Core77
- Topics
- Features
- Awards
- Jobs
-
Firms
- Firms
- Search Firms;
- Firm Projects
- Forums
-
More...
- About Us
- Contact Us
- Advertise
- About
- Terms of Use
Could/Should You Design a Folding Step That Deployed From a Car or Truck Wheel?
With my truck I just stand on the top of the tire.
The only way I can see it happening is if it's a hollow feature in the rim that allows you to put your foot inside.
A step that drops down seems dangerous/wasteful to put it inside the wheel. Adding rotating mass is usually not a good thing in car design as it means a lot of energy needs to be put in to get it spinning again. Slower acceleration, worse fuel millage. Balancing and failure of a hinge mechanism would be horrible too (or forgetting to bring the step back up).
It could be built into the paneling of the truck. I remember some trim packages of 2000 era F150s had a side step built in the paneling between the rear door and the rear wheel.
I see this as being a bit dangerous design. Knowing how people get side tracked, it could be possible for someone to load something walk off to get something else to put in the cab and then drive off with the step attached and destroy it.