My in-laws just purchased a new Ford 150. Big, black extended cab. She's a beauty, I got to "meet" her this past Sunday. My father-in-law is a farmer, so he was excited to have a clean, for now, truck bed.

That got me wondering, could someone ride in the back of his truck? or, anyone's pickup in Iowa for that matter? The answer HAS to be "no" I thought. Then I did some research and it turns out, I was incorrect. Well, mostly.

Front Truck Grill
Can I hop in the back? Photo credit: Bryngelzon
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Sure, you can ride back there in Iowa, but it's not that simple

Remember when you were a kid and your dad or grandma told you to hop into the bed of the pickup? You were giddy, right? How cool were you gonna look!

I mean, one big bump or quick swerve and you'd be toast, but the risk is cool too, right? Turns out you can actually do this in Iowa without fear of your parent being ticketed. You could still get hurt, but hey, no tickets!

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There is a catch in some cases. A number of counties in Iowa do specify you can't sit on the edge of the box or stand.

However, it gets a tad more complicated. In Iowa, all passengers under 18 inside the truck must be buckled up, according to KTVO-TV. What does that mean for the one sitting in the pickup bed? It means you can get that ticket I joked about earlier if you have a minor in the back, and come across a grumpy cop.

I'd also be careful when crossing the border. KTVO-TV reports for our neighbors to the south in Missouri, that it's against the law for anyone under 18 from riding in the unenclosed bed of a pickup with a licensed weight of under 12,000 pounds on state and federal highways and within city limits.

That's a lot to take in so, it's best you just avoid riding in the back in Missouri if you're a minor.

It's legal here in Iowa, and also in Minnesota so if you're heading up north and not south, you're good to go.

In addition to Iowa and Minnesota, the states where it's legal include:

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming

Now you know, it's not illegal - but again, rules can vary from city to city, so it best to double-check with law enforcement's rules and regulations before you go hoppin' in the bed of the pickup, or plop your kids back there.

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