A new chapter in Ford’s electric vehicle plans will arrive in 2027 with an affordable midsize pickup starting at around $30,000, kicking off an entire lineup of budget EVs. While the automaker has only revealed a simplified silhouette of the upcoming model, recent patent drawings may offer an early glimpse at one of its optional accessories.

The design seen in the patents outlines a rooftop tent that deploys over the truck and stores neatly in a retractable module above the rear bed.

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Filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office in February 2024 and published last week, the patent carries the title “Shelter System Having Deployable Platform.” Whether it becomes a production reality is still uncertain, but the concept alone has strong appeal.

If it makes it into production, the tent would be a great option for camper conversions on future Ford pickups like the upcoming EV or the next-generation Maverick, Ranger, and F-150 models.

Room to stretch

When fully deployed, the tent gives a similar profile outline to the truck as the Tesla Cybertruck. The extended platform offers enough room to sleep two adults. Furthermore, the rear section has more than enough headroom for people to comfortably stand while being protected from the elements. Entry is through a rear doorway, and two windows bring in light and ventilation.

Ford / US Patent and Trademark Office

When folded, the tent looks like a sleek canopy mounted above the rear bed. Interestingly, it doesn’t occupy the space below the bed cover, meaning that it is still available.

The benefits of this design over a traditional rooftop tent are its seamless integration with the vehicle. Rather than increasing drag, the rear module could actually improve the truck’s aerodynamics, boosting efficiency and extending driving range. This advantage is particularly important for hybrid and fully electric models, where both weight and aerodynamics play a bigger role in performance.

A glimpse at Ford’s future truck?

Another detail worth noting from the patent is the design of the truck itself. It’s unclear whether this represents an actual upcoming model or simply a mockup created for the filing. Even so, elements such as the vertically stacked headlights and the smooth, streamlined roofline look entirely plausible for a future electric Ford pickup.

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Hopefully, the Blue Oval won’t let this inventive idea gather dust, as seeing it developed into a factory option would be a welcome sight. Below are a few renderings we created based on the patent drawings, digitally placing the camper in the kind of settings where it belongs.

Renderings CarScoops

H/T to Carbuzz