A tailgate assembly includes a frame subassembly having a cargo bed access opening disposed between a driver side section and a passenger side section, and a door subassembly that is pivotably coupled to the frame subassembly and is pivotable relative to the frame subassembly back-and-forth between a door open position and a door closed position. The door subassembly closes the cargo bed access opening when the door subassembly is in the door closed position. The assembly further includes a tube of the frame subassembly. The tube extends along an inboard side of the driver side section, along an inboard side of the passenger side section, and along a bottom of the cargo bed access opening.

Various vehicle systems are proposed for facilitating access to and utilization of motor vehicle cargo spaces. The vehicle systems may include deployable stairgate systems, deployable step systems, cargo bed swing door systems, etc. The vehicle systems allow the cargo spaces to be accessed from a variety of positions relative to the cargo space.

A pick-up truck cargo area includes a cargo floor having a forward end, a rearward end and a pair of side edges extending between the forward end and the rearward end. A pair of inflatable bedside panels extend along the pair of side edges. A pair of bed side rails extend above the cargo floor and support the pair of inflatable bedside panels.

A truck box and side panel lift apparatus for a pickup truck of a type having cab and bed portions includes a toolbox that extends between the side walls of the truck bed. The apparatus includes a pair of bed side panels that are situated inside the side walls of the truck. A pair of support members are slidably coupled to front ends of bed side panels and are slidably movable between retracted configurations displaced away from the toolbox and deployed configurations positioned underneath the lateral ends of the toolbox, respectively. The apparatus includes lift assemblies coupled to the bed side panels for raising or retracting the bed side panels. The toolbox is raised simultaneously with the bed side panels but only if the support members are deployed under ends of the toolbox at the time the side panels are raised.

A truck box and side panel lift apparatus for a pickup truck of a type having cab and bed portions includes a toolbox that extends between the side walls of the truck bed. The apparatus includes a pair of bed side panels that are situated inside the side walls of the truck. A pair of support members are slidably coupled to front ends of bed side panels and are slidably movable between retracted configurations displaced away from the toolbox and deployed configurations positioned underneath the lateral ends of the toolbox, respectively. The apparatus includes lift assemblies coupled to the bed side panels for raising or retracting the bed side panels. The toolbox is raised simultaneously with the bed side panels but only if the support members are deployed under ends of the toolbox at the time the side panels are raised.

A vehicle includes a vehicle body, a door and a handle assembly. A door is coupled to the vehicle body and is pivotable about a horizontal axis between a closed position and a horizontal open position. The door is also pivotable about a vertical axis between the closed position and a vertical open position. The handle assembly includes a housing, a first release switch and a second release switch. The housing extends at least partially into a cavity of the door and includes a lower wall and an upper wall that cooperate to define a pocket. The first release switch is disposed along the upper wall of the housing and is configured to be actuated to pivot the door about the horizontal axis. The second release switch is disposed along the lower wall of the housing and is configured to be actuated to pivot the door about the vertical axis.

A tailgate panel assembly for a vehicle includes an outer panel and an inner panel. The outer panel and the inner panel are directly joined to each other at an outer side with respect to a widthwise direction of the vehicle. An extended panel is joined to the inner panel and to the outer panel at an inner side with respect to the widthwise direction of the vehicle, thereby forming a closed cross-section.

A cargo bed system for a vehicle includes an inner shell and an outer shell operably coupled to the inner shell so as to be movable with respect to the inner shell between a lowered position and a raised position so as to vary a height of a cargo bed defined by the cargo bed system.

A trailer cleanout portal assembly includes an inner bracket attached to an inner surface of a trailer perimeter wall. The inner bracket includes a first central aperture extending therethrough that is alignable with a wall aperture in the perimeter wall. A cover bracket is attached to the inner bracket with the perimeter wall positioned between the inner and cover brackets. The cover bracket has an access aperture extending therethrough that is aligned with the first central aperture. A panel positioned between the inner bracket and the cover bracket is vertically movable to open or close the access aperture. An open space is defined extending from a lower edge of the panel and between the cover bracket and the inner bracket such that material falling between the inner and cover brackets freely falls downwardly from the assembly.

Methods and apparatus for advertising, promoting, marketing and/or selling products and services. The inventions include a mobile vehicle and moving showroom for advertising, promotion, marketing, and sales of products and services. The products and services may be promoted for direct sale from the moving showroom, or for sale from other outlets, such as retail stores and internet sales.