Automobile ballast device

A ballast device for placement in a truck bed, said device comprising:

• a lower platform having a plurality of interlocking discrete lower panels;
• an upper platform having a plurality of interlocking discrete upper panels;
• and
• a bladder member configured to hold various amounts of matter, said bladder member having an inlet for selectively allowing the matter to enter said bladder member and an outlet for selectively allowing at least one of the matter and air to exit said bladder member, said bladder member overlaying at least two of said discrete lower panels that are interlocked together and underlying at least two of said discrete upper panels that are interlocked together, said bladder member being sandwiched between said upper and lower platforms.

An automobile ballast device, comprising:

• a set of interlocking upper panels, at least a plurality of said upper panels collectively forming a unitary upper platform configured to be received in a truck bed;
• a set of interlocking lower panels, at least a plurality of said lower panels collectively forming a unitary lower platform configured to be received in the truck bed;
• a bladder member configured to hold various amounts of matter, said bladder member having an inlet for selectively allowing the matter to enter said bladder member and an outlet for selectively allowing at least one of the matter and air to exit said bladder member, said bladder member overlaying at least two of said discrete lower panels that are interlocked together and underlying at least two of said discrete upper panels that are interlocked together, said bladder member being sandwiched between said upper and lower platforms;
• wherein relatively more upper panels form said upper platform for said upper platform to be received in a relatively larger truck bed and wherein relatively fewer upper panels form said upper platform for said upper platform to be received in a relatively smaller truck bed;
• and
• wherein relatively more lower panels form said lower platform for said lower platform to be received in a relatively larger truck bed and wherein relatively fewer lower panels form said lower platform for said lower platform to be received in a relatively smaller truck bed.