementary interlocking features of the central plate.