h a l f b a k e r yThe mutter of invention.
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The pick up truck is something of a cultural icon here in
the US. In certain parts, if you get rich, you don't buy a
Mercedes or whatnot, you just tick more of the options on
the F150 ordering form. Anyhow the basic formula has
been in place for some time: Engine at the front, cab in
the middle
and a bed at the back. The latter is where you
put your cargo, which can be anything from hay bales to
your children sitting on hay bales. Occasionally however,
you might be carrying something that might be damaged by
rain or that might fly away in the wind*. Perhaps in urban
environments, you may have a valuable cargo that's
vulnerable to theft by miscreants while you're buying spur
polish. This is a clear problem.
The solution many take, is a bed cover, or perhaps a
Tonneau cover. This is a fiberglass addition with windows
that makes a pick up into a counterfeit van. The latter is
popular, but they're expensive and inconvenient to
fit/remove/store.
My solution involves two inverted U shaped** frames, most
of the time these live tucked away against the back of the
cab, trying to blend in. When a bed cover is needed, one of
these frames slides to the back of the bed and locks in
place. Then, on one side of the bed there is a pole with
fabric attached. The ends of the pole slot into grooves in
the two frame and you then pull the pole/fabric over the
bed unrolling more from a hidden roll in the first side of
the bed. You clip it into the other side, and you have a bed
cover to keep the sun/rain/wind off your precious cargo.
*like UN baled hay, heaven forbid.
**more accurately, they're the shape of the back of the
cab, so the general shape of the cover will look like a
continuation of the cab to the back of the bed.
Solid ones
https://www.google....mgrc=SeQuKgg5FYJ7dM
Like an old roll-top desk. [neutrinos_shadow, Jun 17 2021]
So many options!
https://www.google....=979&biw=1920&hl=en
There are lots out there. [neutrinos_shadow, Jun 17 2021]
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Annotation:
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So sort of like a tent right? Ok. [+] |
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I didn't know you got pick-up trucks without a hooped canvas back cover. |
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//So sort of like a Softopper?// |
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Not quite, none of the links are exactly what I had in mind. I
think this is very much an OEM feature, as you'd have to
build in the cover roll into one side of the bed. The hoops
aren't just hoops, they're channeled so the cover is guided
and held. And at least one hoop is essentially a part of the
back of the cab. |
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But why are the United Nations baling hay? |
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Reminds me of the news reader who announced
“...an unorganised conference. No, sorry, that’s a
UN-organised conference” |
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//But why are the United Nations baling hay?// |
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They're not. There was a motion put forward by a coalition
of Belgian hardliners to fund a hay baling sub committee
planning group, but it was vetoed by the Russians following
a mix up over car parking. |
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//supports could have wheels on tracks, with canvas between. A bit concertina like.// |
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I think this is a packaging issue. There isn't spare space behind the cab, anything you add there is subtracted from the bed and therefore the utility of the vehicle. Plus, you're stuck with the hoop shapes. In the sides of the bed, there is spare volume, the wheel wells and styling mean the bed sides have a thickness that's already used by some manufacturers for tool boxes/inverters etc. So there is somewhere for the roll to go. Another advantage is that you need not use the frames, you could stretch it straight across as a flat bed cover. |
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