Utility rack for pickup truck

Abstract

A utility rack for a pickup truck includes front and rear stanchions, each generally in the shape of an inverted 'U', and left and right side rails extending between hinges at the upper corners of the stanchions. The front stanchion is permanently mounted at the front of the truck bed. The rear stanchion is movable between an extended position at the rear of the truck bed and a proximate position just behind the front stanchion. The side rails collapse vertically into a 'V' (seen from the side) as the rear stanchion is moved to its proximate position, giving the rack an overall appearance of an 'M'. When the rack is fully collapsed, it looks like an 'I'. In one version, a second pair of rails extends over the cab, vertically rotating on a second pair of hinges on the front stanchion. A cross member joins the front ends of these rails. In another version, the side rails are not mounted onto the stanchions by hinges, but by removable brackets; and the rails collapse horizontally rather than vertically. The over-cab rails are continuations of the side rails. The over-cab cross member can be divided in the middle, and its component parts swung horizontally along side the side rails. In all versions, the stanchions and cross members can be telescoped to fit differing widths of truck bed.