GM has filed a patent application for a new foldable ramp design for pickup trucks. The new GM patent application has been assigned patent application number US 2024/0017657 A1 with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), and was published on January 18th, 2024. The patent application was originally filed on July 13th, 2022, and lists Brian V. Castillo from Birmingham, Michigan as the inventor.
The patent application describes a foldable ramp system designed to more-easily load items into the bed of a pickup truck. The ramp sections are broken down into specific areas that are joined together by a hinge. This hinge incorporates a tension element, as well as foldable support sections that fold out into a V-shaped structure. The patent images also describe the foldable ramps as fitting within the pickup bedside for easy storage when not in use.
As the patent application points out, pickup trucks are typically used to load heavy items like ATVs, motorcycles, lawn mowers, and similar items. As such, a ramp is preferable to help load these items into the bed without physically lifting the items.
Although shorter ramps can be more easily stored, longer ramps provide a lower angle to load items. With that in mind, a foldable ramp solution is preferable. However, foldable ramps present a different challenge, namely limited weight bearing capacity. In order to produce a foldable ramp of sufficient weight-bearing capacity, a heavier material is often used, as is a thicker, more-robust structural profile. However, thicker ramps made of heavier materials can make the ramps unwieldy and difficult to place for an individual.
With all that considered, this foldable ramp design seeks to create a low-approach angle that’s easily storable, while still providing a high degree of weight-bearing capacity.
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Comments
Now those are useful.
I wonder if they’re available now or is GM waiting for a patent before starting production.
Harbor Freight already makes foldable ramps, perhaps not as robust, but available.
The drawing shows them tucked inside the bedside panels so the bed floor remains useful, seems like something the HF versions would be incapable of.
So all you would need for any other folding ramps is hanger brackets that fasten to the bed walls right where there are knock out points for extra tie down anchors. Could be a no-drill system and very cheap… kinda exactly like the ramp hangers I have in my 2012 Silverado lol
There’s a thousand other designs out there, polymer, extending, folding. All work really well. These actually look less robust in my opinion.
GM, here’s an idea, have your engineers make patents that pertain to vehicles, and not compete in market areas that you have no chance being competitive in.
Strikes me as hilarious if that is gm’s patent diagram. The truck is a Ram 1500 Classic.
Nice innovation!
Best idea yet, but what about for a 3 wheeler?
Snowmobile ramps or a third folding ramp. 3 wheelers haven’t been made in 35+ years, no one is doing any ramp innovation specifically for them
Certainly a usable option for those who need them. When stored you could also use them as anchor points for bungees or cargo nets also.
Maybe storage under bed? Just pull them out
Have you ever looked under a truck?
Why does that first one look like a ram?
A lot of pickup trucks are now giant vanity symbols than effective functional tools.
Lots of clean highly-specced pickup trucks in Dallas, with bed covers and liners that will never see off road or a load. It’s embarrassing.
Part of making these bizarre statement trucks (again, for no reason) is making them bigger; so big in fact, that they’ve become impractical to load things in the bed (assuming that would ever happen), so you need things like this, or steps and handholds.
Probably not for a Colorado or a 1500. If you have them, you don’t have the storage capacity needed to put anything of significance in the bed.