--- title: "Ford Patents Built-In Pickup Bed Rack With Stowaway Rails and It Sure Seems Handy" description: "Ford has patented a system of rising bed rails that can be posed for mounting purposes, or to hold items on their own." date: "2024-03-21" modified: "2024-03-21" authors: - name: "Nico DeMattia" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/nico-demattia" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/ford-patents-built-in-pickup-bed-rack-with-stowaway-rails-and-it-sure-seems-handy" categories: - "Car Tech" - "Ford News" - "News" - "News by Brand" - "Patents" - "Trucks" tags: - "F-150" - "Ford" - "Maverick" - "pickup" - "Ranger" --- # Ford Patents Built-In Pickup Bed Rack With Stowaway Rails and It Sure Seems Handy ![]() *Ford. USPTO* Ford's latest patent could drastically increase the usability of pickup truck beds, allowing for customers to nearly double the size of their cargo capacity at the push of a button. The new patent, filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office ([USPTO]()), via *[CarBuzz]()*, proposes rising rails on the walls of a bed that can not only hold large items of their own, but act as mounting points for additional storage compartments. Under normal circumstances, the rails would stay retracted, inside the bed walls. But when deployed, actuators could extend the bed rails up on either side. With just the rails in their extended position, owners can store longer items like lumber or ladders—think anything too long to normally fit in the bed—horizontally *across* the bed, freeing up space underneath for other storage. If the long item is too heavy to lift up onto the fully extended rails, owners can place it across the bed walls with the rails retracted and then let the actuators do the lifting for them. According to Ford's patent documents, each actuator is capable is lifting 1,320 pounds, but the filing doesn't say how much weight each rail can hold without bending. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() It gets even more practical, too. The upper rails are made of two pieces, the top of which [Ford]() calls "pivot bars" that are thinner and can rotate 90 degrees across the bed like roof racks. With both rotated across, spanning the bed, they create another way for items to be stored up high. Those same pivot bars can also be turned 180 degrees, extending the length of the bed rails even further. Ford also mentions a function that would allow the bed rails to secure any large cargo, to prevent it from falling or moving around. With a cargo net attached between the bed rails, the actuators can retract the bed until the net presses down on the cargo. Once it detects a certain degree of resistance, it slows down its retraction before stopping, holding the cargo in place. The applications for these extending bed rails are limited only by imagination, as they would give owners a ton of added flexibility. [Rivian]() offers similar rails but they're accessories with fixed mounting heights and need to be physically removed. Ford's patent would allow the rails to be raised and lower with the push of a button, used when they're needed and hidden when they're not. This tech could also be implemented on [all Ford pickups](), as the actuators would be the same, only the height and length of the rails would need to change. Patents of course aren't indicative of launching products, but if Ford manages to find a way to debut this technology on pickups, it's not hard to imagine many customers ticking the option box. *Got tips? Send 'em to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Nico is a writer and reviewer from New Jersey who probably thinks he’s a lot funnier than he actually is. His love of cars began when he was just a kid playing Gran Turismo 3, grinding out enough race wins with a Mazda Miata to save up for an in-game RUF 911. That passion for small, lightweight sports cars drove his desire to learn more about the industry, get his hands on as many cars as he could, and bring those experiences to life on the page. He cut his teeth writing about BMWs, Volkswagens, and Audis, mostly, and has owned far too many of each. He’s on his fourth 3 Series sedan, but all of his old, cheap German cars have forced him to learn more about car maintenance than his mechanical capability can handle. Too many late nights have been spent scrambling to get a car running by morning so he could get to work. For some reason, he never seems to learn that old Bimmers probably aren’t the best daily drivers. But he loves more than just old German cars. He’ll gladly drive and discuss anything with four (or even three) wheels. Cars aren’t his only passions, though. Nico is also a big nerd and loves movies, video games, comic books, and cares far too much about the New York Giants. So don’t be surprised if you see football references or dumb, obscure movie quotes in any of his car reviews. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()