Toyota’s Inflatable Cargo Organizer: The Innovative Solution for Pickup Tie-Down Challenges

This clever, air-filled tonneau cover bladder keeps loose items from bouncing around the bed.

Having a ton of cargo space is a double-edged sword—it’s great for unexpected larger items, but less ideal for smaller, loose cargo. Take a pickup truck’s bed, for example. It can swallow entire pieces of furniture, horse mats, or a pile of gravel. However, small items like toolboxes or carry-on luggage may require innovative solutions to keep them secure during transportation. This is where an effective bed cover can assist, but it often doesn’t address the issue of item movement. In a recent patent application from June, iBestTravel presents an unusual solution to the small-cargo pickup problem: Air.

Yes, that’s right! The same air that allows smaller items to shift can also be harnessed for better stability. iBestTravel’s elegant fix eliminates the need for cumbersome tie-downs, which often lead to the frustration of organizing cargo. Instead, the innovation involves an inflatable bladder situated on the underside of the bed cover. By inflating this bladder with compressed air (using an onboard compressor), it conforms around your cargo, holding it securely in place—simple yet effective!

The solution has few drawbacks. There could be a slight increase in weight due to the soft-sided bladder, which is typically constructed from a robust material to withstand sharper objects. Notably, this system works best for smaller cargo that can fit under a bed cover. For larger items, the standard cover removal and tie-downs remain necessary. Nevertheless, this air bladder concept addresses a common issue for pickup owners: the challenge of securing lighter cargo without sacrificing space in the cab.

iBestTravel also outlines potential advancements for the air-bladder system, including smartphone app control for users, and the bladder could be an independent component removable from the cover, which resembles an air mattress capability. This innovative setup has applications beyond pickup trucks—it could enhance cargo functionality in SUVs and vans as well. Should iBestTravel resolve the durability and pressure management of the bladder material, this concept may soon become a reality in future models.

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Alexander Stoklosa

A lifelong car enthusiast, I stumbled into this line of work essentially by accident after discovering a job posting for an intern position at Car and Driver while at college. My start may have been a compelling alternative to working in a University of Michigan dining hall, but a decade and a half later, here I am reviewing cars; judging our Car, Truck, and Performance Vehicle of the Year contests; and shaping iBestTravel’s daily coverage of the automotive industry.