Brian, the original Idea for squattie was to make it a little pumper firetruck(like the one below) so I have been collecting some fire equipment to put on it, I have some hose nossels and a fire axe and some gauges. but now I am not sure if I will go with the firetruck theme so for now It will just be a utility bed, so the 18" area you refur to is like a rear step and the tubing you see at the top of the bed is the frame work for the hard bed cover that is hinged at the front and is raised by gas shocks