Innovating for the Road Ahead: How We Develop New Products

Our first product, the Camping Kitchen for the Rivian R1T, was born out of frustration. We had preordered the Rivian kitchen, only to find out they wouldn’t be able to deliver it. In retrospect, it made sense—they were focused on getting trucks and SUVs into the hands of eager drivers. But that left us without a solution, so we built our own. Eventually, we realized we weren’t the only ones in need, and Thunderbolt Adventure Supply was born.

For the last two years, we’ve been developing new products to meet the needs and use cases we’ve identified—both for ourselves and for our customers. Most of our designs have focused on camping and adventure, but running this business (and using our R1T as a daily work truck) has shown us just how much room there is for added functionality in that realm, too.

The Bed Glider has been a game-changer for both adventurers and professionals. Its integrated E-Track slots keep everything secure, whether you’re hauling camping gear or contractor tools. But one thing has become clear—a lot of folks in the trades are big fans of the Milwaukee Packout system. We wanted to find a way to make our setup work seamlessly with theirs.

After extensive testing and countless prototypes, we’re close to launching adapter plates for both the Bed Glider and Gear Sled, designed to lock in perfectly with the unique pattern of Packout tool chests and gear bags.

Here are some of the rejected designs

Here you can see the adapter plate locked in both the Bed Glider and the Packout system

We’re excited about what’s ahead—not just for this launch, but for the continued evolution of our product line. Every new idea comes from real-world experience and feedback from this incredible community. As always, we appreciate your support, your insights, and the adventures you share with us. Stay tuned—there’s more to come!