J&S~B
Oceanside, CA
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Joined: 06/15/2007
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Saw a GMC Sierra of Silverado, extended cab, long bed, SRW, today with a body modification that added three storage boxes to each side. Could not tell if it was stock option or custom, but looked real good. Some hint of body work around tail lights.
Did not change width or profile of truck bed, so not much depth achieved? Could not get a good view inside bed before it was gone.
Something like this:
Mod:
GMC Sierra 2500 HD 4X4; Lance 815;
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southernkilowatt
North Carolina
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Joined: 11/13/2007
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Yes I have seen those and I'm pretty sure its factory. Sharp ride.
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woodhog
NS
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It is a shame the manufacturers have never caught on to all this wasted space, every year with new models I keep expecting this but as yet it has not happened... Hello truck makers are you still asleep at the switch?????
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ShapeShifter
Buffalo, NY
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woodhog wrote:It is a shame the manufacturers have never caught on to all this wasted space, every year with new models I keep expecting this but as yet it has not happened... Hello truck makers are you still asleep at the switch?????
My truck (Chevy Avalanche) has large storage compartments in the side of the box behind and above the rear wheels. This has been standard on all models of the truck since 2002, and is also on the Cadillac Escalade EXT. I find the compartments VERY handy, and they even include a light that illuminates inside the compartment and into the truck bed.
However, the door to access them is at the top of the bed rail. So, it isn't very practical with a TC or truck bed cap, as they will cover the doors. So, it's not a perfect solution for everyone, and it's not exactly the type of storage seen by the OP, but the point is that at least some manufacturers have made use of the space.
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woodhog
NS
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Access is needed not on top, there are too many things in the way on the top. You may want to put on side boards etc. or maybe even the camper
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ShapeShifter
Buffalo, NY
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woodhog wrote:Access is needed not on top, there are too many things in the way on the top. You may want to put on side boards etc. or maybe even the camper
Agreed, and I did say that in my post. My point was simply that not all manufacturers overlook that space. I use those storage compartments a lot, and have jumper cables, tire changing tools, cleaning supplies, chamois, paper towels, ice scrapers, a long-handled ax, bungee cords, tie-down straps, ball hitch stinger, tarps, and other stuff in them, and they're still only about 1/2 to 2/3 full. But I don't have a TC or truck cap on them, and I understand they are not for everyone.
While I can picture quite a few people who would love to have the type of storage mentioned by the OP, I can also picture a lot more people who would not want it because it makes the truck look like it has a utility truck body on it. Maybe that's a reason why they haven't come out with various side door storage options?
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Longhaultransport
Solway, Tn.
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Joined: 08/25/2008
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The Royal Summit/Sport Utility Truck Body
No longer in production.
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alex k
jim thorpe pa
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Joined: 10/01/2008
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sounds like it's a utility body that has a curved , less box like profile. the tail lite modification would have revealed a smaller bed and tailgate .
just a way to make a utility body loog better .
like this http://www.holidayrambler.com/holidays/archive/01julyaug/truck.html
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SoCalDesertRider
SanDiego, CA, USA
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Joined: 12/14/2003
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As mentioned, Royal used to make them and another company or two made them as well. Not sure if the others are still made. They do look nice and are very practical.
On most utility bodies, you lose inside bed width, as the whole bed is 48-49 inches wide all the way down, instead of having wheel wells that protrude into the bed area 48-50" apart and bed rails spaced at 60-65" apart. A standard utility body precludes carrying a camper due to the 48" bed width.
I would like to see the manufacturers offer factory utility bodies with 60" bed width and wheel wells, as a pickup bed has, but with exterior storage as a utility body has. There would be less storage box depth above the bed floor, but for the boxes below bed floor level, they can still be full depth. The wheel well could extend forward to the front bed wall and the front storage compartment expand into that area. A camper can be loaded and all of the available space is useful, as well as accessable from the outside.
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Chuck and Di
Ontario, Canada
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SoCalDesertRider wrote:
On most utility bodies, you lose inside bed width, as the whole bed is 48-49 inches wide all the way down, instead of having wheel wells that protrude into the bed area 48-50" apart and bed rails spaced at 60-65" apart. A standard utility body precludes carrying a camper due to the 48" bed width.
Correction: Precludes carrying SOME campers. It would carry mine just fine, as it would many other models I've seen. Not all campers are the same.
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