Ford Patents Groundbreaking Truck Bed System for its Pickups
As the truck race heats up between the big three automakers (GM, Ram, and Ford), truck beds have become a point of contention as each automaker continuously outdoes the other. In essence, truck beds are lauded for their utility and versatility – whether it comes to storing tools, hauling cargo, or even adventure equipment, a lot is expected from truck beds. There is one downside to truck beds at the moment – it can be difficult for some owners to keep things from sliding around their truck beds despite the standard grooves. Oftentimes, fixing items in place requires a lot of improvisation by the owner, but Ford is ready to change that.
Gone are the days of tie-downs, bungee cords, and wood planks. If Ford has its way, truck bed storage is going to become much easier. Muscle Cars and Trucks recently unveiled a patent for a magnetic truck bed that could be coming soon. According to the patent, there’s a series of magnets underneath the truck bed that can either magnetize the entire bed or selectively magnetize sections instead. The recently-patented system will allow owners to control the magnetization via the infotainment screen or smartphone app.
We should add that this information should be taken with a grain of salt given that not every patent is bound for production. Ford currently holds numerous patents for other things like a round and mobile conference room, and a minibike that’s designed to pop out the front of a vehicle. However, a magnetic truck bed could be revolutionary for the pickup segment and experts can see the feature easily be fast-tracked to the F-150, Maverick, and Ranger pickups. In a competitive segment, a feature such as a magnetic truck bed, has the ability to give the automaker even a trivial advantage over the competition.
The future will tell how close Ford is to implementing this magnetic truck bed. There is a possible downside that’s currently being figured out – strong magnets can affect the pickup’s functional electronic equipment, and when peeling back the layers of a modern vehicle it’s safe to assume that what lies beneath is an incredibly complex system of co-functioning electronics. Ford must figure out a way to make this latest innovation work without interfering with the pickup. The competition will surely keep its eyes peeled for whatever Ford does next.
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