Alright. I have had time when I wanted a flat-bed truck. So why can't we have a truck which converts from standard bed to flat bed?
I realize that some of the design might be tricky, but imagine this: A standard pickup with a walled bed. But, with either a manual lever/crank or powered by an electric motar, the sides tip down to provide a flat-bed design to haul larger items.
That was the primary reason for this new idea. Here are the "sub-ideas":
* Why not have a retractable ramp underneith the bed of the pickup, much like your U-Haul (Or compeditor's equivelant) truck has?
* Why are trucks only either Rear-Wheel or 4 Wheel drive? I understand the benefit of Rear-Wheel when towing... but a small pickup doesn't need it most of the time. If you're going to have a switch between 2wd and 4wd, why not add another setting for Front Wheel drive as it provides 1. Better traction as the wieght of the vehicle is on the front wheels. 2. Better gas mileage.
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There are already many pickups available with folding sides that convert to a flatbed. I am not sure about letting the sides stick out horizontally, would be a hazard for oncoming traffic, but there are definitly pickups with removable sides for ease of side loading/carring larger loads.
classic drop sided pickup:http://www.precisionframe.com/photos/singlecab.jpg
Many smaller trucks are front wheel drive only and are especially popular in europe where the need for manoverability, speed and efficincy prevail over excess.
Such examples include the vw caddy (rabbit pickup in US):http://vwcaddyforum.com/showthread.php?t=2414
and the ford P100:http://www.autovirta.com/pomoi/pics/SJX820_1.jpg
hope this helps, I like the idea about retractable ramps, but perhaps removable ones would be better so it is not nessacary to carry them around when not being used? I imagine these would be very model specific and some manufacturers would probably already supply them.
I'm happy to say that in Australia where I am from the market is made almost enirely of drop side trays. Excactly as you imagined. I have started a company importing such bodies that have been especially designed for the North American market into Canada. They are available to those in the USA aswell. Check out www.oztray.com
http://www.oztray.com
I so enjoy your writing, thank you for posting an interesting article and good.
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