GM Files Patent For Length-Extending Pickup Truck Box
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GM has filed a patent application for a dynamically adjustable box design for a pickup truck.
The GM patent filing has been assigned application number US 2023/0024934 A1 with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and was published on January 26th, 2023. The patent was originally filed on July 26th, 2021, and lists Anthony Bernal from Farmington Hill, Michigan, and Orlando Espana from Windsor, Canada as the inventors.
The patent describes a vehicle composed of a chassis, a passenger compartment supported by the chassis, and a box supported by the chassis and located away from the passenger compartment. Critically, the box includes a lower bed section that’s fixed to the chassis, as well as an upped bed section and a tailgate that’s connected pivotally to the upper bed section. The upper bed section and the tail gate are both “shiftable relative to the lower bed.”
The way in which the GM length-extending pickup truck box shifts relative to the lower box section is rather complicated, but appears to incorporate a series of rollers and belts to make the bed either longer or shorter, as desired.
As the patent description describes, a dynamically adjustable box section allows more flexibility for the user, as the situation warrants. While a longer box allows a user to transport bigger objects, such as lumbar or plywood, it can increase the vehicle’s overall turning radius and make parking more difficult. On the flip side, shorter boxes make a vehicle easier to drive and easier to park, but limit the user in terms of carrying capacity. Of course, pickup truck buyers typically must weigh the benefits and drawbacks of both configurations, but with this GM length-extending patent, perhaps no such compromise is necessary.
In related news, a GM patent was published in November of last year detailing a design for a pickup truck cargo bed utility wall system for easy installation of items like cargo tie-downs or accessory storage.
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If you were to build this, you could probably borrow a lot of the mechanism from slide-out RVs.
GM has toyed with the idea in the past. Anyone recall the Granite GMC truck Mock up?
This would be a very good thing …if they get it right. Not only could you buy a shorter truck but haul when you need it. And still base it on a shorter platform.
It has to be reliable, it has to not add a ton of weight, retain cost and it needs to look good long or short.
I believe this can be done but only time will tell us if they get it right. And if they do wow this could be big.
Based on the tailgate GM did I think the will do it.
I think a midgate is the way to go, but I assume it requires a one piece cab and bed.
One piece bed is required and I noticed GM only offers it on the Ultium platform that is very stiff. You may see more of this with EV but there appears to be a reason they no longer offer it on the ladder frame. Twist or bends may have been an issue in the sealing of the cab.
The midgate is perfect for the Mid size trucks with a short bed but still not been done.
I would seriously go with a mid-size with the short bed if they had the mid-gate. As long as I could keep the window in and drop the gate like the avalanche (not sure the EV Silverado does that). Would love a longer bed sealed from both the elements and thieves when needed.
That’s why I love the Chevy suburban. I wish they would make a suburban with the wheel base and length of a 4door and 8ft bed. I really think they would have a perfect fullsize XXL suv. They could be either a 4 row seating or xl cargo area.
Guess a hitch is a no?
Looks like it could be done when the bed is short.
The issue would be gooseneck or a fifth-wheel. It might have to be on the bottom part, with the bed extended. Or this would be only used on half-tons.
The conventional hitch on a pickup doesn’t have anything to do with the bed, it’s attached directly to the frame rails.
That is understood. I am not an engineer but looking at the drawings, when you are extending the bed, you are pulling further away from the frame unless frame rails are coming with it & if so, that would have to be one hell of a locking mechanism. Wish there was a legend associated with the numbers surrounding the diagrams. unless I am missing something here, which is a possibility.
The hitch wouldn’t pull away. You can take the whole box of a pickup and the hitch is still there. Neither the hitch nor the bumper touch the bed.
You wouldn’t want to have a fancy extension anyway because the hitch being further away from the center of rotation of the truck creates a lever arm that leads to instability, i.e. trailer sway. That’s why they have gooseneck hitches.
A hitch appears that it would be a problem or be very limited. It appears that it would have to depend on some badass locking mechanism under there. The mention of using a series of rollers & belts is a scary thought being that I live in the northeast salt belt & anybody who is in a sandy environment & dirt road could be worrisome. I also thought the same about the multi tailgate, but I have it on my 2020 AT4 & it is on its 3rd winter & has worked flawlessly. I do use it all of the time. I wonder what the plan is to accommodate a spare tire.
If they can pull it off with built in strength and durability, it will be a win.
It would have some benefit, but doubt it could create an 8′ bed. The sliding portion would be the length after the wheels, and the 5′ (or less) bed would most likely make it only 6.5′.
It’ll probably get used on a 3 row 1500 with a 3 ft bed.
I am from Windsor Canada! NOT California 😉
I doubt anyone reading about this cares where you are from. I am glad however that I don’t live in kalifornia.
Seems like Orlando was just trying to correct an inaccuracy in the original article.
Seems like a built in Carolina squat option (loading up that much behind the wheels- it would be interesting to see if they extended the wheel base )
Not “real world” practical for many reasons, some of which have been cited. Not to mention legal liabilities that will arise if it gets into the hands of the general public. Brandon is correct…”a solution looking for a problem”.
Most patents are never implemented. This seems expensive and complicated to be built. What about scratching the paint when making the change over? Big engineering companies push for patent files since it provides proudness and bargaining chips when wanting to use a patent from another company. Companies like IBM file about 3,000 patents a year.
Someone needs to check their spelling… Upped instead of upper, lumbar instead of lumber…..
2×6, 1×1, etc….for the Ultimate in support.
If you use an iPhone or iPad, spellchecker constantly changes the words and it is usually not realized.
That’s why if you are writing an article for anyone to see, you reread it or have someone else read it.
Looks expensive and high maintenance, just buy the bed length you want.
two words: rust, and rattle
Heavy Usage and additional curb weight, plus reliability over time….
BUT, think of the untold opportunities for Dynamic Stretching Bed Covers, Hop-Caps and Leer stuff!
I would wait a bit before getting to worked up either way. This deal is just a paten drawing and is not production ready, A lot can happen before we would see this in the showroom as the drawings are pretty basic.
Lets see the final product then decide.
I’m a entrepreneur that’s looking to introduce to General motor’s my one and only truck box cover that I have built on my own Chevy Silverado, my cover provides Hite and With to my existing truck box and cover’s it like a regular tauneau cover.I believe that my cover would be a great asset to General motor’s as I already own the patent application rights.
Carl u can’t buy a long-bed in the new Colorado/canyon . Maybe this is planned for this model. Not everyone wants a full size truck but I do need the longer bed most of the time.
The length of the box should be to your specific needs if you need a long box or short box ,you buy what you need it for. I believe that the extension will be a problem like an extension on a trailer.
Denis
The EV Canoo already has this on their truck.
Some of you morons will want this truck with column shift
Yawn