Vehicle cargo bed extender
View Patent ↗An improved truck bed extender particularly adapted for ease of installation and removal. When not being used to extend the truck bed, the extender is advantageously adapted to quickly and easily create a secondary storage area. In one embodiment, the extender includes a first side wall, a second side wall, a connecting wall, a first mount and a second mount. The connecting wall extends between the first side wall and the second side wall, and cooperates with the first side wall and second side wall to form a frame. The first mount is secured to the first side wall and includes a first interlocking member. The second mount is secured to the second side wall and comprises a second interlocking member. The first interlocking member and a first mounting station on the vehicle and the second interlocking member and a second mounting station on the vehicle cooperate to secure the truck bed extender to the vehicle.
1. A vehicle bed extender for use with a vehicle having an open storage bed having a rear end, a first upstanding side panel to one side of said bed having an inner side having a lower end and an upper end, a second upstanding side panel to an opposite side of said bed having an inner side, a tailgate, said extender comprising:
a first side wall;
a second side wall;
a connecting wall extending between said first side wall and said second side wall said first side wall, said second side wall, and said connecting wall defining a generally U-shaped frame, said frame comprising a first cross beam, a second cross beam and a vertical strut connecting said first cross beam and said second cross beam;
and
wherein said first side wall is connected to said vehicle and said second side wall is connected to said vehicle in a first position wherein said extender is in an upright position over said tailgate rearward of said rear of said bed with said bed extender providing an opening from above, and wherein said first side wall is connected to said vehicle and said second side wall is connected to said vehicle in a second position wherein said connecting wall is in a substantially vertical position over said bed forward of said rear end of said bed and said first side wall and said second side wall extend rearward from said connecting wall and, with the tailgate closed, said extender provides access from above to a space between said first side wall and said second side wall;
wherein said vehicle is a pickup truck.
2. The bed extender of claim 1 , wherein said connecting wall comprises at least two separable portions.
3. The bed extender of claim 1 , further comprising a first L-shaped section comprising said first side wall and a first portion of said connecting wall and a second L-shaped section comprising said second side wall and a second portion of said connecting wall.
4. A vehicle bed extender for use with a vehicle having an open storage bed having a rear end, a first upstanding side panel to one side of said bed having an inner side having a lower end and an upper end, a second upstanding side panel to an opposite side of said bed having an inner side, a tailgate, said extender comprising:
a first side wall;
a second side wall;
a connecting wall extending between said first side wall and said second side wall, said first side wall, said second side wall, and said connecting wall defining a generally U-shaped frame, said frame comprising a first cross beam, a second cross beam and a vertical strut connecting said first cross beam and said second cross beam; and
wherein said vehicle is a pickup truck and said first side wall is connected to said pickup truck and said second side wall is connected to said pickup truck in a first position wherein said extender is in an upright position over said tailgate rearward of said rear of said bed with said bed extender providing an opening from above, and wherein said first side wall is connected to said pickup truck and said second side wall is connected to said pickup truck in a second position wherein said connecting wall is in a substantially vertical position over said bed spaced forward of said rear end of said bed and, with the tailgate closed, said extender provides access to a rear storage compartment from above between said first side wall, said second side wall, said connecting wall, and said tailgate.