Vehicle body structure

A vehicle body structure comprising:

• a cargo area structure having a floor, a first side wall and a tailgate at least partially defining a cargo area, the tailgate being movable between an open orientation exposing a rear end of the cargo area and a closed orientation blocking the rear end of the cargo area, the first side wall includes a utility track configured to receive and support cargo area accessories, the utility track being rigidly and fixedly attached to the first side wall at a location below and adjacent to an upper surface of the first side wall, the utility track defining the upright surface of the first side wall;
• a retractable step installed to the cargo area structure beneath the floor and the first side wall and adjacent to the tailgate;
• and
• a handle assembly having a base and a grip handle extending from the base, the base being attached to the upright surface of the first side wall, the base being shaped and contoured such that the grip handle is positioned adjacent to and spaced apart from the upper surface of the first side wall within the cargo area above the floor and above the step such that an individual using the step to enter the cargo area grabs the grip handle for assistance in stepping up into the cargo area;
• and
• the base of the handle assembly is directly attached to the utility track via an attachment assembly such that the base overlays a portion of the upright surface of the utility track and with the base directly attached to the utility track the grip handle extends parallel to and above the utility track and is non-movable relative to the utility track with the base being tightly attached to the utility track and the first side wall.

A vehicle body structure, comprising:

• a cargo area structure having a floor, a first side wall and a tailgate at least partially defining a cargo area, the tailgate being movable between an open orientation exposing a rear end of the cargo area and a closed orientation blocking the rear end of the cargo area, the first side wall including a utility track configured to receive and support cargo area accessories, the utility track being rigidly and fixedly attached to the first side wall at a location below and adjacent to an upper surface of the first side wall, the utility track defining an upright surface of the first side wall;
• a retractable step installed to the cargo area structure beneath the floor and the first side wall and adjacent to the tailgate, the retractable step being movable between a retracted orientation and an extended orientation such that the retractable step is located at one lateral side of the cargo area structure spaced from the tailgate and outboard of the tailgate;
• and
• a handle assembly having a base and a grip handle extending from the base, the base being directly attached to the utility track via an attachment assembly such that the base overlays a portion of the upright surface the base being shaped and contoured such that the grip handle is positioned adjacent to and spaced apart from the upper surface of the first side wall within the cargo area above the floor of the cargo structure and above the step such that an individual using the step to enter the cargo area grabs the grip handle for assistance in stepping up into the cargo area.