- Ram intends to facilitate access to pickup truck beds
- A new side step for pickup trucks may feature a step that pivots toward the rear wheels
- The movable step would be integrated into the running boards
Ram has designed a removable side step for pickup trucks that could allow easier access to cargo beds, according to a patent application.
As described in the application, published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on May 23, 2024 and first filed by Ram in November 2022, the step would pivot from a mounting point just forward of the rear wheels. A spring would be used to deploy the step, while a locking mechanism would hold it in place when in use, depending on the application.
Ram side step patent image
This can make it easier to reach items in front of the cargo bed, which can be difficult to reach in modern pickup trucks. Although Ford and General Motors offer steps integrated into the tailgate and rear bumper, respectively, the only equivalent feature for the front of the bed is the Rivian R1T Gear Tunnel door, which acts as a step.
The running boards generally do not extend far enough to provide a safe step into the cargo bed, and with flush bed sides now the norm on pickup trucks, there is no opportunity to add a step to the bed itself, as on the Toyota Tundra of the early s. 2000 Next door. In any case, the proliferation of trucks with double cabs and shorter beds leaves less room for this.
Ram side step patent image
A side step would also probably work well with the Sheep box bedside storage boxes already offered on current Ram pickups. These remain exclusive to the Ram, although Rivian has attempted to patent a similar one bed storage system.
Like other patented ideas, there is no guarantee that the implementable side step will reach production – and it may not appear immediately if it does. The Ram 1500 just got redesigned, adopting a 6-cylinder engine and adding a new Plug-in hybrid Ramcharger what technology channels Chevy Volt. But it’s not hard to imagine a deployable side step appearing in a mid-cycle update for this truck.