Bristow's invention turns a pickup into a forklift

A Missouri inventor is set to take on the forklift industry with an adapter that turns a pickup truck into a lifting device.

The Bristow Bed is a product designed for pickup trucks, enabling easy lifting, hauling, storing and unloading of heavy or cumbersome items.

Inventor Michael Bristow says his Bristow Bed allows pickup trucks to be used "as a flatbed, a forklift or a lift-gate".

His website shows pre-production prototypes in action, and Bristow is looking for a manufacturer to bring this product to market. "While we excel in prototype design, we lack the years of manufacturing experience that this product warrants," he tells Forkliftaction News. "We are currently discussing possibilities with a few manufacturers, but the negotiations are still in the early stages. At this time, we have not signed an exclusivity agreement with any (particular) company."

Bristow sees a range of applications for his invention. "Any trade or industry that moves bulk material and uses pickup trucks on a daily basis would benefit from using the Bristow Bed. The Truck Bed will be more cost effective for certain core industries such as landscaping, delivery services, lumberyards, mechanical contractors, and general contractors," he explains.

When the Bristow Bed is commercialised, Bristow expects a price tag of around USD14,000-20,000 on top of the price of the vehicle, hydraulic pump option and installation.

Right now, the focus is on getting the invention into production. "We are taking our time in finding the best manufacturer to support this product. Once we make arrangements with that partner, we are back to building additional prototypes for an expanded model line of vehicles," he says.

To check out the Bristow Bed in action, click here.