I was headed into a restaurant when I noticed a fellow in the parking lot showing the back of his truck to a friend. My wife saw the look on my face and said, "Go ahead—I'll meet you at the table," so I went over to talk to the guys.
The back of the truck was outfitted with an unfamiliar type of tonneau cover. Instead of the usual fiberglass cover that swings up on a hinge, this one was a solid material that folded accordion-style, like one of those sun screens you often see in the windshield of a vehicle. It was a BakFlip, a tonneau made by BAK Industries. Fully open it stood on edge against the rear window of the cab. At the front of the bed was a shelf-like storage box (the BakBox) that could be folded away to free up the interior. And just behind the wheel wells were some blow-molded "saddlebag" boxes that swung out for access. The boxes were made by UnderCover Truck Bed Covers and are called the SwingCase. They hang from a hinge and bracket that screw to the side of the bed, and a latch holds them in place until you need to swing them out.
It was a clever-looking setup but not the sort of rig a general contractor would have, so I asked the owner what he used it for. He said he managed rental properties and needed to carry a limited number of tools and supplies for doing repair work.
I don't know a lot more about the system, but it looks like it would be good for the person who needs to haul a limited number of items, occasionally make use of the entire bed—and when not working, use the truck as a personal vehicle.
For more on how the BakFlip and BakBox work, see the manufacturer's video below.
