What is a pickup truck
Auto Terms,  Tips for motorists,  Blog,  Car tuning,  Machine operation

What is a pickup truck

Unlike cars and trucks, a pickup truck has the advantages of both body types. On the one hand, rather large and heavy things can be transported in its body. On the other hand, such a car will be comfortable for a country trip with the whole family on vacation.

For these reasons, pickups are gaining increasing recognition among motorists in Europe, CIS countries. On the off-road, such a car will help you get the most out of an off-road trip, and on the highway it behaves no worse than an ordinary passenger car.

What is a pickup truck

The only drawback of such a modification is that everything outside the cab gets wet during the rain, and any debris and water often accumulates in the body itself. To prevent such a problem, manufacturers of car accessories offer their customers unified zero-gauge bodies, or kungs.

What is kung

For a modern motorist, this is a cover that is installed on the back of a pickup truck. In addition to the practical side, this product also has an aesthetic purpose. Installing the cover visually changes the truck to an SUV with a large interior.

What is a pickup truck

Such items are in demand among those who prefer outdoor activities regardless of the weather. A fisherman, hunter, tourist, lover of off-road entertainment, if funds are available, will definitely opt for a kunga. The only question is which model to choose?

But in reality, a kung is not an accessory for a pickup truck, but a mobile module that is installed on a trailer or semi-trailer. A large number of factories around the world are engaged in the production of such kungs. Initially, they were created exclusively for the needs of the army, but today they are increasingly available to the civilian population.

Some characteristic features

In the market of automotive parts and accessories, including the secondary one, you can find a wide variety of kungs. There are even models that were developed for military equipment, but either were not installed on the car, or were well preserved.

To some, it may seem like a pointless idea to buy a military kung along with a trailer. But there is logic in this, especially if the buyer is looking for a budget mobile residential unit. Such kungs are in demand among hunters, fishermen or lovers of motor homes.

What is a pickup truck

In such a mobile module, you can install a mini-kitchen, a bed, and, if you can, a small bathroom with a shower. It all depends on the imagination of the car owner. In wartime, such trailers were used as command posts, a field kitchen, a sleeping module or a mobile laboratory. If you remove all the elements installed at the factory from the inside, then the kung can be adapted to any need.

History of KUNG and Pickup

Since kungs are a military development, their history begins with wartime. On the territory of the Soviet Union, for the transfer of mobile troops with their strong points, they had to meet the general standards of available transport. for example, in the mass redeployment of mobile modules, it was necessary to use freight trains, and for the transportation of a small echelon, trucks.

For this reason, the dimensions of the first kungs were adapted to the dimensions of the chassis of such a vehicle. The width of the loading track of such modules was 1435 millimeters. In wartime, due to poor economics, the body of such modules was made mainly of wood, and the walls inside were sheathed with plywood. In the voids, the walls were insulated with felt, tow, wood balustrade, etc. All windows were inserted into rubberized openings.

Beginning in 1967, kungs began to appear widely available to civilians. Since that year, such modules have ceased to be produced exclusively for the needs of the army. If we talk about foreign modifications, then their production is inextricably linked with pickups, because it is with this type of body that many associate kungs.

Learn more about pickups in another review. In short, this is a civilian passenger car with an open cargo area (side body). Most models are made by Japanese and American automakers. Many models are special SUVs with a flatbed body, but many brands also have cars based on their passenger counterparts in the assortment.

What is a pickup truck

The history of pickup trucks in America began in 1910 by Chevrolet. For almost 60 years, such vehicles have been used to a greater extent by farmers due to their versatility. Starting in the 1980s, pickup manufacturers began to pay attention not only to improving the technical part of their pickups, but also to give them an original style, due to which the younger generation of motorists began to pay attention to this type of body. Pickups were especially popular among outdoor enthusiasts.

In order for such cars to match their body type (the presence of an onboard body implies that the car must be able to transport heavy loads), manufacturers equipped them with powerful engines and high-quality and durable transmissions. For more functionality on most pickup models, manufacturers offer an accessory in the form of an add-on to the sides, which protect everything that is in the body from harsh weather conditions and theft. Premium models fold out as canopies or even camping beds.

Kungi currently

Despite the fact that the production of military kungs has decreased significantly, mobile units that can be used as temporary residences (and some options are even suitable for permanent residence) are still relevant among the civilian population.

Some manufacturers have changed their profile to the manufacture of mobile modules for the civilian population. Outwardly, such kungs remained rectangular (rarely cylindrical) boxes of impressive size. In length, they can reach from two to 12 meters. Mostly they are sold as an empty box, but some companies offer installation services for additional equipment. For example, a modern empty kung can already receive a ventilation and heating system.

On request, you can also purchase a specialized mobile module, for example, a kung for a camp site, a mobile laboratory, emergency assistance, and so on. For ease of installation and transportation, such models are based on the chassis of domestic trucks (KAMAZ, Ural, ZIL, etc.), as well as trailers for them.

What is a pickup truck

On the territory of the post-Soviet space, kungs are made by:

  • JSC Saransky MordorMash;
  • Shumerlinsky plant of special transport;
  • Volzhsky machine-building plant;
  • Engelsk special transport plant;
  • JSC "Izhmash";
  • ZIL;
  • CJSC "Ural Automobile Plant";
  • Pravdinsky plant of radio linear equipment.

Today, the production of mobile modules is a very promising area, because more and more users prefer outdoor activities with increased comfort.

