Something New to Come for RAM Drivers?

Nothing like a strong patent that has never been done before. Unless they are claiming fully embedded laterally adjustable rails? Yet some of the images seem to do that as well.

I am sure horse drawn buggies had this.

some prior art.

http://blog.caranddriver.com/ram-patents-retractable-pickup-truck-bed-ramps/

I put a garden tractor in my truck all the time...home-made ramps - cheap!

Here in Maine you see pickups with 4 wheelers and snowmobiles in them all the time.

It will probably be very costly compared too what you can buy for $100 or under today!

Same here as well. If it's anywhere close to being something that will fit in a pickup it will get carried that way.

I am waiting for the built-in Jacuzzi with slosh control.

Sounds like the BedX-Stender , I like the Shark Kage.....

What a complete crock of $hit!!!!

The patent system has become a haven for theft, prostitution and fraud.

Someone patented taking a picture. Give me a break!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lawyer welfare at its finest!

Looking it over, it's a pair of ramps stored under the bed in tracks, and which slide out through tracks in the lowered tailgate. After they're extended, they can be slid along a rack on the tailgate edge to adjust the width.

It's similar to the 'u-haul ramp' design, but there re enough 'new features' (completely hidden when stowed and tailgate up, extends from a fixed slot, but can be adjusted laterally once extended) that make it an 'improvement' on the U-haul ramp design.

This patent looks legit. It just, like many, appear obvious in hindsight, which actually is a good thing. That feeling of 'why didn't somebody do this before?' leads to rapid market acceptance. It would not surprise me to see this as an option for medium- and heavy-duty pickups a few model years down the line⁽¹⁾, and as a 'standard option'⁽²⁾ to all pickups a few model years after that.

Notes:

1. There's no way this would be an 'after market add-on,' unless people are replacing the entire cargo bed⁽³⁾.
2. Why do they call them 'standard options' anyway? Is it just code for 'these are parts that are not added to the base price of the vehicle, but we'll make you get and pay for anyway'? That seems like false advertising: 20K for the truck, plus another 10K for all the 'options' we won't let you 'opt out of.'
3. That whole section is the 'cargo bed,' right? Including the walls, tailgate, rear fenders, etc? Sorry, I'm not a 'pickup guy,' I don't know their anatomy that well.
   

$20K for a truck?!?!? Where have you been living? More like $40K with ANY options...you might get lucky and find one for around $30K but that's about the bottom around here. Like I said before..you can buy ramps at Tractor Supply for $100.

"$20K for a truck?!?!? Where have you been living?"

Um, I *DID* mention that I knew almost nothing about pickups, right? It was in the footnotes (where I get more informal and conversational), but it was there.

I was just pulling numbers out of my as- a rabbit⁽¹⁾ to make a point about 'standard options.' In my mind, they are either Standard Features, and included in the base price of the vehicle, or they are Options, where you can pick and choose what you want⁽²⁾.

Notes:

1. Ugh, with that lead in, that flip on the old phrase 'pulling a rabbit out of a hat' seems even more unseemly than the phrase it was replacing. Sorry about that.
2. With the concept of prerequisites, of course. You can't get the 'C and ring' tow hitch without getting the heavy-duty transmission, or get the 80 inch tires without getting the lift kit so there's clearance to mount the tires⁽³⁾.
3. The ladder to get into the cab is still optional, although the 'homebrew' ladder made from a knotted rope is Highly Discouraged.
   

Just saw a road test of the 2015 Ford F150. Price as tested, $61,520.00

Who are they kiddin'?

"Price as tested"

Did the 'test model' have:

• The latest SiriusXM radio (or any radio)
• A full-size spare tire
• A six-wire tow package (or any tow package)
• A bed liner
• Heated seats
• Heated mirrors
• Power mirrors, windows and doors
• Air Conditioning
• Automatic transmission
  
• Airbags

Or was it a 'stripped-down' model with all the 'standard options' removed, is essence 'just enough truck to carry the paint job around the track and look GOOD⁽¹⁾ for the camera'?

On a side note, I personally dislike the Ford F150 for completely selfish and irrational reasons: An idiot driving an F150⁽²⁾ killed my old Jeep Wrangler by rear ending it, twice in rapid succession⁽³⁾.

Notes

1. Will Smith/MiB reference optional.
2. I have to hate the model line, If I were to hate the driver, I would be 'culturally insensitive' to his nationality⁽⁴⁾.
3. He hit me, knocked me forward forward, then hit me again. There were two distinct impacts, and enough time to realize "I was just rear ende-BAM* ended. .. TWICE!
4. Seriously people, if you don't want to be treated as stereotypes, DON'T ACT LIKE THEM. You don't see me acting as a stereotypical 'short-fuse, angry at everything' German. It's called self-control and situational awareness, people.⁽⁵⁾
5. Okay, I *WAS* acting stereotypical in that last note, er, rant, but I fight to control it, to project a better image, more 'happy, goofy toymaker,' less 'rampaging hun.'
   

This was top-o-the-line Platinum 4 door 4WD, with a "Base" price of $55,980.00

The base, base price for 2 dr 2 wd is $26,000.00.

I drove Chevys till 2001 when I bought my first Ford. I love it.

I'd never buy another new one, too expensive!

A dump bed would be nice, with a winch at the front to pull road kill or a portly beached whale in a lounge chair up the drop-down ramp and into the bed.