Ford Sport Trac copies Toyota

[tacobill]

Saw this in Edmunds regarding the "all new" 2007 Explorer Sport Trac.

The 4.5-foot cargo box is constructed of corrosion-proof sheet-molded composite (SMC) with a molded-in black inner liner that resists scratches and is dent-proof. The box is notched, allowing customers to place two 2-by-4 boards across the span to provide tiered storage of materials. Three cargo bins are built into the bed's load floor and feature drain plugs which allow them to be used as iceboxes or for storing wet items.

Guess Toyota has a good idea with the composite bed in the Tacoma!

[Silver-Bolt]

I believe the Sport-Trac has had a composite bed since it debuted in the late 1990's.

[boone]

Yeah the Gay Trac was first.

My college buddy has a 2003 I believe. Short little composite bed. It's like an Exploder/El Camino hybrid. I think it's horrid, considering what he ended up paying for it.

[SP Jon M3]

Yeah, the Ford was first with the Exploder sport trac. It was introduced in '01 and had a composite bed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Explorer_Sport_Trac

[75cruiser]

Used to sell Fords .....Not proud to admit it, but the Sport Trac did debut with the composite bed.

[10SE]

One of the guys I work with has... sorry, HAD... a SportTrac. It was stolen, and the cops found it at the bottom of a lake. He said it's the best thing that ever happened to him!

[Adventure North]

Toyota wasn't even the second, Chevy offered a composite bed as an option on the last gen Silverado.

[boone]

Doesn't the Avalanche and Cadillac EXT have one as well? They've been around since before 2005.

[BrandonM7]

Originally Posted by Adventure North

Toyota wasn't even the second, Chevy offered a composite bed as an option on the last gen Silverado.

And it was entirely composite, including the outer fenders and tailgate. Of course hardly anyone bought them, because it was an option rather than thrust upon them like it is us.

[Jacobi]

If I remember correctly, the Sport Trac has the lowest roll-over rating of any vehicle, meaning it is the most likely to roll.

-Barry-

[SJlittlefoot]

yup cousin has a 01 sport trac, composite bed and all, it's not a bad truck, interior much better then any chevy and looks pretty nice. Albeit it has v-8 fuel economy with almost 4cyl performance, new one seems interesting with the 290hp v-8. then again i'd MUCH rather be caught in a Sport-Trac then a Ridgeline.

[j4x4ar3]

Although the SportTrac was the first with the composite bed they didn't do it right and there have been numberous reports of bed problems. I'm sure this time around they're using the same stuff that Toyota is using and will tout that as a selling point.