Abstract: A railroad gondola car may have stake pockets in which to mount stakes to permit a greater vertical envelope to be occupied by lading. The stake pockets are collapsible from a deployed position to a storage position. The stake pockets are mounted on doublers that mount to the side walls of the car in line with the side wall stiffeners and their associated cross-bearers. The connection between the stake pocket and the doubler is deliberately made weaker than the connection between the doubler and the side wall such that under abusive loading conditions the stake pocket may tend to shear off the doubler, and may tend thereby to leave the side wall less damaged than might otherwise be the case.

Abstract: A cover system for a substantially flat support surface on a vehicle includes multiple stakes having channels defined along longitudinal sides thereof and which are disposed at a lateral side of the vehicle adjacent the support surface such that the stakes extend substantially perpendicular and upwardly relative to the support surface, removable panels which are removably fitted to the channels of the of the stakes and extend substantially perpendicularly at the lateral side of the vehicle adjacent the support surface and such that open gaps are defined between lower portions of the panels and the support surface, a tarp cover disposed between upper ends of the panels to cover an opening above the support surface, and a sealing device which seals the opens gaps.

Abstract: A cover system, for protectively covering a trailer, includes a plurality of stakes, stake-supported panels and stake-retaining pockets. Each pocket includes a base section, adapted to be fixed to the vehicle, and a movable section which moves between open and closed positions of the pocket. The stake-retaining pocket is formed when the movable section is in the closed position. Each stake includes an inner section, and an outer section selectively connectable to the inner section to define a pair of panel-receiving recesses therebetween. The inner stake section is thicker than the outer section, and the outer section includes an intermediate portion for separating the panel-receiving recesses when the stake sections are connected together. Rails may be used above the stakes to hold the panels in place, and a plurality of bows may adjustably or non-adjustably support a tarp above the rails. A trailer incorporating the cover system is also described.