Complete set of cabinets

The most famous today are kungs, made in the form of a rectangular booth with a semicircular roof. On the territory of the post-Soviet space, such mobile booths appeared in 1958. Such modules (KUNG-1M) were equipped with a door at the end with one or two leaves, usually with a window. They were mounted on a frame from ZIL (157, 157K, 157KD and 157KE).

By design, such a kung is a wooden box, on top of which a metal coating (often aluminum) is fixed, and inside the walls are sheathed with plywood. Felt or tow was used as a heater - they were stuffed between the walls of metal and plywood. Such kungs had different purposes, and depending on this, hatches, windows, hatches, etc. could be mounted in their body.

Each model has installations that provide ventilation and air filtration inside the module. To prevent the penetration of radioactive dust, if such appears on the street, such installations are able to create increased pressure, which improves the tightness of the kung.

In the factory, military kungs are equipped with ventilation and a heating system (there may be an individual heater or the system is connected to the exhaust system of the car). But the simplest heating system is represented by the classic "potbelly stove".

Types of kungs

Before considering the different options, you should remember: no automaker develops kungi for their models. For this reason, you should not rush to a "super offer" from a dealer - to purchase an "original" part at a reduced cost. Often this price is still much higher than for a similar item, but only in a regular auto parts store.

What is a pickup truck

In addition to the design of rigid roofs for pickup bodies, they differ from each other in the following parameters:

  • Made of sheet iron;
  • Material - various aluminum alloys;
  • Polymer products;
  • Awnings stretched over metal arcs;
  • Fiberglass body with organic glass inserts;
  • Wooden lid, sheathed with sheet metal.

Where

As we have already noted, for many, the word kung is associated only with a superstructure on a pickup truck body. In fact, this is a military development and the intended purpose of the kung is to satisfy the needs of the army. Such designs are in demand because they are versatile and suitable for a wide range of needs.

What is a pickup truck

Despite the modern modernization to meet the needs of a civilized person, such kungs have retained their function. As planned, they should be unified bodies, the purpose of which was already determined by the interior of the module.

In the car accessories market, you can purchase a kung of suitable sizes and adapt it as you wish. The main thing is that the frame and chassis are in good condition. The rest is a matter of taste.

Why install KUNG?

Some kung models are made so that they can be quickly dismantled. In this case, the product serves to protect against moisture in the rain. The rest of the time, the owner may not use such a cover.

What is a pickup truck

On the other hand, some types of tuning involve installing a powerful speaker system in a body trimmed with beautiful types of fabric. Or the body of an SUV is used as a mobile cafe on wheels or a permanent warehouse for tools.

In this case, the car owner will choose a stationary hardtop, since the car will constantly transport expensive things that can deteriorate, even if it comes into contact with road dust. A special box is installed on such cars, in which windows can open, as if such an option is provided in a car from the factory.

What is a pickup truck

What are the benefits of kunga to pickup truck owners?

Car owners who choose hardtops can pursue the following goals:

  • Give the car a complete look;
  • Protect expensive equipment or things that are constantly in the back of the car;
  • The part (depending on the model) can be installed independently by performing budget tuning;
  • Even in dry weather, valuable cargo will be protected from those wishing to illegally take possession of someone else's property.
What is a pickup truck

The buyer can pick up any modification of the box: with rails, a trunk, with opening windows, etc.

How to choose a pickup truck?

When deciding on the type of box, each owner of a pickup should start from the purpose of installing this part. This will be visual tuning or upgrades with a practical purpose.

If the motorist plans to often transfer oversized cargo, then the accessory should be quickly and easily removed. Also, the model must be durable so that even a small hail does not damage the protection.

What is a pickup truck

When a vehicle is going over decent off-road terrain, its body with a heavy load can deform. Kung under such loads should not break. To do this, you need to pay attention to the heavier metal options. The same applies to models that have roof rails. Sooner or later the driver will decide to use them to transport some kind of cargo.

Features and installation of the box

There are two options for mounting such accessories:

  • Holes are made in the body and the elements are tightened with bolts. This option is the most reliable, but during the procedure, the open metal of the car must be protected from moisture.
  • Clamps are used. This option is suitable for those who do not want to spoil the paintwork of their car. For greater reliability, it is worth using not 4, but more clamps. They are often included in the kit, and sometimes they are sold separately.
What is a pickup truck

Some hardtop models have interior lighting as well as a brake light on top of the roof. If you have no experience in connecting electricity in a car, it is better to seek help from specialists.

Once the canopy has been installed, before finally fixing it, you need to check whether the body fits evenly to the body, and whether the seal is deformed. Ideally, the lada of the accessory should fit snugly and along the entire perimeter to the sides.

If clamps are used, it is necessary to periodically check their tightness, as their fixation gradually looses during driving.

Installation video

This video, using the Mitsubishi L200 as an example, shows how a pickup truck is installed:

We put the kung and the trunk on the L200

What to look for

When choosing an accessory in a store, you should clarify the following points:

Here is a short video tutorial on how to mount the box on the Amarok RH04:

Questions and answers:

What is a pickup truck? KUNG - a body of a unified zero dimension. This is an additional element that is put on the body of a pickup truck, protecting it from rain and snow.

What does Kung look like? This additional detail is similar to a trimmed roof with side and rear windows. The board can open or be stationary. Usually the kung is attached on a permanent basis, but it can also be removable.

What is kung for? It protects tools and other items stored in the back of a pickup truck from precipitation, wind, dust or thieves. When the pickup is driving off-road, things will not fall out of the body.

Add a comment