Loading and unloading goods from any vehicle can be a demanding job. Therefore some bakkies have a drop side feature allowing the hinged panel to drop down making the job much easier. This feature is not restricted to bakkies only, but also available on some trailers, trucks and other heavy duty vehicles. The load bay has hinged panels on either side as well as at the back. Typically the panels can be moved independently. Some drop sides can even be removed completely to enable large, bulky loads to be carried.

Since the back of the vehicle is a drop side, the rear indicators and brake lights are usually mounted hanging underneath the tray or on a bracket from the rear-most part of the chassis. However, if the panel is left down, be sure to take extra precaution to ensure that nothing is dangling off from the side of the bakkie – a rope or tie-down that dangles lose is an accident waiting to happen!

The drop side comes in very handy, especially when having to offload large or bulky items since the item can be slid off the back or side of the bakkie instead of trying to pick it up. Bakkies with this function are functional and versatile, which two of the most important reasons for having a bakkie! It does not matter what the payload or body length of the vehicle in question is, the dropside design definitely contributes to a practical and convenient work horse!

Loads can be carried with absolute security if the vehicle is fitted with cam latches, retention rings and any other mountable points. These items make it easy to tie down and secure you load and not have to worry about losing it along the way! Always make double sure that your load is securely fastened as to avoid any problems with lost goods.