A vehicle is disclosed having a composite cargo body assembled in a manner that may improve thermal efficiency, fuel efficiency, and costs of manufacturing.

A cargo body includes sidewalls constructed of pairs of panels secured together at respective joints. Each panel is an assembled panel having a core, an interior skin, and an exterior skin. In some cases, each joint is formed to include overlapping edge portions of first and second ones of the adjacent pair of panels. Each of the overlapping edge portions has a thickness less than 20 percent of a total panel thickness of the corresponding one of the adjacent pair of panels such that the joint formed thereby defines a recess between co-facing edge portions of the first and second ones of the adjacent pair of panels. A profile insert defining a longitudinal channel is positioned in the recess defined by the overlapping edge portions at each joint. Each joint is secured by fixedly attaching the profile insert to the overlapping edge portions.

A cargo body includes sidewalls constructed of pairs of panels secured together at respective joints. Each of the plurality of panels is a composite panel having a core, an interior skin secured to a first side of the core facing the cargo receiving volume, and an exterior skin secured to a second opposite side. Each joint includes an interior splice plate and an exterior splice plate, and co-facing edge portions of the adjacent pair of panels are sandwiched between the interior and exterior splice places. Each edge portion defines a region of reduced core thickness in which a core thickness measured between the respective interior and exterior skins is less than a maximum core thickness. A recess is formed by the pair of interior or exterior skins to receive the corresponding splice plate, such that the corresponding one of the interior and exterior splice plate is nested into the recess.

A sidewall assembly for a trailer including: a plurality of composite sandwich panels; and at least one composite side post coupled to the plurality of composite sandwich panels, each of the at least one composite side post including an outer post and an inner logistics post coupled to the outer post, wherein the outer post is formed with flexible metallic material and the inner logistics post is formed with hard metallic material.

A vehicle cargo construct including a floor, a plurality of side wall panels extending from the floor, and an end wall panel extending from the floor between the plurality of side wall panels. The floor has an exterior surface and an oppositely opposed interior surface. Each of the plurality of side wall panels has an exterior surface and an oppositely opposed interior surface. The has an exterior surface and an oppositely opposed interior surface. Each of the floor, the plurality of side wall panels, and the end wall panel are formed of a composite sandwich panel material formed including an open area core defining a plurality of pores disposed between a backing sheet and a surface sheet formed of a sheet molding composition (SMC) reinforced with unidirectional fibers.

An apparatus including a connector structure. The connector structure can connect a first vehicle panel with a second vehicle panel. The connector structure can be disposed between the first vehicle panel and the second vehicle panel. The connector structure can include a first adhesive to adhere the connector structure to the first vehicle panel and a second adhesive to adhere the connector structure to the second vehicle panel.

The present disclosure provides a kit assembly for a truck body including a plurality of composite panels that may be shipped from a manufacturer to a customer for subsequent assembly of the truck body. The composite panels of the kit assembly may be flat, rigid, and lightweight to facilitate shipment. The composite panels of the kit assembly may also include embedded anchors and/or adhered connectors to facilitate alignment and subsequent assembly of the cargo body using common mechanical fasteners.

A tonneau cover that includes a first panel and a second panel; a hinge located between the first panel and the second panel, the hinge includes a first link and a second link, the first link includes a pocket; the second link includes a projection that is configured to engage the pocket of the first link to connect the first link and the second link; and one or more covers extending over all or a portion of the first panel, the second panel, the first link, and the second link; the second link has a structure that is substantially similar to a structure of the first link and/or the one or more covers provide an indirect connection between the first panel and the first link.

A utility raceway for a commercial cargo body. The utility raceway includes an interior defined between a first side, a second side, a third side opposite the first side, and a fourth side opposite the second side. The utility raceway also includes a first living hinge formed between the first side and the second side and a second living hinge formed between the second side and the third side. The second side is pivotable relative to the first side about the first living hinge and the third side is pivotable relative to the second side about the second living hinge.

A truck shell is provided that is able to incorporate a variety of retractable, convertible and/or removable rooftops. The truck shell is designed to be able to drive with or without the rooftop component installed, and with or without the rooftop component in the open or closed position. The truck shell comprises a frame structure which enables its use without a rooftop component installed while retaining structural integrity, and also enabling the use of a number of different structures and styles of rooftops.