Expandable length cargo bed system with mid-bed access

An expandable cargo bed system for a vehicle, the system comprising:

• a front shell including a front shell first sidewall, the front shell first sidewall including at least one cargo bed access passage extending between a first side of the front shell first sidewall and a second side of the front shell first sidewall opposite the first side, and at least one access opening to at least one associated front shell first sidewall wall interior compartment;
• and
• a rear shell operably coupled to the front shell so as to be movable with respect to the front shell between a retracted position and an extended position so as to vary a length of a cargo bed of the cargo bed system, the rear shell having a rear shell first sidewall,
• wherein the rear shell first sidewall is structured to cover the at least one cargo bed access passage when the rear shell is in the retracted position, and structured so that the at least one cargo bed access passage is not covered by the rear shell first sidewall when the rear shell is in the extended position, and wherein an uppermost edge of the at least one access opening is positioned below a lowermost edge of the at least one cargo bed access passage.