Patent ID: 7523961

Claim:
A method of increasing the traction of a vehicle having a bed portion including a first sidewall, a second sidewall, two wheel wells, and a tailgate, the method comprising: a) providing at least one substantially non-flexible cylindrical body member sized to substantially extend between the first sidewall and the second sidewall and having a first end substantially permanently capped by a fixed endcap and a second end removably and resealably capped by a removable endcap; b) providing a quantity of filler material; c) removing the removable endcap; d) substantially filling the cylindrical body member with the filler material; e) resealing the body member with the removable endcap; and f) disposing the body member in the vehicle bed between the wheel wells and the tailgate; g) at least partially removing the body member from the vehicle bed; h) removing the removable endcap; i) removing a portion of the filler material from the body member; j) applying the removed filler material so as to increase the traction of the vehicle; k) resealing the body member with the removable endcap; and l) redisposing the body member in the vehicle bed between the wheel wells and the tailgate; wherein the wheel wells engage the body member to define a maximum distance from the tailgate that the body member may move.