Vehicle body structure

A vehicle body structure, comprising:

• a vehicle cargo 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;
• a retractable step installed to the vehicle 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, the base having a pivot shaft non-movably attached thereto that is horizontally oriented and extends in an inboard direction from the base with the base being non-movably attached to an upright surface of the first side wall above the floor within the cargo area, and the grip handle being pivotal about the pivot shaft between a stowed orientation in which the grip handle is at a location lower than an upper surface of the first side wall and a gripping orientation in which at least a portion of the grip handle extends higher than the upper surface of the first side wall such that with the grip handle in the gripping orientation an individual using the step to enter the cargo area grabs the grip handle for assistance in stepping up into the cargo area, the base including an attachment portion, a first stop portion and a second stop portion that are positioned and oriented such that the grip handle is limited to pivoting movement between the first stop portion and the second stop portion.

A vehicle body structure, comprising:

• a vehicle cargo 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 the 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 vehicle 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, the base having a pivot shaft non-movably attached thereto that is horizontally oriented and extends in an inboard direction from the base with the base being non-movably attached to an upright surface of the first side wall above the floor within the cargo area, and the grip handle being pivotal about the pivot shaft between a stowed orientation in which the grip handle is at a location lower than an upper surface of the first side wall and a gripping orientation in which at least a portion of the grip handle extends higher than the upper surface of the first side wall such that with the grip handle in the gripping orientation an individual using the step to enter the cargo area grabs the grip handle for assistance in stepping up into the cargo area, the base of the handle assembly being 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.