Storage compartment and step for pick-up trucks

A storage compartment for a pick-up truck having a pick up box supported on a frame of the pick-up truck, comprising:

• an enclosed compartment supported by said pick up box and defining an access opening on a lateral side of said pick-up truck, said enclosed compartment being separate from and located below said pick-up box;
• a door pivotally movable between a generally vertical closed position that covers said access opening and a generally horizontally oriented open position;
• a pivot mechanism connected to said door to permit pivotal movement thereof;
• and
• slotted straps interconnecting said pick up box and fore-and-aft sides of said door to permit said door to withstand sufficient weight to permit said door to be used as a step in gaining access to said pick-up box, said slotted straps being configured to stop said door at said horizontal open position.

In a pick-up truck having a chassis frame supported for movement over the ground by a front wheeled axle and a rear wheeled axle;

• an operator's cab supported on said chassis frame forwardly of said rear axle;
• and a pick up box supported on said chassis frame behind said operator's cab over said rear axle, said pick up box having lateral sides and a floor, the improvement comprising:
• a storage compartment formed in at least one of said lateral sides and defining an access opening formed in said at least one lateral side;
• a door pivotally supported by a pivot mechanism for movement between a generally vertical closed position and a generally horizontal open position, said door being configured to serve as a step for access to said pick up box over said at least one lateral side;
• and
• support members interconnecting said door and reinforcement members affixed to said pick up box to permit said door to withstand sufficient weight to permit said door to be used as a step in gaining access to said pick-up box, said support members being configured to stop said door at said horizontal open position.